If My People
My contention is that the onus is on the ones who call themselves believers in Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer. God gives us a clear outline in His Word how we should conduct ourselves and the blessing that will follow.
2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
IF MY PEOPLE. IF. This verse and this blog post isn't about evangelistic outreach, as important as that is. It's about revival in God's people. It's about waking up and discerning the signs, but we have to be willing to admit some things about where we are as a church and where we are as individuals. It's about turning from selfishness, self-righteousness, condemnation, and judgment to being those in whom others might catch a glimpse of Jesus!
We as the body of Christ have not, for the most part in the US, stepped up to the plate. We don't need Old Testament type prophets anymore. We have the Holy Spirit who gives the prophetic gift to believers. We are to discern the times like Nehemiah, be willing to sacrifice like Jeremiah, call those who have turned away like Hosea and live, learn, and teach the Word like Ezra, and ultimately love like Jesus. Remember, the Old Testament prophets were not sent to unbelievers but to the house of Israel with warning and correction.
We need to stir each other to good works, yes, but to faith in the One who sends us to those works first. Real faith. That He is who He says He is. That His Word is His book of instruction for life. That He is not only loving but just and true. That He is still searching for faith in the earth~in the US~in the church. And that faith isn't about getting stuff; it's about giving all we have and all we are in His name, for His glory and trusting Him for the outcome.
We have a great deal to tremble about. We have been on a long, downward slope toward our own destruction. The Body of Christ in America is weak, compromised, self-absorbed, and ineffective. We have missionaries coming to us from nations where we used to send them. "IF MY PEOPLE." God is waiting patiently for a remnant to rise up, believe Him, repent, and do what He says. The time is now...
I read your webpage and I think the information on it is great. You said, "This isn't about an evangelistic outreach, it's about revival in God's people." Well in ways I agree and disagree with that statement. Yes, until Jesus comes again we still have to evangelize and get the word of God out to those who do not know Him and have never heard of Him. Its our responsibility. Its not only our responsibility but Jesus, himself, commissioned us to spread the gospel. So thats the part I didn't agree with. What I do agree with is that there should be a revival in Christians... Without this revival in CHristians, it would make evangelizing or sharing God with non-believers very difficult. People who have not had revival in them will not know how to speak in love to others to show Gods love; they wont be able to even preach the word of God correctly because they don't have the Holy Spirit of God showing them the exact way to portray the gospel. This is why I am calling out to CHristians, so that they can wake up and stop walking around like God only belongs to them. I find it very selfish when a CHristian sees a non-believer or what may seem like a non-believer and says nothing to them. I loved your words on your webpage, i think it was a great way to get Christians to think and act. It may have been me only, but I felt a little confused because I didn't know if you were being positive, negative or both. But what you said makes a lot of sense. But as for me, I feel evangelism is a good way to go just like being a pastor is a good way or being a teacher is a good way. So many people walk on the streets in this country and do not know God. What would it take for one Christian to stand up and preach the word of God in the open. John the Baptist did this... He even told them to repent. WHich is something I feel we need to get across to non-believers. Since no man knows when Jesus will come back, then that means we should be preparing people for the coming our Savior. But I digress... I thank you for your words and your webpage. Please, if there is more you would like to say; feel free to contribute. Only steel can sharpen steel. Love you.Henry
ReplyDeleteI wasn't saying there shouldn't be evangelism. I wasn't saying that at all. I was saying that America is in the dire state it's in bc Christians have dropped the ball and the church in this country is weak and is a poor testimony of who it says it represents. Before we can effectively witness, we must BE witnesses. I often think of Gandhi's quote, "I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." Until we can love like He did, live like He did, be selfless and compassionate like He was, our evangelistic efforts will be meager at best. We are to be his hands and feet, but we are also to be his heart. Yet, we are judgmental, selfish, and self-righteous. We need a revival in the body of believers~we need to return to our first love and come away from our lukewarm, petty, self-serving religion that doesn't reflect the heart of God. We are known by our fruit, and the fruit that the world sees is often rotten. We should start by loving our families and neighbors, and being active in the community. I'm HUGE on servant evangelism. When others are in need, and we meet that need in the best way we can, they are moved and touched, and it opens doors for talking to them about our Savior. When we love the unlovely, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit prisoners, they are more willing to hear why we share love. But we're too busy feeding and clothing our gluttonous selves and doing for ourselves to reach out. Revival. Of heart and spirit. Putting our passion on Christ and being led by him instead of our flesh. Revival will preceed a great awakening.
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