I have an acquaintance who insists on this and in my opinion has made this a harsh and judgemental approach and he uses it often in his dealings with church members.
Now, clearly there is a discussion about how to use the Law. If it is about behaviour then yes, it can serve a purpose in that those self-righteous in their behaviour can be made to see how that separates from God. But the Law (summarised especially in the first two) is also to do with attitudes and desires. These also separate from God and are very relevant in pre-evangelism.
BUT....Jesus IMO majored on the attitudes and this IMO leads evangelists to be more compassionate and empathetic in their work. (which is all our work, as well). Because I don't think Jesus used the Law in its behaviour dimension, especially in his dealings with those who would be more receptive. He saw inside them, to their hidden weakness (the woman in adultery, the rich young ruler), with Knowledge from His Father. He didn't go through the 10 commandments, getting the people to examine their failings in each category. He went straight to a One Issue that would convict. A lesson for us?
Because the central issue, and I argued this with with the guy I have mentioned, is the Original Sin of the Garden, in that mankind really doesn't like the idea of God in our lives and wants to go its own way in pride. It is this that has to be finally acknowledged, even after repentance for thoughts and deeds of greed and lust and anger, and it was this that Christ died on the cross for. To repair our estrangement from God. But then of course this is encapsulated in failing the first commandment.
One last question and which is relevant. Jesus talked of not one jot falling from the Law until "all is accomplished". How does that relate to Christ's final words - "It is finished"
Now, clearly there is a discussion about how to use the Law. If it is about behaviour then yes, it can serve a purpose in that those self-righteous in their behaviour can be made to see how that separates from God. But the Law (summarised especially in the first two) is also to do with attitudes and desires. These also separate from God and are very relevant in pre-evangelism.
BUT....Jesus IMO majored on the attitudes and this IMO leads evangelists to be more compassionate and empathetic in their work. (which is all our work, as well). Because I don't think Jesus used the Law in its behaviour dimension, especially in his dealings with those who would be more receptive. He saw inside them, to their hidden weakness (the woman in adultery, the rich young ruler), with Knowledge from His Father. He didn't go through the 10 commandments, getting the people to examine their failings in each category. He went straight to a One Issue that would convict. A lesson for us?
Because the central issue, and I argued this with with the guy I have mentioned, is the Original Sin of the Garden, in that mankind really doesn't like the idea of God in our lives and wants to go its own way in pride. It is this that has to be finally acknowledged, even after repentance for thoughts and deeds of greed and lust and anger, and it was this that Christ died on the cross for. To repair our estrangement from God. But then of course this is encapsulated in failing the first commandment.
One last question and which is relevant. Jesus talked of not one jot falling from the Law until "all is accomplished". How does that relate to Christ's final words - "It is finished"
