Christianity has become a soft, timid religion. We are more concerned about winning arguments, political debates, and convincing people that their beliefs are wrong. We are focused on the wrong target. As a result, we have lost our effectiveness and have become a joke.
Many Christians are afraid to stand up and proclaim that Jesus Christ is God and eternal life is only possible through Him. Yet, Jesus said:
John 14:6 – Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no
one goes to the Father except by me. (NIV)
And:
Matthew 7:13-14 – Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and
broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But
small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
(NIV)
He seems to be saying, repeatedly and clearly, that there are not many ways to heaven, but One. So, Christians needs to stand and proclaim for all to hear that Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life. This is not done to win a debate, but to change an eternal destination.
However, we are timid and fearful that we might offend someone or someone might become upset that we are not more tolerant of their beliefs. Let me say, simply, this is not an issue of tolerance. I can tolerate your beliefs just fine. I just can’t sit back and let you think that you are right or that it doesn’t matter. I do not need to convince you that you are wrong, but introduce you to the One that is THE TRUTH so that deception can melt away. It is critically important that the light of truth shine. There is only ONE WAY to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 1:7 – For God did not give us a Spirit of fear; but of power and of
love, and of a sound mind. (KJV)
John 14:15-17 – If you love me, you will obey my commandments. I will ask
the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you
forever. He is the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God. The world cannot
receive him, because it cannot see him or know him. But you know him,
because he remains with you and is in you. (NIV)
Jesus left us to return to the Father. He did not do this out of selfish gain. In fact, it was just the opposite. He had to leave us so that we could receive His Spirit, One that would never leave us and would always remain with us. The Spirit is given so that we can carry out the mission Jesus gave just before ascending into heaven:
Matthew 28:18-20 – And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All
authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and
make disciple of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I
commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
(NIV)
The only way to accomplish this mission is to proclaim the truth in love and grace. We are not to demean or belittle to win a debate; we are to encourage and lift people up pointing them to the Lover of their soul. We are to introduce them to the only One that can give them eternal life! Then, we can welcome them into the family to become part of the body. No arguments. No debates; just faith, hope, and love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 – And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But
the greatest of these is love. (NIV)
1 John 4:16 – And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is
love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. (NIV)
Happy New Year!
Many Christians are afraid to stand up and proclaim that Jesus Christ is God and eternal life is only possible through Him. Yet, Jesus said:
John 14:6 – Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no
one goes to the Father except by me. (NIV)
And:
Matthew 7:13-14 – Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and
broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But
small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
(NIV)
He seems to be saying, repeatedly and clearly, that there are not many ways to heaven, but One. So, Christians needs to stand and proclaim for all to hear that Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life. This is not done to win a debate, but to change an eternal destination.
However, we are timid and fearful that we might offend someone or someone might become upset that we are not more tolerant of their beliefs. Let me say, simply, this is not an issue of tolerance. I can tolerate your beliefs just fine. I just can’t sit back and let you think that you are right or that it doesn’t matter. I do not need to convince you that you are wrong, but introduce you to the One that is THE TRUTH so that deception can melt away. It is critically important that the light of truth shine. There is only ONE WAY to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 1:7 – For God did not give us a Spirit of fear; but of power and of
love, and of a sound mind. (KJV)
John 14:15-17 – If you love me, you will obey my commandments. I will ask
the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you
forever. He is the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God. The world cannot
receive him, because it cannot see him or know him. But you know him,
because he remains with you and is in you. (NIV)
Jesus left us to return to the Father. He did not do this out of selfish gain. In fact, it was just the opposite. He had to leave us so that we could receive His Spirit, One that would never leave us and would always remain with us. The Spirit is given so that we can carry out the mission Jesus gave just before ascending into heaven:
Matthew 28:18-20 – And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All
authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and
make disciple of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I
commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
(NIV)
The only way to accomplish this mission is to proclaim the truth in love and grace. We are not to demean or belittle to win a debate; we are to encourage and lift people up pointing them to the Lover of their soul. We are to introduce them to the only One that can give them eternal life! Then, we can welcome them into the family to become part of the body. No arguments. No debates; just faith, hope, and love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 – And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But
the greatest of these is love. (NIV)
1 John 4:16 – And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is
love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. (NIV)
Happy New Year!
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