If you are prone to being offended by my commentary on the church, either redirect your browser to somewhere less controversial or feel free to go here and pick up a few items for the stoning that I sense is heading my way.
Maybe it is just me, but I’ve noticed recently that most Christians I know are not sharing the gospel anymore. Well, they are sharing something…it’s just not the gospel. Seriously…it just seems like most of the Christians I know are not telling anyone the good news of (whispering…) Jesus…Christ.
“Hold on there Fletch…are you saying what I think you are saying? You pointing fingers? Publically? On your blog? You don’t know of any Christians sharing the gospel? Well, listen here, Mr. MangoTimes big-mouth…I think you are full of peach juice and limeade! I know plenty of Christians that are out there telling others about what they believe. These are good home-schooling families…doctrinally sound…conservative folks…with obedient, well-tempered children…that know the gospel inside and out…and they are out in the world regularly sharing their beliefs. How is it that you don’t see that from your lofty perch in Mangoland?”
I know a lot of these folks too and before you start lobbing quarry rocks, listen to what I’m actually saying.
I said that I don’t see many Christians sharing the gospel. I didn’t say they weren’t busy sharing what they believe. They are definitely busy…only they are busy sharing a LIFESTYLE. There is an enormous difference between sharing a lifestyle and sharing the gospel. One message is based on what HAS BEEN DONE for you and the other is steeped in what YOU MUST DO. Can you see the difference?
There are plenty of individuals and families out sharing what they believe. I’ve heard friends passionately share their belief in homeschooling. I’ve heard people share how they arrived at allowing God to bless them with a quiverful of children. I’ve heard parents share why they believe in worshiping corporately with their kids. Some believe in the perfect liturgy. Others believe in what they deem proper music. There are those that share what they believe to be right about their denomination. Others have strong beliefs in their version of the Bible. Some believe strongly in the correct political party. Today’s Christians believe in their list of the really bad sins. They believe in what they deem proper modest attire. They believe in the perfect curriculum. They believe in their theology. The list could go on and on of what they believe and how they practice their faith and they are bold messengers of what they think and how they live!
These “lifestyle evangelists” are not sharing the gospel! Their time and their focus is given to convincing others to follow them and to adopt their choices. Instead of providing hope to the hopeless, they encourage others to “be the same as them and DO the same as them.” Know what I mean? It goes something like this: “We’re Christians…we follow Christ…let me show you how we live our lives and why we’ve made these choices in life,” instead of “We follow Christ, let me tell you who He is and what He did!”
I realize that I am oversimplifying things here, but that is how we do things at theMangoTimes. We provide gross generalizations and leave it to you to refine our comments and find the truth in what is being said. In general, I don’t find anything wrong in sharing your life with others, I do it here on theMangoTimes regularly. But, it’s not the gospel, it has no power in and of itself to save you or spare you. It might help and improve your life, but that’s not the gospel! As Christians, our instructions were not to convert people to a lifestyle of modern evangelicalism or rigid orthodoxy, we were instructed to share the good news and to give others a reason for the hope we have.
Lastly, I’m not stupid. I recognize that there are some believers who know and speak of the gospel regularly, only I see them doing that typically with other Christians. Don’t get me wrong, I believe the gospel needs to be repeated to believers (regularly!) and that’s one of the reasons I am a huge advocate of weekly communion. It gives both believers and unbelievers hope.f
How about you? Are you busy telling others the good news of Christ’s finished work on the cross? His redemption of sinners? Or have you fallen into the trap of sharing a lifestyle with others? One has the power to save, the other is just busy work!
I guess what I’m saying is that more folks(myself included) need to share less of their own story and their own lifestyle choices, and share more of Christ’s story and more of his lifestyle.
***UPDATE***
Kelly’s comment below led me back to her site where I read this post. It’s a great little video about Penn Gillette (Penn and Teller) and his interaction with a Christian after a show. It’s worth the watch!
Quiely Making Noise,
Fletch
Posted on June 3rd, 2009 by Fletch
Filed under: What I believe
The only stones I will be throwing are at myself! I am more then guilty of sharing my lifestyle choices. However I am finding my family going through one of the most difficult times in our life and I see it as a growing time for us and a time to learn to step out and be bold about THE GOSPEL!
Kelly, I just tracked back to your site and watched the Penn Gillette interview, so I linked to it in this post! Wow!
Very appropriate admonition Fletch. Thanks!
Oh yeah wow! It is amazing that this man does not yet see Gods hand in his life, I continue to pray for his salvation….what a glorious day that will be!
True.
I have a hard time figuring out how to get around people who don’t know Jesus. Other than the few friends I have from the olden days of work, I don’t actually know that many people who don’t know Jesus.
I do pray for opportunities, but the actual telling is something I know I am not doing as I should.
Great post.
Wow, extremely insightful post.
I am working with a young woman right now who was raised in an evangelical Christian home and has been on her own for about 10 years. At a young age, she “walked the aisle” and “prayed the prayer”. In the past year, she has been having major doubts and has become quite cynical of God, the Bible and the Church.
Many well-meaning people have tried to bolster her faith and reassure her that she is just going through a phase. Yesterday, I took the audacious step of suggesting to her that she is actually probably NOT born again; i.e. has never really heard the Gospel. Quoted here is her reply to me,
“I have never felt what you describe your relationship with God to be. As hard as I’ve tried in the past and as much as I’ve asked God for that… never felt it. I think you are right in that I have never “heard” the Gospel. I have felt my whole life that I might not really be “born again” and every time I said something people told me I was fine. How arrogant. Anyway, it’s actually refreshing to be taken seriously. Thanks for your prayers. I really mean that. I am terrified and I know I need them.”
This girl has been immersed her whole life in a “culture of Christianity” but has probably never been exposed to the radical life-changing Truth.
By God’s grace, I will begin sharing with her the Truth that can set her free!
Read Acts 4.
Peter and John had been arrested for teaching and preaching in the Temple without proper authorization from the chief priests, elders and scribes(the government in Israel at that time). At the hearing, they were admonished to no longer teach or preach in the name of Jesus. Peter told them that they would do as God said to do, rather than follow the instruction men.
They met with the other believers, told them of the circumstances. What was the response of the believers?
Before I answer that question, let’s think about what the possible responses of Christians today.
1). Go to one of the many pro bono legal teams that specifically deal with Christian first amendment issues for support.
2). Write a letter to the editor, telling the public how evil the government is for violating our free speech rights.
3). Start a campaign to elect people to office who would support public preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus.
4). Label those who support the government threat as enemies of God.
These are a few possible responses, but by no means is it exhaustive. Now, let’s look at what the believers in Acts 4 did.
And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’– for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
(Act 4:24-30 ESV)
They had a prayer meeting in which they asked God for two things:
1). Boldness to continue to speak the word, and
2). That God would give them opportunities to speak the word.
WOW!! Let’s look at God’s response.
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
(Act 4:31 ESV)
God gave them boldness to speak the word. This pattern is repeated throughout the book of Acts. I feel that this is what is missing among believers today. We are looking to the government to not only protect and give us rights, but to see things our way as well. Let me just remind you that this is the world that we are talking about. God is our Source. He is the one who not only gives us the right but also the authority to speak His word.
So, what will you do? Will you pray for opportunities and boldness? Remember, that even though it may not be acceptable, or even legal to speak the word, it is still our choice whether or not to do so. The question is, Are you willing to pay the price for your boldness.
Thanks for the opportunity to share with you
God’s Blessings
Dave
I’ve been in the church my whole life. My faith is very real, but it is a mystery to me how people come to faith later in life. I guess it’s a mystery to them as well. The Lord has been leading me in directions that are showing me that I need to get back to the basics of my faith…to the reality of who Christ is and what he’s done for me.
I’ve got a head full of knowledge from life and seminary, but it is all ashes apart from Christ. I value the teaching I have received, but sometimes it is necessary to pull back and look at the reason the teaching is there in the first place.
One of my seminary professors, Richard Pratt, discussed in class one day about his move from the more emotionally focused doctrines to Reformed Theology which is more intellectual.
He said “I lost Christ, when you study Christiology you lose Christ.” He wasn’t denouncing the study of theology and doctrine, just showing how easy it is to lose focus on the foundation of all we are as Christians.
When you focus too much on emotions, you can lose the grounding of your mind and can be more prone to fall for false doctrine. When you focus too much on the intellect you can lose your grounding in the heart and lose the passion for the lost and even for Christ’s work in your own life. We must have balance.
I agree with Penn’s comment that if we truly believe that people are dying and going to hell, we should be out there doing the work. I know I’m guilty of worrying too much about what other people think. I have the tendency to want to present the gospel like a persuasive speech or some kind of ad copy that is designed to sell something. That was the evangelism training I received in my youth and it still sticks even though it doesn’t work. It’s time for me to fall on my face and ask the Holy Spirit to teach me.
It’s interesting how often God uses atheists to open my eyes about things. He reveals himself in so many wonderful ways.