Responses to Text Messages on EV

Aug 31

Wes GeorgeUncategorized View Comments

I am back again.  I have been catching up from being off in July and getting ready for an exciting yet busy Fall.  First I want to respond to the text message questions that I was unable to answer during our worship services on August 23.  So let’s get to those first.

Question: People bring up church being full of hypocrites during witnessing. How do we explain everyone sins…that doesn’t make all hypocrites?  

I agree that is often brought up.  I always like to clearly define what a hypocrite really is.  A hypocrite is someone who pretends to be something that they really aren’t.  Someone who does not pretend to have it all together, but rather is struggling in whatever area of life is not a hypocrite.  They are simply struggling, seeking, learning in their spiritual journey.  In reality, that’s all of us.  After clearly establishing what a hypocrite really is and is not; then I acknowledge that there are some hypocrites in the church, but probably not as many as many people suggest.  I like to use the illustration that if you are wanting to have an example of a football player to teach your child to play the game the best way it can be played, you do not pick the guy who never comes to practice, never plays, does not know the plays.  No, you pick the the best player on the team as an example of a football player.  But when it comes to church, people often pick the worst example and completely ignore the best examples.  I like to say, I know some wonderful people who love God and serve people in a great way and I begin to tell them about those people.  All of this is still preliminary to actually sharing the Gospel.  But I do think you can make a great case for authentic believers loving God and loving others through Christ.

Question: The gospel has been so watered down that it is frustrating that so many people have a completely wrong understanding of what it really is to be saved.

That is really not a question but a statement and I agree with it.  My suggestion is to take our frustration and turn it into positive energy in making known the authentic gospel in word and deed.
 
Question: How do you really reach people who don’t believe? How do you overcome bitterness and hate they often feel and overcome their fears without losing yourself in the process ?

Basically, that is the nature of evangelism.  Those who do not believe are lost and need Christ.  We must depend on the Holy Spirit to convict and convince them and in essence transform them.  The beginning of belief (faith) is sharing the gospel.  ”Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Christ).  The key to overcoming any barrier is speaking the truth of the Gospel.  God’s Word is powerful.  Typically, those who have bitterness need to know that God loves them and that love was demonstrated on the cross by the sacrificial death of Christ.  By sensitively communicating that we are all enemies of Christ and that He chose to forgive us to the point of His own death, instead of condemning us.  That simple but radical message has the power transform people.
 

Question: I have a friend/co-worker who has made it clear that she does not want to be a part of a fellowship of believers because of some past hurt that came from people in her former church. I sense that it is because she truly is lost. What is the best way to reach out to her without pushing her further away?

Let me first of all say, that if you really do love someone and are sensitive to their needs, then most of the time they know that.  It may be harder to push them farther away than you think.  Actually, when a person is lost, they are as far away as they can be.  Certainly do not argue or talk with people about Christ or the church if they make it clear that they do not want you talking to them.  At that point, you certainly should be praying for them.  Past hurt in a church situations keeps a lot of folks away from the church today.  I usually just say, I am sorry that you have been hurt or had a bad experience in a church and then explain that the church is made up of people just like you who have problems and difficulties.  I always speak highly of the church as the bride of Christ and that Christ loves the church.  I always speak of the great things the church has done in our community and around the world and how my life has personally been blessed.  I use the illustration of the family about how great it is to have family but also sometimes we disagree and hurt each other.  That does not make it right or easy; but we overcome many disappointments in many areas of life to keep on doing what we know is right and we know that God wants us to be a part of a local church.  We have all been hurt by a friend or a family member but that does not keep us from having friends or family.

 
Question:How do you witness to friends who knew you before you became a believer without hypocrisy?
 

This is a great opportunity, because you can share with them the change and the difference Christ has made.  The contrast with how you were before and how you are now will stand as a great object lesson for the transforming power of the gospel.  There is no hypocrisy, that is unless, you have not changed.


Question: Why do some people think that being baptized is the only way God will love you? 

That is more common than what many of us like to think.  The influence of Catholic infant baptism has contributed greatly to this idea.  But all who practice baptism without proper baptism instruction to the candidate can also lead to this assumption.  Clear teaching from the pulpit and in sharing the gospel is really the only way to correct this misconception.  The follow up question should be how do we reach people who think that baptism gets them to heaven?  This is technically called “regenerational baptism.”  While I certainly do not wish to offend friends from those persuasions, this practice and doctrinal belief waters down the doctrine of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.  Many consider this concept of crossing the line of what we would call a “works salvation.”  In our attempts to distance ourselves from this teaching, some of us have minimized baptism to fault.  Baptism in the New Testament has always been closely associated with salvation.  It is important and closely associated to salvation, but it does not save.  I do think that baptism discussion is appropriate in the gospel presentation to clarify what it is not and yet to also speak of its importance to authentic followers of Christ.

Until next time,