What Is Success In Evangelism?

In an age when true evangelism is considered passe or unsophisticated by its cultured despisers, may we believers never adopt such corrupt thinking.  In a retrograde culture where right is considered wrong, and God is said to be irrelevant, may we believers shine as lights in this present darkness.

     "What is success in evangelism?  Is it when the person you witness to comes to Christ?  Certainly that's what we want to happen.  But if this is success, are we failures whenever we share the gospel and people refuse to believe?  Was Jesus an "evangelistic failure" when people like the rich young ruler turned away from Him and His message?  Obviously not.  Then neither are we when we present Christ and His message and they turn away in unbelief.  We need to learn that sharing the gospel is successful evangelism.  We ought to have an obsession for souls, and tearfully plead with God to see more people converted, but conversions are the fruit that God alone can give. 
     In this regard we are like the postal service.  Success is measured by the careful an accurate delivery of the message, not by the response of the recipient.  Whenever we share the gospel (which includes the summons to repent and believe), we have succeeded.  In the truest sense, all biblical evangelism is successful evangelism, regardless of the results."

-from "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life" by Donald S. Whitney, p.103.

Are You on the Sidelines?

“Christians are sitting on the sidelines while the culture rots.”  Baloney.

The culture is rotted, that's true.  But make no mistake: studying God's word, preaching God's word, publishing God's word as much as possible, proclaiming God's word publicly and living it out in our lives as we attempt to be faithful followers of Jesus... is exactly and only what the culture needs. 

In other (Biblical) words, “Repent and believe the Gospel!”

But people think,  "It isn't having an effect, things are just getting so much worse by the second!”

What, however, are we to expect by way of results if we are on mission with Jesus?  Adoring crowds and back-slapping congratulations? No! There is such a thing as the “ministry of death.” Christian ministry produces an “aroma of death” to “those who are perishing” (2 Cor 2:14-7, see also carefully 2 Cor 3-4)!

It should be no surprise that the culture has been rotting since the garden of Eden closed. The world's culture doesn't want to hear God's word of grace, mercy, and salvation. Self-serving cultural moral relativism (and its fascist political correctness) is the quite predictable result of scientific materialism an all its incarnations.This includes, by the way, those “ministries” that actively campaign against traditional Biblical Christianity in the name of “embracing” the culture (thereby becoming part of the culture and leaving the rule and reign of God). Christians who attempt to embrace the flatulent winds and grasp the festering waters of our culture in the vain effort to be accepted are finding this only hardens people's hearts against the gospel, which is (all by itself!) “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).

The salt of the earth is also the light of the world. People are welcome to congratulate themselves all they want, but the salt may become tasteless and the light may be extinguished one day when the time of God's patience is exhausted (2 Thess 2:6-12)! Take heart, don't panic, the party is already over.  Most of what we hear about is being exaggerated by a tiny minority of Minitrue wannabes anyway.

In the meantime, the Great Commission is still as true as ever, and we are called, imperfect though we be, to proclaim the truth about the forgiveness that God offers.  God is merciful, full of grace, and willing to forgive and transform whoever is willing to come to Him by faith. That is the truth.

So though the world may seem to be nuts, remember that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm" (Ephesians 6:12-13).

Christians aren't on the sidelines, the world is playing the wrong game.

For another similar perspective that I just found after writing this:

http://thefederalist.com/2015/06/15/christians-need-to-stop-playing-the-self-flagellation-game/

It's Going To Be An Issue

I don't often just re-post items, but this is a good analysis, done quickly after the oral arguments last week. I hope the trend is reversed in days to come. What does the Bible say that we can expect? Don't play along...

Article: "It is Going To Be and Issue" by Albert Mohler

Will Gay Marriage "shut down" the churches in years to come? 

KFC: The Best of Sunday

The new KFC commercial jumped out at me during the games.  It goes something like this: They saved the best for Sundays: the best games, the best sleeping late, the best shopping, the best food.  So, KFC fits in perfectly for your Sunday menu.

So, aside from being a transparent attempt to cash in on Chic-Fil-A being closed on Sundays, the commercial has a glaring omission: The best Christian worship!Or, the Best Family time in Church! Or, the most spiritual day for Christians!  Or anything like that could have been included and been true for a vast number of practicing Christians (who are also steroid chicken munchers watching the NCAA Men's B-Ball Tourney).

I noticed that there were no scenes depicting anyone entering or exiting a church building of any type. At least they could have shown a family happily exiting, shaking off their captivity, and diving full speed for KFC! (Believe me, I have experience seeing this type of thing.)

The really odd thing is the punchline in the ad: TGIS- as in, you got it, thank God it's Sunday!  So, after leaving God out of Sunday, we all just thank God for it?

As I said today during the message, worship is something for which we were built.  I think we are longing to worship in spirit and truth from some place deep within.  It is just sad that this natural impulse hasn't translated very much into what people experience in church.  Again the classic clash between religion and spirituality.  Or is it just laziness?  *sigh*

Another consideration for advertisers might be what is the best of Friday- would a Muslim be ill if Friday prayers were not mentioned?  Or how about the best of Saturday- does this sort of leave out the Jewish Sabbath? I mean, if you're gonna leave something out...

I guess Sundays are nice, and some of the "best" is saved for Sunday.  But I have different reasons for this sentiment than KFC (the junk food formerly known as Kentucky Fried Chicken).

Beck, Baptists, and Bandwagons

I heard this past weekend there was a big rally in Washington, D.C., featuring a talk show host.  Sounds amazing, that a talk show host would draw such a big crowd.  I'd expect someone else, but the talk show host is a guy named Glenn Beck.  When I first heard of Glenn Beck, his network was in the process of launching his TV show.  I listened for a second or two, and turned it off.  Since then, I've heard a few of his opinions, mostly as a way of confirming why I turned his show off.  I found his logic more than questionable, his conclusions unlikely, his tone irritating, and his communication style patronizing.  Just me, I guess...

...because lots of religious people (like me) seem to love him, and are following his lead!  In fact, on the video from last weekend's rally, I saw lots of famous preachers standing behind Glenn Beck.  I saw John Hagee, David Barton, one of Jerry Falwells' sons, and a few other familiar faces.  I feel safe guessing that Dr. Richard Land was there somewhere, thinking he was representing the millions of Southern Baptists. (I later checked, and to my horror it is not only true, but he is one of the people out there on the media selling how awesome the rally was. *I give up.*)

I hear Beck is a former Roman Catholic and a practicing Mormon.  I also heard clips of him praying, and preaching about what is right and wrong in churches.  I think he must be a leader of preachers and churches now, rather than a talk show host.

Glenn Beck must have good credentials.  He must have some spiritual gifts and training that have been recognized by churches.  He must have a great Christian testimony and be involved in reaching out to those who don't know Jesus Christ as Savior.  He must have compelling ideas that are truly of God, since he has so many famous preachers standing behind him. 

It may be a matter of debate, but I'd guess none of the above are true. 

What is true is that Christians need to submit their minds to God, and must live and act and have their being in Jesus.  Christians must think, and must rely on their theological grounding and cultural savvy to assist in living out a God centered view of life.  Jumping on a bumper sticker bandwagon is no substitute.  To have a vicarious Christian life is to live on the ragged edge of disaster.

Sincere Christians must ask: Who is driving this bandwagon, and why?  Further, is it not the responsibility of famous preachers to lead Christians and save the world by methods more spiritual than those of Glenn Beck?

I'll conclude this ramble with Matthew 16:23: But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." Not only this but also Romans 12:2:" And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

God bless- now please go pray and think.

Happy because of Jesus,
Pastor James Jordan