December 14, 2018 – Click here to listen
I went to a prison Wednesday and shared my testimony with 100 or so inmates. One came up to me with a big smile on his face and told me he’d seen me speak at another prison and was looking forward to hearing me again. He walked off and I took my seat and observed another inmate arguing with one of the men who had come with us. The inmate was basically saying that Jesus was never mentioned in the Bible. My friend tired of his ridiculous argument and simply walked away, and then the inmate came and sat next to me. He was not so pleasant. He volunteered that he was in for life for attempted premeditated murder. Then he told me of several murders that he was somehow involved in.
After I gave my testimony, he came up to me and told me that my testimony was powerful, but he believed all that stuff about Jesus Christ was nothing but nonsense. I carefully looked him in the eye and smiled as I told him that God gave him a free will to decide. He gave that same right to the two thieves on the cross. One rejected him and the other confessed that he was a sinner and asked to join Jesus in His kingdom. Jesus told the one who repented, “This DAY you will be in paradise with me.” However, He simply ignored the other and his fate was determined by his words. I told him I hoped that he would change his mind some day because one day he would face God and have to account for his sins alone because he rejected any hope of atonement through Jesus for his sins. He sneered at me and snarled that he wasn’t worried.
Again, I looked him right in the eye and smiled and said, “Then neither am I. The Bible predicted that many will choose the way you are determined to go. ‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.’ No one is going to beg you to accept Christ including me. It is a personal decision.”
He seemed angry when I said that but didn’t say anything further because by that time other inmates were surrounding me asking me questions. Then they were ordered to return to their cells and I didn’t see him again.
I mentioned this guy to my friend who faithfully goes to this prison week after week and he told me the guy was not enamored with Christians and felt the church was hypocritical.
One does not have to go into a correctional institution to find people with that same attitude. Often when Christians are confronted with this situation, they try to disassociate themselves from the church. First if you’re a Christian, church is not something you go to. It’s something you are. You can’t disassociate from church as a Christian any more than you can disassociate from the human race as a person. You don’t go to church. You ARE the church and we are led by none other than God Himself, Jesus Christ.
Yes, the church is imperfect. Did God make a mistake when He set it up? It was His idea you know. The church is comprised of ordinary imperfect people full of flaws who struggle just like the rest of humanity. God’s wisdom is perfect regarding the church. He uses ordinary broken people to demonstrate His incredible grace. We celebrate our redemption and lead others there through imperfect but redeemed lives. He could have spoken to the world directly, but instead chose to use broken people to showcase his grace to a world in need of redemption. Don’t disassociate yourself from the church, instead become an important part of it and it begins with witnessing. But the key is not to beg someone to accept Christ but to tell them about Him and what He has done in our lives.
If we think we can convince others about Christ, we don’t realize that it is God Who calls us into His kingdom. It is God who enables us to understand who Jesus is and why we need Him. And, the power is in the gospel, not in us, so we simply have to share the Word and let the Spirit of God work in their hearts. It takes the Word of God and the Spirit of God to make the children of God, so it’s all about God, but it’s our involvement that God uses as part of the plan to save them.
It is not our responsibility to save anyone; it is their response to His ability, even though it is our responsibility to tell them. That much we know.
It is our responsibility to pray for them too. I have many non-believer friends and I pray for them daily. I talked to one last night and he is far less hostile about Jesus than when we first met, and he soon discovered I was a believer. I think the most powerful way to reach unbelievers is not just to tell them about life as a Christian but enable them to see actions that are not typical to the world and that they admire. Speak with kindness and with gentleness and respect when giving others the reason you have hope in Christ. Don’t destroy your witness for Christ by ridiculing them for their unbelief but earn their respect through your life example. And don’t worry about rejection it is a blessing to you.
1st Pet 3:14
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their intimidation; do not be shaken.” But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope you possess. But respond with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you will be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ . . .
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!