Not everyone is at a point in their life where they are ready to hear and receive the Gospel. If we try to convince them that Jesus is the answer before God brings them to a point where they are spiritually ready to receive Him, then we run the risk of inoculating them against the Gospel. Far too often, our enthusiasm causes us to rush in ahead of the Holy Spirit. As disciple makers, we need to be attentive to the Holy Spirit always. We need to learn to recognize the signs that God has prepared a person’s heart and the time is right share the Gospel.
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4 Responses to Are We Inoculating People Against the Gospel?
cory isaac
Replied on: July 20, 2010, 9:51 am
I like Jesus’ metaphor about being fishers of men. When I cast my nets or my line I like just dropping Jesus’ name in a conversation or two with people and watch their reactions. If they are hostile to him, I don’t stop, but I make sure that they understand that I love them and care for them first, so they know my ideas aren’t in conflict with their well-being. As I continue praising God in their presence, I continue to watch and wait for God to move in their hearts.
We may plant seeds or water the saplings but God is causing the growth.
Paul
Replied on: July 20, 2010, 10:27 am
I really like what you wrote about casting the nets broadly. I think we need to live our lives in such a way that attracts spiritually seeking people and allows to build relationships and disciple them into a relationship with Christ. I also think we need to season our speech with indicators that we are spiritual people. This, too, will identify us to spiritually seeking people and help us have conversations that result in starting a Discovery Bible Study to guide them into a relationship with Christ.
Two things:
1. Dropping Jesus’ name in a conversation is good, but is it best? In the West, Jesus’ name is often associated with Western Christian Culture. Many people reject that culture outright. Ask, “Will introducing Jesus at this stage of the conversation help at this point, or turn people away?” I’m not ashamed of Christ, and I tell people that I follow Him, but I understand that most people have a misconception of who God is and who Christ is. I want to meet them there and guide them to a proper understanding within the context of my life and a Discovery Bible Study.
2. There are cultures who have never heard of Christ. How do we season our conversation to meet them where they are spiritually?
I love the concept of praising God continually and giving Him glory in public for all He does. How do we do this without coming across as obnoxious religious people rather than spiritual people who follow Christ with all our heart, soul, strength and mind?
Thanks for contributing to the conversation, Cory. I think you raised some important things for us to consider.
cory isaac
Replied on: July 20, 2010, 12:23 pm
When a Christian can live the message of Christ’s salvation for the material, emotional, and social aspects of life for a ‘not-yet-Christian’, then the message of spiritual, ‘post-time’ salvation makes sense. We create the truth in our actions of love (compassion, kindness, equality, material supply, encouragement), because Jesus is the way… and the truth; so that the truth of the Gospel is easily understood when we live by the way Jesus laid out. (The word became flesh and dwelt among us)
I find that Christians who evangelize under feelings of guilt often lead people to an incomplete gospel because their LOVE is undeveloped in the relationships in which they are trying to evangelize. This is my biggest concern: that people try to lead others to Christ through a method and motive other than love.
I love to bring the word Shalom into this context, because it is the work of God. It means peace, but refers to all relationships that peace can exist in: peace between man and himself, man and earth, man and man, and man and God. In literature, we see that conflict occurs in all of these contexts. Humans, the every day kind on the streets, have these conflicts continually throughout life and God wants to be the “falling action” and the “resolution” to these stories.
Paul
Replied on: July 20, 2010, 1:42 pm
Good word, Cory. Love needs to be our motivation – a love for God and a love for all people.