Recently I've been thinking a lot about the sins in this world. I see the problems and the pain spread out across the nations. There are so many things that just aren't the way I've understood God to be intending them. Of course as a Christian, I want those things to change. Therein lies the problem.
As that mindset stands, all I'm accomplishing is behavior modification. I'm getting people to cease the wrong action, the behavior I don't like, but what is that really doing? Is this a works based salvation? Am I saving these people by getting them to abstain from the sins of their life? No. Well, what then? Am I making myself feel better knowing that I have preached the gospel? Maybe. Except, that's only sort of the gospel.
The problem is that the good news message, the gospel of Jesus Christ, is that Jesus died and rose again for the sins of the world. That's it. That is what Jesus did and that sacrifice is what needs be believed in, if one wishes to receive eternal life. However, if someone truly believes in and accepts Christ as his savior, his life will reflect that.
The bible tells us how to live, work, act, and think in a way that is honoring to Christ. However, it is meaningless, absolutely senseless, unless we do those things with Christ as our focus. To do these things without the love of Christ in your heart is to do them emptily. This is not a works based salvation. It means nothing.
To tell someone to change a behavior before telling them about Jesus Christ is to miss the point, in my opinion. We are told to speak in love lest we be clanging cymbals. This does not mean we need to gloss over or refrain from the truth by any means. However, discernment is beneficial.
Consider it: you're speaking to a homosexual person and telling him that if he doesn't cease his homosexual actions, he's going to burn in hell for eternity. You're talking to a person of another religion and telling him that his religion will lead him straight to hell because there is only one way to heaven. You're telling the transgendered that there are only two biological genders and that God's design isn't faulty. You're telling the feminist to respect the set order that God has created.
Why. Are. You. Not. Telling. Them. About. God.
Why on earth would the people you talk to care anything about the God that you profess if they don't know him? Change for God? Who is this God?
Before we stand before someone and declare his need to change his lifestyle to appease God, we must introduce him. We must tell others the good news that Christ died and rose again for the salvation of all people.
All people. Me included.
We can't separate people between the unsaved sinners and the Christians. Why? We somehow forget that we're sinners. We want to rip out the sins from the life of the nonbeliever, but are we stopping to prune our own spiritual gardens?
Let me be clear, I am in no way saying that we should shy from the truth of the gospel. Not at all. We must abide by the gospel. We must do as it calls us and be firm in our convictions.
Let people see you for who you are. Make them aware that you are a fallible human just as much in need of the savior you're advertising. Let them know the promises of God and the hope and restoration found in Him.
Then, if this person desires to seek Christ, help him to prune his life. When the Holy Spirit enters your heart, your life must and will change. There is no question about it. However, if I change my heart to please people, it is not a true change. It is not long lasting. The changes that are resultant of the Holy Spirit are like none other.
"Repent and believe," says the scriptures. There must and will be repentance. However, we also need to foster belief.
Live your life in faith and conviction, unashamed to share your beliefs. Always, always be aware of when your words are the helpful correction of a fellow brother, or the condemnation of a lost child.
