I recently picked up the book, How to Give Away Your Faith by Paul Little. I first read this book some 12 years ago but have read it a few times since then. I find it is good to read this book every year or so to refocus my ministry.
Here are some highlights of the book on Hurdling Social Barriers.
"To expect Christian conduct from a person who is not born again is heresy. The appeals of the gospel in terms of conduct and ethics and morality are always based on the assumption that people to whom the injunctions are addressed are Christian."
I read this and have to remind myself that too often I focus on what people are doing wrong and not what is missing in their life. How can we expect a non-believer to act like a believer when they do not have that ability? We need to distance ourselves from being judgemental and instead communicate truth as revealed in Scripture. Too often Christians are identified as the holier than thous but we never can live up to the perfect ideal. Let's meet people where they are and disciple them to Christ!
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Let's meet people where they are and disciple them to Christ!
I would change one word: "Let's meet people where they are and LOVE them to Christ!"
I believe people respond to the Gospel more through our genuine non-agenda love towards them, than any words we might say. Of course, words are important and there comes a time when the Good News must be shared about what Christ has done for them, but our actions of love will speak volumes to making those "spoken words" carry weight.
Not only should we not expect them to act like Christ, but we should not expect them to act like church members either.
Fitting into the church culture is often more daunting for the lost than meeting and following Christ. That is why Jesus wanted us to make disciples, not club members.
However, trying to keep the local organizaiton (church) running often gets in the way of building relationships with those who do not know Jesus. So, we invent programs for evangelism. It is so much easier to follow a program on evangelism than it is to love "gluttons and drunkards." When Jesus did that he was accused of being one himself. Nothing could have been worse in the Pharisee's eyes that to be like "one of them."
Your Brother,
Brent
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