October 15, 2015
Full Light
I like to watch crime drama
TV shows, but find them frustrating when investigators at the crime scene look
for evidence with a small high-beamed flashlight. I want them to turn up the
lights so I can see the whole area and any clues that may be in the shadows. It
occurs to me that when witnessing to unbelievers many of us are like
investigators — we put a beam of light on select characteristics of Jesus like
love and forgiveness; while we leave obedience and repentance in the shadows.
Jesus, the light of the world, said, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it
under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? For
whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant
to be brought out into the open” (Mark 4:21-22 NIV).
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2 comments:
Gail;
-----You speak an instructive message. Though you advocate turning on the floodlight, you shined a tiny pin-light on something that came on in my mind like a floodlight.
-----Reflecting on most all of my evangelical attempts, I have noticed the truth in what you say. At different times I’ve spoken to folks about particular, yet different, aspects of the new life and the processes brining it into a soul. I know this in part flows from respect for the mindset of the listener. When people open to the gospel like a flower to the sun, their attention has turned there from facing personal conundrums. But these issues are yet upon their hearts, and not only does keeping their attention require your addressing those issues, but also their ability to understand the concepts of the gospel and begin unpacking it will come through those aspects of it most relating to their imminent concerns.
-----That’s a valid reason for shining a pin-light on this aspect of the gospel, that aspect, or the other for a listener. When Philip joined the Ethiopian eunuch on the road to Gaza, he began his dialogue with Isaiah, where the eunuch had been reading, about which the eunuch showed curiosity. But he didn’t remain there in Isaiah. When the eunuch saw water he asks to be baptized. He didn’t just guess about baptism. I’m sure God didn’t succinctly poke it into his mind. Obviously, Philip had connected the eunuch’s interests to the rest of the gospel’s important aspects and had explained them, too.
-----The blood moon phenomena and other peculiar, highly coincidental events noticed amongst the stars over the last fifteen years, and some coming in the near future, too, lay down a compelling pile of evidence that time is very short for gospel rejecters to become Jesus accepters. The age of grace is about to close at the opening of God’s wrath pouring upon the evil of earth. That’s a giant Hallelujah! for me. It is an abysmal disaster for those not surrendered to the Lord. And my initiative to run with the gospel message is bumping against the gate like a quarter horse in the starting traps.
-----But I yet am being cautious about speaking out. Having read your blog, I think I now know why. I have some learning to do. I have always known the starting point for delivering the gospel to someone was that person’s compelling issues and questions. But I suspect I must now learn the general spokes connecting the broader categories of issues people face to the heart of the gospel. I now see how important it is to not necessarily bridge to the gospel from their issues, but to expose the interconnections their issues have with the gospel. Then from there, I must categorize all of the important and basic elements of the gospel into one cohesive concept from which they can be quickly unpacked into and interrelated with the topic at hand in an illuminating manner.
-----This is the first time I’ve actually thought about seeking training on spreading the gospel. I might be taking these phenomenal coincidences amongst the stars wrong, but I know I’m not taking the ever increasing need to spread the gospel wrong. And although I know I need some training on how to do that while being the least annoying, I know the Lord told us we would annoy more than we would convince. That’s just the nature of truth in a snake pit.
-----Thank you, Gail.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
Steve,
I think we both have pressing work to do!
Gail
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