We can all agree that there is one Gospel – but if we take scripture seriously, we have to admit that there are several parts to the gospel. Paul talks about the Gospel of the uncircumcised and the gospel of the circumcised… One of the contributors to this months Leadership magazine shared the following about the way he shares the Gospel:
” I take a page from Kierkegaard’s The Sickness Unto Death and define sin as building your identity; your self-worth and happiness on anything other than God. That is, I use the biblical definition of sin as idolatry. That puts the emphasis not as much on “doing bad things” but on “making good things into ultimate things.”
Instead of telling them they are sinning because they are sleeping with their girlfriend or boyfriend, I tell them that they are sinning because they are looking to their romances to give their lives meaning, to justify and save them, to give them what they should be looking for from God. This idolatry leads to anxiety, obsessiveness, envy, and resentment. I have found that when you describe their lives terms of idolatry, postmodern people do not give much resistance. Then Christ and and His salvation can be presented not (at this point) so much as their only hope for forgiveness, but as their only hope for freedom. This is my gospel for the uncircumcised.”
What do you think?
What is “postmodern”?
What do you think of this statement?
It’s alot of things. Here I think he’s referring to the system of thought (philosophy) of relativity – the modern era brought science to the forefront – and so modern thinkers, like ourselves cling to things like apologetics to build our system of beliefs. Postmoderns put more emphasis on feeling than on the facts (“Science and Progress don’t speak as loud as my heart”)…
Do you feel this is weakening the conviction of sin ??
My last response was to Steve’s question.
Jim, I understand what he is saying – if someone does not think that pre-marital sex is a sin, then what this guy says makes a lot of sense. He’s making an appeal to the convictions that make sense to them – and he says clearly that he’s introducing this to them in increments… there’s more truth to reveal.
I don’t think it weakens the conviction of sin if people aren’t convicted by it in the first place.
Well, we come to Christ by the power of the Spirit. So if we are “postmodern” and driven by feelings and self interests, and come to Christ for these reasons, then won’t the Spirit work in such persons to convict them and change them progressively?
I guess I mean, won’t the spirit convict us of our sin?
God has a holy standard of perfection that He has given to us. When we sin we miss that mark.
Therefore, to the person who knows to do good and does not do it, to them it is sin (James 4:17).
I think we must be able to relate to all people as we present the gospel to them.
I agree with you Rande and I think this should cause us to put a lot of prayer and thought into our sharing the gospel.
Yes Steve the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin but I believe we must be aware of the persons way of thinking to help us know how the Lord would like to share with them through me.
Galatians 2:7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised. (ESV)
I think you’re right Steve – it’s just the part about realizing it’s a progression… and that it’s about understanding the people we share with may have extremely different perspectives than we do… and letting the Spirit do HIS work.
Jason, in what way should we relate to them??
How does this apply?
Time fly’s when you’re a slow typer, huh?
I agree Jim. The few times that I have been blessed to go with Jason and witness, I am convicted that there cannot be a formula. The Lord invites us to “come, let us reason together”. People who are really interested in what God has to say to them often have questions, and want to reason with God. It is good to explain the law to them, but this generation is not held accountable anywhere. Not in school or at home. There are no consequences. It is hard for them to imagine a God that will punish them. I often see Jason take the time to explain how God is perfect and why we do not want a God who does not punish. We cannot simply preach at them. We must listen and allow the Spirit to respond to the individual.
sorry crying kids over here. For examplePaul did not changed his doctrine or message to appeal to different groups (he denies this in 1 Corinthians 1:22-23); but he would change his behavior and manner of approach.
Are you making fun of me Rande ? See you guys on Saturday.
Good night
good night!
We’ll carry on next time…
Man I need to learn how to type faster so I can join in more on the conversation that is taking place. 30 min just fly.
See you all Saturday.
good night
As Steve said, people who are really interested in what God has to say to them often have questions, and want to reason with God.
Example this last Friday in the streets of West Covina I ran into a man who was reading a book on demons. As I approached him to give him a tract he rather harshly said no, I felt that the Spirit was leading me to walk away from this man. Now my brother on the other hand decided that he would challenge the man and try to share with him, to make a long story short the man was not willing to hear anything about Christ and just wanted to argue and debate us. Thought we shared Christ with him he did not receive.
Later that evening I approached 3 young men who appeared to be gangsters, and by Gods grace one of them had an open heart to hear the gospel and let me share Christ with him.
Other times we have ran into 16 and 20 year old skaters, and being that I once many, many, many years ago was a skater I was able to relate to them and share the gospel with them and they received it.
I guess what I am saying is that in one night the Lords led us to 3 types of people, a demonist, gangster and skater, we have even be having an encounter with a JW who is very set in her ways. And again Paul did not changed his doctrine or message to appeal to different groups (he denies this in 1 Corinthians 1:22-23); but he would change his behavior and manner of approach.
I love how we are chatting about how to share our faith, but I tell you one thing the Lord has shown me is this, that if we are willing to go out and share our faith and let the Spirit lead us, He can do great and might things, you know as we sing on Sundays, Our God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save” I trust we all believe that.
There are many times when I leave my house feeling unworthy and unequipped to share Christ, but as we step out in faith, with our faith anchored in Christ He is always there, for He as said, “He is with us always even to the end of the age” and even when I tell my self “I could of said that, or should have said this” I walk away knowing that we shared Christ. And that is the goal to share Christ right?
Correction to thought 5, It should read “I guess what I am saying is that in one night the Lord led us to 3 types of people”
Good evening.
Anyone here tonight?
Everyone forgot?!
Oh. Maybe we agreed to post a topic and discuss at will? I think we were supposed to carry on from last week, right?
I’m in Ohio, and it’s almost midnight, so I’m off to bed…