Spiritual Lessons
To
Be His Witness
Recently
a Maid Arise reader asked that I post on witnessing. This has
been something on my mind of late as I have gone out with my brothers
to do more of this, as well as having our missions conference last
week and also recently joining my local pregnancy center; all of
which giving the gospel have been a key issue.
The
Law and the Sinner
I
was pretty sure he'd just shrug me off and leave like many dozens
before him. But I had that familiar tug on my heart to say
something. I quickly left my conversation with a friend and
approached him.
“Hi,
did you get one of these?” I offered a pamphlet on the sin of
abortion.
He
abruptly turned toward me and frowned. “Oh don't...don't give that
to me, I don't want to talk to you.”
Normally
I don't pressure, but I stopped and lowered my hand and simply asked:
“Why?”
He
was an intellectual. An agnostic. He'd heard about Jesus all his
life. Once upon a time he was a Christian but now he knew better. I
had to smile to myself. How easily the unbelievers correlate Christ
to those who take a stand for life. Little did he know, it was his
own life that was on the forefront of my mind just then.
“You
know..." he began, "there are necessary evils in this world. Abortion is necessary
because the world is becoming over-populated. For example! During
WWII when the Americans figured out the Germans secret code of
communication, the American military felt it couldn't break every
code or the Germans would catch on to the fact we had broken their
code. American men died because of it. It was a necessary evil.”
The
pamphlet I held mentioned how America had also once deemed slavery a
necessary evil. But I decided a different route as I prayed for
wisdom.
“I
understand what you're saying, but there is a difference. These men
willingly sacrificed their lives when they joined the military.
Babies are innocent victims without a choice. They didn't sign up
for anything. But Eric, do you know that I'm not only out here in
behalf of the voiceless. I'm not only here for the babies lives, but
for these people's lives as well.” I motioned toward the crowd
that walked the sidewalk, passing us by.
Eric
didn't look surprised. He stared at me, but he was quiet.
“Eric,
do you know where you'll go when you die?”
“Mmm,
probably nowhere.” He shrugged. He was obviously unconcerned.
“So,
have you ever stolen anything?”
“Yes.”
“Lied?”
“Mmhm.”
“Lusted
after a woman?”
“Yeah.”
“Then
by your own admission, you're a thief, a liar, and an adulterer at
heart.”
“In
other words human.”
“Yes.
God says all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God – even
to fall short makes us a sinner and we will go to Hell as a sinner.
Even though Jesus can be a lover and a best friend He also is a
righteous judge. Doesn't this concern you?”
“Absolutely
not.”
“How
come?”
“I
don't believe in God.”
“Well,
if you're right you have nothing to be concerned of...”
“Exactly.”
“But,
if I'm right you are going to Hell.”
I
could tell he stopped to process that thought before answering –
“But I'd have to believe that for it to be true.”
“No,
if you walked into the street and didn't believe in cars, but a car
pulled out and hit you, you would still be run into whether you
believed cars existed or not.”
“But
a car is something I can see – I know it's real.”
“God
is just as real, just as real as the air we breath but can't see. I
know, because I talk to him every day. Would you at least consider
what I have to tell you? Eric you admitted you are a sinner, I know
where you are headed. If you died right now you would go to Hell.
That is the reason I'm seeking you out. I wish I could convince
you...I hope you'll think about it tonight when you go to bed.”
By
the end of that half hour conversation he had dropped his arrogant
attitude and quietly listened. He realized he had a need, now he
only had to make the choice. I still pray for this man to this day.
The
more I share Christ with others the more I am convinced that this
sin-sick world has no idea of their need. They not only disbelieve
that they are already condemned, but they are certain that they are
honestly “not that bad”. I've talked to homosexuals, satanists,
and murderers, and they all think they are good enough to get to
heaven. The world is condemned, dying, and they don't know. Before
we can ever begin to share their only hope (Jesus) they must be shown
their need.
Compassion
and You.
The
more I witness the more I am sincerely saddened by the masses of
people who harden their heart, purposefully hating their only hope.
I've had women shriek at me and curse and threaten me, simply because
I held a sign that said there is forgiveness for sin through Jesus
Christ. I've been flipped off, called foul things and reproached.
But I have learned that it actually isn't me they are offended with.
It's the message. It's the person Jesus Christ who is a rock of
offense. (Romans 9:33). It used to be so exhausting and disturbing
to have them attack me. It still is draining and sometimes
unnerving, but recently I stand and my heart goes out to each person
that passes me. I realize that the majority of the crowd is headed
for Hell. And Satan has them duped that they are good people. That
they are even Christians. They don't hate me...when they attack me
it's because they hate Jesus Christ. And what a tragedy! He not
only created them, He also is the only way, He is the truth, He is
life...and they are rejecting their hope and only Savior. They lash
out because they are lost and weary and wounded. There is no
defense needed on my part. I don't have to be angry or hurt at their
response. “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with
compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad
as sheep having no shepherd.” Matthew 9:36
Jesus
touched many hearts and ministered to many crowds. He still desires
to. But through us. He personally strove after hearts in Palestine.
Now He plans to cover the rest of the earth through us. We are to go to all
nations. We are to continue on in what He began. He has allowed
Himself to need us. God, throughout time has waited on human action.
Of course He is the power, we are nothing without Him, but the
power needs a channel. The world waits, and only on willing men, for
God has already provided His son.
If
we truly believed in a literal Hell. If we could grasp that the
majority of the world is headed there – our neighbors, our family,
our community, our state, our country our world-- If we had Jesus'
heart for mankind and were moved with His compassion, we would go.
We would swallow every fear. We would give every anxiety to Christ
and with concern for the condemned we would say something.
"What
was there to attract the Lord Jesus to these crowds? Their
need, you answer. Yes, no doubt, their terrible need did move
Him with compassion, to the hurting point. But was there more
than this?
Something He said one time has made me think there was something
more, a pathetic, tremendous more, that took hold of His heart.
Could it be that He saw some lingering trace of the Father's face in
these faces? His eyes were very keen. He had seeing eyes. And
these men have all been made in the Father's image. Has that image
ever been wholly lost? Terribly blurred and scarred by sin, yes; but
wholly lost? Do you think so? I think not.
...Was
it though the Father's face cried out to Him out of these poor beaten
faces? I think so. Their need is His need; their cry, His. It's
Jesus coming to us in these crowds. …You may not be sent to some
distant field...Your personal place may be at home. But the crowd,
the need, is everywhere; at home, in the social circle, and among the
men driven by...this prosperous land of ours. ...The Spirit will
guide. He has a passion for men in their need.” S.D. Gordon,
Quiet
Talks on Following the Christ
The
M&M Syndrome and Believers
There
was a certain man who was stripped of all he had, beaten and left to
die. By chance a priest and a Levite came by, and though able,
decided to pass him by without helping him. What excuses they used
we can only imagine. But the Samaritan saw the bloody helpless man
and did everything within his ability to help him. He had
compassion. He healed. He paid for his inn. He loved his neighbor.
Love acts. (Psalm 102:19-20)
Who
lie bloody, condemned and dying in our day? Every unsaved soul.
(Also the voiceless who are appointed unto destruction Proverbs 31:8
– the murdered unborn). There is no excuse good enough to keep us
silent. And yet so many Christians “pass by” and do nothing. The
two greatest commandments are to love God with all our heart and to
love our neighbor. Christians are failing miserably.
From this story we learn compassion. Following the Samaritan's example
is a given. But there's a little more to the story. Who in the story do we hold in contempt? The priest and the
Levite. We have to ask ourselves who's example we follow in our day to day life.
If not ourselves, we know many priests and Levites, in our life. Sometimes our brothers and sister's lack of interest in
souls can dishearten those of us who have desired to shirk common
Christian apathy. The lack of fellow soldiers is discouraging. And
this is when the M&M syndrome can come to plague us.
Right
after explaining the two greatest commandments to the lawyer in Luke
10, Jesus goes to Mary and Martha and Lazarus home. Martha becomes
upset with Mary because Mary isn't "doing."
Both
the lawyer and Martha had one thing needful. Something Mary had
found. Love. True Love.
We shouldn't become upset with our siblings in Christ if they leave us to
“serve alone”. Martha stomped right up to Jesus and boldly asked
Him to bid Mary to serve with her.
“And
Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful
and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary
hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken from her.”
Luke 10:41-42
Every
Christian inspired with His love should actively be obeying Christ
and sharing Him with the lost. They should stop and minister to
their bloody helpless neighbors. But it is not our place to condemn
those who won't. Becoming bitter with our apathetic brothers and
sisters is not the answer. In Love we can pray and encourage and
even stir their hearts, but we must beware of the Mary and Martha
Syndrome and not be found wanting. We obey. That's our
responsibility. With compassion and Love we tell the world of their
need, show them the Truth and Life, and let Him prick consciences
around us.
***
For some helpful resources on evangelism please click the links below:
www.voicesofdissidence.com
www.livingwaters.com
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