When a Listener Wants to Compromise
... Sometimes when we are sharing the gospel, a listener may respond with questions about ‘what is allowed’ for Christians. This is actually very common. "If I accept the Lord, can I still go to parties?" they may ask. "Can I still drink beers? Or is it alright if I still smoke?" Or many other such questions..... Even if some of their requests are perfectly permissible, their basic attitude shows that they are talking in terms of exceptions and compromises, rather than a true commitment. They are focused on what they wish to withhold from God, rather than what they must commit to Him. And God requires a focused commitment if we are to approach Him:
.... "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
(James 4:8)
.... When questions like these are asked, try explaining that the Lord is the Almighty, the Most High, and that He allows no higher priority in our lives than Himself. So whether or not those things are allowable for others, if the listener values them more highly than a commitment to God, then the Lord is sure to require it from them. For God will suffer no rivals for their loyalty.
.... In a similar way, some listeners may try to make a partial commitment, or to believe with a caveat, or to ‘make a deal’ with God that would exclude certain areas of their life. It is very tempting to seize whatever progress you can and to want to appear generous and willing to compromise. But the Lord has clearly shown us that He will not accept this:
.... "Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
(Luke 9:57-62)
.... The only real help you can offer such a person is to tell them the truth, and try to talk to them about it: that receiving Christ means the creation of a covenant: an absolute commitment of life itself an all to which it pertains, having no limits or terms, and which never expires.
.... If they still insist on compromise you must tell them Sorry, but no deal. But even then, make sure they know how to respond to the gospel before sending them away. Try to insure that they have access to the Scriptures as well, and remember to pray for them. You may be finished with them for now, but your senior partner in evangelism, the Lord Himself, may just be getting started (Romans 10:1; Philippians 1:4-6; 1 Timothy 2:1-4). And in the end, it is usually worth the delay to insure it is done correctly.
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Daily Bible Reading: Luke 4
posted by loren at 2:22 AM
2 Comments:
In a similar way, when you are sharing the gospel, your listener may pose a series of situations and ask to hear what God thinks about them. Basically, they want you to judge those little situations. If you know the answers from Scripture, try to quote that Scriptures and tell them what the Lord has to say about them. But bear in mind that, beneath the ‘let’s suppose’ nature of these questions, they are in all likelihood talking about themselves and their own, real thoughts or history. So even if they’re talking about sin, it is best to talk on terms of forgiveness and reconciliation, and not condemnation.
After all, why should anyone come to a God who (according to your judgment) can’t wait to throw them into hell? But what a relief to hear that their sin is not beyond His ability to forgive, or even His fervent desire, if only they will humble themselves and commit themselves to Him! And that’s is God’s goal for their life as well.
By
loren, at 7/05/2005 2:32 AM
I once worked with a young man who became an object lesson for me. We were both on the assembly line and I shared the gospel with him. He really wasn’t wanting to hear this, so I told him as much as I could (just short of a reaction,) and let him go at that point -- because that’s how my senior Partner, the Lord, led me to handle it.
Months later I had an extended opportunity to talk to him again, and now he began asking me to judge little situations. But he was still not ready to commit himself, so again I felt the Lord telling me to entrust it back to Him.
About a year later our schedules changed again, and I encountered him in the cafeteria at work. He now had a pocket New testament that he was reading, and he wanted to talk about it. Since the last time I’d seen him, God has sent another Christian into his life who had now found him fully prepared, and was able to actually lead him to the Lord. So both he who sowed and he who reaped rejoice together!
By
loren, at 7/05/2005 2:33 AM
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