Christian Living
This writer once accompanied a zealous, evangelistic (thank God for that) young pastor in his visitation. However, he had a fault, as readers will see. We were to “follow up” two people he had recently “led to the Lord,” as he put it.
At the first house the man kept saying “yes” and nodding to everything the pastor and I said. He had little to say, no questions, and it became clear after five minutes that the person was not seeking God. If his “conversion” were genuine, he would have asked questions. Though he had “said the prayer,” it was obvious he’d accepted Jesus in haste without thinking it through. He may have done it just to get rid of the pastor on the first visit.
The second man was little different. It was an impromptu call and we found him engrossed in his new computer program. In fact he fiddled with it the whole time we were there. Clearly, that was more important than the things of God. Neither of the men came to the church.
These two examples illustrate the importance of spelling out the gospel, giving the person time to properly consider their response. Would you decide within two minutes (of getting the idea) to sell your house and move to another city? Of course not: you would think about it for days, probably weeks. So it should be with a decision for Christ. Yes, there can be a dramatic, instant change and understanding, but it is rare, and only if full information is given. Billy Graham did that spelling out before the invitation in his crusades. Every new convert was then followed up and counselled.
Pride has us sitting in the church and telling others “I led someone to the Lord.” Too often it’s just a “notch on the gun” mentality. The leading may well be a two minute conversation and “Would you like to receive Jesus right now?”
This “quickfire salvation” - pressuring people to “just say the prayer and you are a Christian” - has consequences. It is surely why the church today has so many half-hearted people. They don’t understand repentance: it has never been properly explained, along with commitment. They have not understood the words of Jesus: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24.
What is needed today are new converts who know the cost of being a disciple; people who have truly repented, who understand commitment. Only then will we have believers full of the Holy Ghost like firecrackers ready to go off; people wanting to do more than sit at the Sunday service, socials, barbecues, conferences and seminars.
These new believers will interpret Christianity as more than wearing-out the seat of their pants. They will trust and obey – and will share their newly-found faith with the lost world outside the church walls.
Brother, sister, pastor, minister, make sure the gospel you present is accurate, (holding nothing back) and take time to explain what following Jesus really requires. Spell out commitment and repentance; then give them ample time to think about it. The aim should be to have enthusiastic, go-for-God believers, not just bottoms on seats and money in the offering bags.
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How well you've spelled out that no man comes to God unless the Spirit draws him and that the only way to the Father is through the Son. Time and experience are our friends in this path, if only we learn to embrace them. So many hunger to do well for God that they go running out there with all guns firing. But we are helpless to effectively do His work until we are prepared of the Lord to do so. Babies don't become grown people overnight. Thought provoking!
When we were seeking the Lord to add to our Chapel numbers some years ago, He plainly told us it was "quality He wanted,not quantity" and your message confirms that. If we can be honest with everyone, speaking the truth in love, even to the telling of our own step of faith to Christ, then we are doing all we can. Well done Rod - another sound piece of Christian sense.
Ah yes, the problem of not-real-conversions. You stated very clearly how important it is to get the message out, not just add numbers to the count. Thank you for speaking so boldly - as I prepare for outreaches this year at church, I will remember Souls, not numbers.
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