If you want to keep a guy from jumping off a bridge, please don’t try to stop him by just telling him it will hurt if he jumps. Also, I doubt saying, “Go ahead and jump, but you’ll die a HORRIBLE death sucker” is going to help much either! In other words, stating the obvious, especially in a rather mean spirited manner isn’t much of a deterrent to a desperate soul who is likely just seeking help. Wouldn’t it make more sense to convince the jumper of all the incredible reasons he has to live? Speak life…not death!
I’m not going to drone on and on about the subject I have
chosen to speak on today, but know this:
Jesus loves people and expects His kids to show love to others. I do not recall the Lord ever saying,
“Do all you can to shame those sorry, dirty sinners into
repentance. If that doesn’t work, just
scare the bejeebers out of them with some mean-spirited clichés slapped across
your church signs”
Two times this week, I’ve driven by local Dalton churches
that somehow decided it was a great idea to share the following message on
their sign:
“How do you like your eternity? Smoking or non-smoking?”
Honestly, I felt like throwing up! Are you kidding me? I find it to be incredibly nauseating knowing
that any group of believers would stoop to that level of manipulation and so
mindlessly paint such a villainous picture of “the Church” and Christianity.
I can hear people now, “Yeah Ken, but that’s true! If they don’t turn…they’re gonna burn!”
I will not deny it.
That is true, BUT good grief people, is that the “good news” message of
the Gospel Jesus called us all to share?
“Hey guys, listen up.
I’ve got some good news for you.
If you don’t turn from your rotten sin, you’re going to Hell and will
burn forever!”
THAT…is NOT good news.
THAT, is only part of the story, and NOT the best part at all!
The problem with the “Hell’s waiting for you sucker” message
conveyed on these signs is it only speaks of the end result of dying in one’s
sin, and NOTHING of God’s grace, love, or His amazing remedy for our sin
condition through His son. Not only
that, it absolutely gives off a “We Christians are good, but you suck”
attitude.
Jesus came to set the captives free! His coming was nothing less than a rescue
mission put into motion by a merciful Father that wants no one to perish! In fact, let’s just look at one of the
fundamental scriptures used throughout history in conveying the “good news” of
the Gospel to the world.
Jesus said it this way in the book of John, “For God so
loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in
Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”
Now THAT is good news!
Thank God indeed that Jesus didn’t approach the lost with the same
insensitivity that we do! Read the book
folks! The lost loved the guy! He was awesome and they wanted to be around
him! These sinners knew He cared. They felt a genuine sense of love and
compassion emanating from him and THAT SINCERITY OPENS DOORS EVERY TIME!
And what about our, “Hey buddy, go ahead and jump cause no
one cares” message?
All I can say is this:
One day we will all give an account for our words,
attitudes, and actions. My fear is that
many of us will be shocked to find out much of what we considered to be “evangelistic”
was in reality nothing more than. . . .
Pride
