I recently came across a group who are giving card-readings at new-age festivals to lead people to an “encounter” with Jesus. It didn't take long to see from their web-page that they are delivering another Jesus from the son of God in the bible. They have the backing of Bethel Church in Redding and their statement of faith is the same as Bethel's. However, they will not talk about sin or repentance. In fact, they pretty much try to disguise the fact that they are so-called Christians.
I suppose they get some of their thinking from Paul who said, “To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak, I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in the blessings.” 1 Corinthians 9:20-23
Did Paul use deception when he shared the gospel? Did Paul intend that we should become like the world and water down the gospel?
I remember when I was 21 years old and I got a job at a factory and wanted to witness to my co-workers. They asked me if I drank and I thought, “If I tell them I don't drink, they will think I'm an old fuddy-duddy, and the bible doesn't prohibit alcohol...” So I answered, “Yes, I drink sometimes.” They wanted me to prove it and so I drank to win them to Christ and overtime, I was backslidden! They ended up winning me over rather than I them. I didn't know that it was not up to me to win people to Christ; it is the work of the Holy Spirit and I don't have to defend or pretend.
The last chapter of the book of Acts gives a clear picture of Paul's passion to share the gospel and some of his methods. As a back-drop, Paul had been in police custody for two years in Caesarea and now was sent to Rome where he continued in police custody for at least another two years. Due to the fact that the charges against him were all cooked up by the Pharisee's, the Romans gave him much freedom and he was allowed to “stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.” (Acts 28:16).
Paul, upon arriving in Rome immediately called together the local leaders of the Jews to state his case before them. They came to his home in “great numbers” and “from morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying TO CONVINCE them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.” (Acts 28:23-24). Paul tried with all his heart to convince them and he was not disguising; hiding or being deceptive.
Some were convinced but I imagine that most of them were not. Keep in mind that those Jews were NOT Christians! Many in our day and age try to say that the Pharisees were Christians who were hypocrites. That is false. They hated Jesus and wanted nothing to do with him, just like many in our world today. When Paul met with them, it was the same as meeting anyone in our time who is not saved. A comparison might be trying to evangelize someone who grew up in the bible-belt and went to church as a child and assume they are Christian because, “This is a Christian country isn't it?”
When Paul saw that they were not receiving his words, he said something many Christians today would say was RUDE. Paul said and I imagine in a lot of passion and anger on behalf of Jesus, “Your hearts are dull and your ears can barely hear, and you have closed your eyes to the truth! I'm done with you! I'm going to the Gentiles for they will listen!”
When Paul said those words, they walked out on him. So be it!
I imagine in our culture today, if someone tried to share the gospel with a New-Ager and they then walked out or stomped away, the average Christian might think he had done something wrong. “Oh, no, I wasn't loving enough! I didn't identify enough with them!”
Once again, we can't convince anyone, it is the Holy Spirit's job but we are to proclaim nevertheless, to one and all – everyone who has ears to hear and wants to listen. Sadly, I think we are coming close to the time where hearts are so hardened that few want to hear. I always think of the verse in Revelation, chapter 16 where God is pouring His wrath out upon the earth and vs. 9 says, “They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give Him the glory.” Again in vs. 10 & 11 after another plague it says, “People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.”
Modern Christianity seems to think that people don't hear or repent because they are wounded. “All they need is a touch from God and they will want to be saved.” That is just not true. It's a matter of who do you want to be god – yourself or Yahweh?
John 15:18-19 says, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
They hate Jesus' exclusivity. They want many roads to lead to God. They want to have a God in their own making. They want a world that is full of robots with no pain. They don't want Jesus to be God because they want to be or become a God. They don't want a Master, they want to do what feels good at the moment. They don't want to give up their pride. They enjoy unbelief. For these reason's and more – they HATE GOD. Even atheists who say they don't believe in Him, reek with anger towards God.
If you love God, please share the gospel but share the whole glorious story, that we are sinners in need of a Saviour. That the whole world has sinned and that every purpose in our heart is bent towards evil and selfishness. That God loves us so much that He decided to take the punishment that we rightly deserve for our sins. He died, He bled for us but He rose again and conquered death and opened the doors to heaven! It is good, glorious news!
Expect to be hated and persecuted but also expect joy when you walk in obedience to your calling. (Evangelism is the call of Christ to His bride). Expect that you will know no greater joy than when someone hears the truth and repents. Expect to be sad and disappointed when they reject Jesus but don't stop! There are jewels waiting to be found.
