Sadly, I think in most Western churches, there is little desire to go out and share the Gospel with the lost. Most believers focus on making friends with unbelievers, then inviting them to church in the hope that they might hear the Gospel there.
This approach has weakened the Church. Many people now fill the pews not because they’ve come to the foot of the cross, but because they’ve come for friendship. A few may hear the Gospel and experience a true heart change, but most simply attend, enjoy the community, and then spend the week trying to invite another friend to church, and the cycle continues. The church grows in number but not in strength.
As some have mentioned compared to the early church which is really the hallmark of Christianity in practice being put to the test has become compromised and comfortable.
It was inevitable that even in the western free nations that Christianity would evolve back into a situation where Christians will be tested for their faith. Not necessarily to death but in how this world now destinguishes more clearly a dividing line between Christianity and secular ideology.
The two cojoined and then split and now it is the anti Christ that is in control once again like in the times of Rome or the Islamist conquests of Jewish and Christian lands and people. The same mentality is growing even in western nations.
It is a natural evolution of once again rejecting God as a society and in the public square and the growth of secular ideologies that want to replace God with a human made version of god like the Golden Calf. But on an increasing global scale.
Kirks assassination and the rising antisemetism and other terror groups and growing hate against all things Christian are the symptoms. But Kirks death defined this in peoples minds.
It was a watershed moment as far as people now explicitely choosing between Christ and the antiChrist. Because the extension from his death is being expressed in an increase in hate for Christians and Jews. Whether that be outright acts of murder or terror attacks on ICE facilities or churches. Or in our leaders remaining quiet in condemining such because of the political ideology.
Now there is a tripling down which is getting desperate and dangerous.
That said, I do believe there’s a place for friendship evangelism, but it should never be our main focus. We should always share the Gospel with our friends before inviting them to church. Our primary calling is to proclaim the Gospel. When we speak boldly, and people hear and are transformed, then they will want to come to church. That’s how the Church is filled with true believers rather than unbelievers seeking friendship. And if we share the full Gospel, both the bad news and the Good, with our new friend, and they reject it, then they won’t want to come to church. In that way, we avoid filling the Church with weeds and instead keep it a gathering for those who truly desire Christ.
I think just as the culture and society is becoming more anti God and Christ I think this is when Christians should be like the early church and be even more Christ like as a counter. In fact it is inevitable. It is in the times when Christianity is hated and persecuted that Christians are greatest. Thats when we see the true Christians come out. They put their faith on the line.
The problem is in the west most have heard the gospel 10 times over and they their hearts have become hardened or softened to alternative ideas and the message is not penetrating. But if one of these Christians was asked to take a side and there would be consequences, lost job, financial, harm to body or even death. They would be asked to put their faith on the line and this is when it counts.
This time I think is coming. Whether that be life becoming hard to be a Christian and even speak the gospel or losing careers and money for taking a side. Because the starkness of the difference in how the opposing beliefs play out in reality are clashing. They cannot co exist and Christians will sooner or later have to declare their faith at a cost.
But you are right becuase I think at the same time as bold Christians do stand up they shine Christ and its noticable and turns peoples heads to God no matter what. Because it is so powerful and radical. Its just that some will turn and others will become even more hateful.
But I think now is the time for Christians to go back to how the early church was. Do it now. Sell everything and help the poor. Do what Christ teachings actually say. Don't store up your riches on earth but in heaven. Or at least take some steps towards this more.
People are watching us, and so we should do good deeds. It becomes a good witness. But this still does not replace the fact that we need to speak the Gospel. The Gospel is a spoken message. How shall they here without someone to tell them?
Our actions substantiate what we know and believe. And we can either be a good or a bad witness.
If we do bad things, our word becomes compromised, and people will be less likely to believe what we say. The opposite of this is when we act in love; this will lend credibility to our word. For example, in a court of law, if you have 2 people with conflicting testimonies, one is a prostitute, and the other is a doctor. The doctor is the one most people would believe, as his word is not compromised by his deeds, like the prostitute's. He is a good witness.
So, your actions validate what you believe, and then, when you do say the Gospel, people will be more likely to believe what you say.
But when doing good deeds, we must not forget to share the Gospel. We need to share the Gospel by speaking it. Our good deeds are not the power of God unto salvation. They only give us an opportunity to share, and they give our words credibility. Then, when we do say the Gospel, it will give glory to God.
I have been thinking about this and how word and actions or rather disposition are different. Clement of Rome mentions the greatest Overseers were the ones who spoke little but were Christ like. Christ was like this. He did not speak often but lived His teachings. So when He did speak people believed and knew He was telling the truth.
I think in a world where words have become many meanings and rationalisations. Even the Gospel and Christ being rationalised in all sorts of ways that almost create a complete new religion. I think the best way is to be Christ like as much as possible. Say little at the moment and allow the example and disposition to shine through.
I think this is powerful and speaks more than words. It cuts through all the white noise created by centuries of rationalisations and justifications. Then when words are spoke they hold much more power.
If a church sold all their possessions even causing suffering for themselves and went about helping others. This alone would turn peoples heads to God. To Gods word and the Gospel. Because its so radical and Christlike in a comfortable and material world. Even atheists would be impressed lol. But this is exactly what is needed in this present time.
Another example. If I were talking to someone downtown and a passerby heard me use God's name as a curse word, that would not be very good. Then, if I were to go to a park a few days after this and say the Gospel to that same passerby, my words that I say have been tainted because of my previous conduct. He would think to himself, "This fuller does not even truly believe himself because he uses his own God's name as a curse word." So, I am therefore not a good witness. My actions did not bring Glory to God. Instead, they were a disgrace. Our actions substantiate our words. Therefore, bringing Glory to God.
Yes exactly as to what I was alluding to above. But at the same time I think it has come to a situation where the Christian does not have to do anything wrong and is already condemned as a hater causing trouble or a hypocrite. Just the mention that Jesus saves is enough to trigger some. Or the mention that God created them man and women in marriage is seen as hate speech.
I guess the hypocracy of the church contributed to this. But its more than that. It goes beyond this as commonsense tells us that bad apples don't make the whole bunch bad and that there is also Christlke good in Christians and sense in traditional marriage in research science. Its more a conflict of ideology and who is the god of us and our behaviour.
So, love our neighbour by caring for their needs. But also, love them enough to warn them of the condemnation that they are under. It would be unloving to know of God, everlasting life, Judgement, death and the way out, and then not to tell people of it. Love by deed and word.
Yes and I think there are many ways Gods works. It may be that you work with the disadvantaged and the last thing they want to hear is the gospel. Rather some food in their belly and shelter and all that. But then they wonder why is this person so loving and kind. They open up and the opportunity comes as God makes it.
Sometimes is there and then. The need to clarify the gospel among other ways of being in the world as a matter of life and death and the right choices. But this can be done even in unrelated sciences by research showing Gods truth in marriage and family for example. That even the research supports Gods natural laws.
I think this was CHarlies approach. Not just the gospel but that even mainstream consensus and research supported biblical teachings. So Gods way also made sense in reality. Sometimes people come to God because they realise there there had to be a God because the world has no answers ect. There are many ways.
I run a music group in a homeless hub and play secular songs that hint at God and then some meaningful words and people then open up and mention God themselves. Or sometimes it just happens. A homeless person or street person who is a Christian just comes in and starts singing and praising God at the right time. Just enough to not make some of the more sensitive guests get triggered.
I have worked most my life in social welfare and with government and non profit secular. They are now pretty strict on pushing a certain secular ideology. Just mentioning God or Christianity is a trigger lol. You have to we smart sometimes when going into the lions den lol. Though I have had differences of opinion with the management lol. It depend where you are working or doing Gods work.
In that sense Charlie was a great Christian. Because I could imagine a Christ just going into a progresive campus and preaching. They would be driven out and hounded. But Charlie managed to go right into the lions den and engage and have opportunity to speak directly about the gospel.
