Not too long ago my Grandpa shared with me a very simple story. Though simple, the story has impacted me so much that I want to share it with you.
A father told his son to go down to the lake and catch some fish for dinner. The boy eagerly grabbed his pole and headed down to the water. He baited his hook and cast his line into the lake. As he was waiting for a bite, he noticed something in the bushes. It was a snake. He quickly reeled in his line and set his pole aside. He then began to devise and execute a plan to kill the snake. Once the snake was dead he picked up his pole. "Dad will be so proud of me for killing a snake," he thought. As he began to cast the line back into the water he saw that the bushes were rustling. Another snake slithered out of the bushes. Setting his pole down again, the boy proceeded to kill the snake. All day long he killed snake after snake after snake. About dusk his father came to bring him back up to the house.
"How many fish did you catch, son?"
"Well, none."
"You didn't catch any fish? Why not?"
"I tried to catch fish, but look how many snakes I killed!" exclaimed the boy as he gestured to the giant pile of dead snakes.
"I didn't ask you to kill snakes, son. I asked you to catch fish."
The boy hung his head in disappointment as he walked empty handed with his father back to the house.
The point my Grandpa was trying to make is that while killing snakes is important, we should not get so distracted by them that we catch no fish. In other words, righting wrongs, defending the gospel, and exposing sin are crucial, but if all we ever do are those things and yet catch no fish (witness to others), we are revealing an imbalance within our own hearts. It is easy to stand on the bank of the lake and throw stones at snakes. Fishing is hard work. It takes practice and patience. And so it is easy to stand back and point fingers at everything that is wrong, which I do far too often. But it is very difficult to get out on the battlefield where souls are won and share the gospel. Why is it difficult? Simple. Because it takes much more effort and faith than pointing our fingers, which takes virtually no effort at all. Sometimes, the snakes we are killing need to be killed. It is important that we do not ignore blatant sin in the lives of other believers or that we do not sit silently while false gospels are preached. These are important, but must be balanced with the sharing of the gospel. When we get out and share the gospel something happens to us. It doesn't just change the lives of those with whom we share, it changes us. It softens our hearts to the lost. It makes us more loving and gentle. So, kill snakes, but don't forget to catch fish!
When I realize that I am focusing on all the things that need to change around me instead of focusing on all of the dying souls, I remember this story. My Grandpa is a very wise man. He knows all too well my tendency to want to kill all of the snakes. God made me a snake killer! But, he also knows that it would be sinful for all of my efforts and energy to be focused there. And, afterall, God has commanded me to be a fisherman. I sure am thankful for my Grandpa and all the godly wisdom he shares.
Showing posts with label witnessing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label witnessing. Show all posts
Monday, September 26, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
A Marine Recruiter and the Gospel
**Disclaimer: I am in no way trying to show bias or favoritism for one branch over another. Both of my brothers are Marines, though one is now a Sailor (Once a Marine, always a Marine.), and I have a very dear friend who is a Soldier. These are just the facts of this particular story.
My younger brother, Andrew, is currently a Marine recruiter, though his MOS is forward observer. He is really great as what he does...really great. Part of what makes him so great at getting recruits is this: he really believes the Marine Corps to be the superior branch. That might sound arrogant, but can you imagine wanting to buy a Browning shotgun from someone who is very outspoken about Remington being the best? No! And probably, the salesman would not enjoy selling Brownings because his passion is for Remingtons. So, since Andrew's passion is for the Marine Corps, and it is very evident, it makes possible recruits also feel that the Marines must be the best. The other day while I was speaking with him on the phone he began relaying to me a story of some nearby Army recruiters. Now, my experience with military is mostly limited to Marines, but I can say with assurance that each branch thinks they are the best. He became frustrated with these particular recruiters because they were lying to their potential recruits. He had heard the same fallacious claims over and over again from one recruit after another. Andrew went to speak with the recruiters and confronted them with lying to people. At first they denied it, and then once they were trapped they had to admit it.
On one of his visits to their office he heard mention that they were going to devote a ceiling tile in their office to the mascot from each high school in which they were allowed to recruit, and paint the mascot onto the ceiling tiles. "Why would you do that?!" was Andrew's response. "So that they feel at home when they come here to talk with us," was the reply he received. "Why would you want them to feel at home here? They are not Soldiers yet! We would never do that. I don't want them to feel at home. I want them to know that the Marine Corps is different from everything else. We will not bring the high school into the Marine Corps. We will take the Marine Corps to the high school." He stressed that he would not be bringing any part of the high school into his office. He feels as though the facts about the Marine Corps speak for themselves and need no gimmicks in order to attract recruits. Apparently, Andrew's speech was fairly convincing because he noticed they never did paint the ceiling tiles.
As I was listening to this story all I could see was the spiritual parallel. Do you see it yet? I'll give you a hint: It has to do with the gospel. Isn't this what we so often do in our culture? To make non-believers feel welcome, we bring their music and even philosophies into the church. So often, we water down the gospel and bring a little bit of the world into the church in order to make it feel more comfortable in hopes they will connect with it. But, the gospel is sufficient. It is powerful and needs no "help" from us in converting souls. Instead of preaching sin and repentance, so many churches are preaching "God is love". God IS love, but until we recognize our sin and repent of it, He is not love to us. He is wrath. (Romans 1:18) Instead of changing the gospel and painting the ceiling tiles of our churches with worldly philosophies, we should be changing the world with the gospel. Instead of bringing the world into the church by luring in the unsaved, let's take the gospel of Jesus out into the world!
As Andrew has a passion for the Marine Corps, let's truly have a passion for Christ and His gospel. Of course, we are superior to no one, but we do have confidence that the way of Christ is the only way that leads to eternal life. (John 14:6) Evangelism is much like recruiting. If Andrew just sat in his office and waited for people to come in, he might obtain a few recruits. But he doesn't do that. He gets out and drives to where the candidates are. We should do the same. Let's go to where the lost are, which is basically everywhere, and share the gospel. Andrew is just helping people find a career path. We have the key to eternal life and forgiveness and communion with God! How much more should we be out seeking "recruits", so to speak?
My younger brother, Andrew, is currently a Marine recruiter, though his MOS is forward observer. He is really great as what he does...really great. Part of what makes him so great at getting recruits is this: he really believes the Marine Corps to be the superior branch. That might sound arrogant, but can you imagine wanting to buy a Browning shotgun from someone who is very outspoken about Remington being the best? No! And probably, the salesman would not enjoy selling Brownings because his passion is for Remingtons. So, since Andrew's passion is for the Marine Corps, and it is very evident, it makes possible recruits also feel that the Marines must be the best. The other day while I was speaking with him on the phone he began relaying to me a story of some nearby Army recruiters. Now, my experience with military is mostly limited to Marines, but I can say with assurance that each branch thinks they are the best. He became frustrated with these particular recruiters because they were lying to their potential recruits. He had heard the same fallacious claims over and over again from one recruit after another. Andrew went to speak with the recruiters and confronted them with lying to people. At first they denied it, and then once they were trapped they had to admit it.
On one of his visits to their office he heard mention that they were going to devote a ceiling tile in their office to the mascot from each high school in which they were allowed to recruit, and paint the mascot onto the ceiling tiles. "Why would you do that?!" was Andrew's response. "So that they feel at home when they come here to talk with us," was the reply he received. "Why would you want them to feel at home here? They are not Soldiers yet! We would never do that. I don't want them to feel at home. I want them to know that the Marine Corps is different from everything else. We will not bring the high school into the Marine Corps. We will take the Marine Corps to the high school." He stressed that he would not be bringing any part of the high school into his office. He feels as though the facts about the Marine Corps speak for themselves and need no gimmicks in order to attract recruits. Apparently, Andrew's speech was fairly convincing because he noticed they never did paint the ceiling tiles.
As I was listening to this story all I could see was the spiritual parallel. Do you see it yet? I'll give you a hint: It has to do with the gospel. Isn't this what we so often do in our culture? To make non-believers feel welcome, we bring their music and even philosophies into the church. So often, we water down the gospel and bring a little bit of the world into the church in order to make it feel more comfortable in hopes they will connect with it. But, the gospel is sufficient. It is powerful and needs no "help" from us in converting souls. Instead of preaching sin and repentance, so many churches are preaching "God is love". God IS love, but until we recognize our sin and repent of it, He is not love to us. He is wrath. (Romans 1:18) Instead of changing the gospel and painting the ceiling tiles of our churches with worldly philosophies, we should be changing the world with the gospel. Instead of bringing the world into the church by luring in the unsaved, let's take the gospel of Jesus out into the world!
As Andrew has a passion for the Marine Corps, let's truly have a passion for Christ and His gospel. Of course, we are superior to no one, but we do have confidence that the way of Christ is the only way that leads to eternal life. (John 14:6) Evangelism is much like recruiting. If Andrew just sat in his office and waited for people to come in, he might obtain a few recruits. But he doesn't do that. He gets out and drives to where the candidates are. We should do the same. Let's go to where the lost are, which is basically everywhere, and share the gospel. Andrew is just helping people find a career path. We have the key to eternal life and forgiveness and communion with God! How much more should we be out seeking "recruits", so to speak?
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
What is the Gospel?
What is the gospel? Well, it literally means "good news". But before we discuss the good news let's make sure we're clear on the bad news.
The Bad News:
1. You have broken God's law by lying, stealing, committing adultery, and probably much more.
Matthew 5:8, "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." God judges our hearts and intentions as evidenced in the previous verse.
2. Because you have broken God's law and, thus, sinned against Him, your penalty is death and Hell.
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death..."
Revelation 21:8 "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
The Good News: (The Gospel)
1. Christ has paid the debt for many on the cross by shedding His blood.
Hebrew 9:28 "so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him."
Leviticus 17:11 "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life."
2. He became a propitiation for our sins. Propitiation means that He quenched God's wrath on behalf of those He chose.
Romans 3:25 "...whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith."
3. It is a gift that is initiated by God and God alone. The Father chose some, the Son died for the ones the Father chose, and the Holy Spirit regenerates those.
Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God."
Romans 9:16 & 18 "So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy. So the He has mercy on whomever He wills, and He hardens whomever He wills."
Hebrews 12:2 "...looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
The first two points are collectively called justification. Justification- an instantaneous legal action of God wherein He thinks of our sin as forgiven and Christ's righteousness is imputed onto us. In justification God declares us to be righteous in His sight.
So what is required of you?
1. Come
Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
2. Believe
John 1:11&12 "He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." This is more than just a mental agreement to the veracity of the facts for, "You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!" James 2:19 It is putting your trust in Christ as your only hope for salvation, and then repenting.
3. Repent
Mark 1:15 "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
If your soul is hanging in the balance, I pray that you would think deeply about this and plead with God to have mercy on you! If your soul is hidden in Christ, I pray that you would realize that there are many whose souls are not and that you would take seriously your responsibility to share the gospel with them! (Share the bad news first so they know why the good news matters.)
Romans 3:22- 26: "...the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
The Bad News:
1. You have broken God's law by lying, stealing, committing adultery, and probably much more.
Matthew 5:8, "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." God judges our hearts and intentions as evidenced in the previous verse.
2. Because you have broken God's law and, thus, sinned against Him, your penalty is death and Hell.
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death..."
Revelation 21:8 "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
The Good News: (The Gospel)
1. Christ has paid the debt for many on the cross by shedding His blood.
Hebrew 9:28 "so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him."
Leviticus 17:11 "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life."
2. He became a propitiation for our sins. Propitiation means that He quenched God's wrath on behalf of those He chose.
Romans 3:25 "...whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith."
3. It is a gift that is initiated by God and God alone. The Father chose some, the Son died for the ones the Father chose, and the Holy Spirit regenerates those.
Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God."
Romans 9:16 & 18 "So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy. So the He has mercy on whomever He wills, and He hardens whomever He wills."
Hebrews 12:2 "...looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
The first two points are collectively called justification. Justification- an instantaneous legal action of God wherein He thinks of our sin as forgiven and Christ's righteousness is imputed onto us. In justification God declares us to be righteous in His sight.
So what is required of you?
1. Come
Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
2. Believe
John 1:11&12 "He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." This is more than just a mental agreement to the veracity of the facts for, "You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!" James 2:19 It is putting your trust in Christ as your only hope for salvation, and then repenting.
3. Repent
Mark 1:15 "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
If your soul is hanging in the balance, I pray that you would think deeply about this and plead with God to have mercy on you! If your soul is hidden in Christ, I pray that you would realize that there are many whose souls are not and that you would take seriously your responsibility to share the gospel with them! (Share the bad news first so they know why the good news matters.)
Romans 3:22- 26: "...the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
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