Pathfinder7
Well-Known Member
You wrote,Good post
What if there is a doctrine, a theological system that perhaps 90% of the church has bought into and believes and clings on to like a babe clings on to it's teddy bear? what if this theology, this mind set, makes us be the kind of christian you are describing because the description sure is recognizable.
There IS such a doctrine, folks hold onto it as tight as they hold on to salvation and this doctrine, this theology has the effect of bringing evangelism to a screeching halt.
There IS such a doctrine, it is the doctrine that teaches that human beings have freewill. This doctrine comes along with the idea that in order to be saved a person must hear the gospel, must be convinced that it is true, must decide to turn away from sin, must turn to the Lord and must receive Him. Now all these things may be true ... but where it goes wrong is when we believe it depends upon human freewill and our task is to persuade the human freewill of all these matters.
As soon as you are confronted with the dopehead in the shop doorway or the hooker on the kerbside you are defeated before you even begin. You know there is ZERO chance, you come to be either levite that passes by on the other side or you become the fire and brimstone zealot calling down God's wrath unless they repent and do as you say.
Did you know evangelism was not like that in the bible? Did you know the NT does not once talk about human freewill? Human freewill only has about 4 entries in the OT and all to do with offerings [because God never demands back something He has given]
It is true that people must hear and believe and receive ... but that is God's job and He'll do it.
I love the story David Wilkinson tells about the gang leader who pulled a knife on him and frightened the living stuff outta him, and in his fright and confusion he blurted "Jesus loves you Nicky"
That's it baby, that's the whole kaboodle, that's all the gospel Nicky Cruz got .... and God wouldn't let him sleep until he came begging for it.
"I love the story David Wilkerson tells about.."
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'The Cross and the Switchblade'
- Interesting story of his pioneering/street ministry in New York.
One of the books that had impact/influence..
- During early years of my spiritual journey.
- 1970's
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