Evaluating 40 Days of Community

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're commissioned to reach out together by being intentional."

I want to make a general comment here that I think this chapter is pretty good and I am in general agreement with it. There are a few items I want to comment on, but overall Rick had good advice and exhortation here.

Rick shows how it would be unloving to know the cure for some fatal disease and keep it quietly to yourself while others are dying around you. I whole-heartedly agree. But what he doesn't say explicitly is that if you are not sharing the cure with those around you, it is evidence that you are not saved. We are all called to be doctors (not necessarily evangelists and public speakers), but sharing the good news of the gospel with those around us. A proper understanding of the gospel in its entirety (which entails by what standard God will judge, what we look like before a Holy God and the penalty for sin) gives us adequate motivation. I think that this needs to be made clear to people, especially those in the "Laodicean" church who are in danger of being "spewed" out like the man that hid his single talent (the gospel truth which had been shared with him).

However, the tough part for me came when I wanted to share the good news with people, but they didn't want the cure -- they were not interested one bit in the life-saving serum. The best way to explain this is that its like trying to give someone a cure to a disease that they think they don't have. Unless you convince them that they have the disease first, they won't want the cure. This is what a good doctor has to do--treat the disease with grave seriousness and not brush it off. And this is where much of the work is in evangelism, and many of us try to squirm out of it somehow because it is uncomfortable. But those of us who understand how a good doctor must convince his patient of the severity of his condition and what will happen to him if he doesn't take the cure, especially one that has to be appropriated daily, will know we ought to do the same with the gospel. If becoming a disciple of Christ requires abandoning self even to the point of hating your life, taking up your cross daily and not following your plans but God's plans, a person has to be pretty motivated in order to live with this kind of abandon. And Jesus says that it is only with this kind of abandon that you can even be a disciple of His. Jesus is not like the modern "baby-step" preachers; with Him, it is all-or-none. Having no other Gods before Him means having no other gods in His presence, not having Him as the chief amongst many gods. Jesus cannot be Lord if money, self or even others are also our gods.

The Apostle Paul was a veteran at reaching out to nonbelievers because he cared about what God cares most about: people!

I understand what Rick is trying to say here, but the statement is not entirely true. God actually cares more about His reputation than about sustaining rebellious people who continually reject Him. God was about to destroy Israel, but for the sake of His reputation before the world, He allowed them to remain (though not all of them). It was for HIS sake, not the sake of the rebellious people that He had mercy on them. If what God cares most about is people, then how is it that any of them are punished? What about all the peoples living in the land of Canaan that Israel was to abolish (man, woman, child, infant and beast)? What about all those that perished in the flood? What about those who will find themselves in Hell? How did God get along without people before He created the world? Do you see how Rick's statement takes the focus off of God and puts it onto people?

"Conduct yourselves with wisdom towards outsiders" (Col 4:6, NASB). It is true as Rick states that we our actions in everyday circumstances should reflect the worldview that we have, that we are living examples of Christ. However, Paul was primarily stating here that we should share the truth, though it may hurt, in love for them and not bash them over the head. No blowhorns and screaming, but in love while meeting their needs, showing them the way of salvation. We have to confront their idols, but be wise in how we do it (not that we avoid it). This is why Paul asked them to pray for boldness to speak as he ought (despite the persecution that would ensue).

Rick speaks about sharing a "simple" word of testimony about the difference Jesus Christ has made in your life. We have to go beyond this. We must share the gospel and not just that we are better people. We are sinners saved by grace enslaved to Christ and evidenced by the things we do and put priority on in our lives.

...make sure our words are "always kind and pleasant." When you know the truth, it is tempting to be preachy and pushy with the gospel. But people are never argued into the family of God. They are attracted to it by love.

People will be offended by our words no matter how loving we are, and we should know to expect this. But love does get emotional and heated at times. Love does defend the truth in debate, though not in mindless arguing over preferences. In fact I am having ongoing debate with an Athiest right now concerning sin and God's judgment. I continually show him kindness and care for him, but I am very strong in what I say at times. This is most necessary. Imagine saying something like: "Its nicer over at my house and I've already got a pot of tea on" to someone whom you are trying to convince to leave their burning house. You have to share the truth, and sometimes forcefully... but always motivated in love for them and not notches in your belt or any other personal satisfaction.

Question to Consider: Will anybody be in heaven because of you?

That kind of question implicitly motivates me to count numbers and maybe compromise the truth to get people to make "decisions" which may be no decision at all. A better question would be: "would God consider you to have faithfully obeyed Him when you enter heaven?" We must obey God even if no one responds. What about Noah? If numbers in heaven was a measure of faithfulness, then Noah wouldn't have been very faithful... only 8 and all from his family.