Every generation seems to have a mass "Call to altar" at least once, saying that the end is near. I'm not saying it's not, but I'm also not saying it is. Matthew 24:29-51 gives us a wealth of information on the time, and the fact that only the Father knows. If someone tells you they know the date and time of Jesus coming, RUN! Even Jesus tells us he does not know. How could a man know? If the Son of God doesn't know, neither do they.
Now, to the other problem with using the "end times" as a reason to witness. Mark 13 touches on this issue, and the persecution that comes as well.
Mark 13:9 “You must watch out for yourselves. You will be handed over to councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them. 13:10 First the gospel must be preached to all nations. 13:11 When they arrest you and hand you over for trial, do not worry about what to speak. But say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. 13:12 Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13:13 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.(NET)
Jesus taught us to carry his word in Mark 13:10: "First the gospel must be preached to all nations." Why is it that we as Christians today find a need to put an artificial urgency behind our witnessing?
I remember at the beginning of a song by DC Talk, there was a quote, "The leading cause of Atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge with their lips but deny him by their lifestyle." Jesus taught us that by accepting him, we were giving our lives to him, not just our Sunday mornings. He paid a high price for it, so why don't we do what he taught. How many times can you find in scripture Jesus telling us to witness? What about teachings in the Old Testament to witness? I think that next to Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul; Sharing his love may be the second most taught thing in scripture. Jesus did tell us that it is a chief commandment, what is witnessing if not loving our neighbors as ourselves. We've found him, shouldn't we be helping them find him as well?
I guess what I am saying is this: Beat your war drums. Cry out to Heaven. Prepare yourself for his coming. But not by preaching the end is near. Preach his love. Be the servant leader of your home and teach others to do the same. Love your Neighbors and share his Word. God gave us everything we need to be ready for Jesus' coming, your faith and the Word. The Holy Spirit is with us, it is our weapon against the sinful things of this world. USE IT! Only by walking his walk will we ever know his will for us, and in walking his walk, you may find that you bring even more witness to those who see it.
Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we should be witnessing regardless of the times we are in...but did God provide us with SO MUCH prophecy in vain? No, He did not. He gave us this so that we are prepared. The Scriptures are clear that the Last Days will be(are) difficult days...and as a parent I see the reason behind that more and more.
So why not use ALL of the information we have? Yes, the *end* was preached and feared several times throughout history...but the fact is that it could not have happened in ANY other generation than today, based on several prophecies that could not have been fulfilled in any other time. Since we know this to be true, coupled with the fact that we are in times that cannot be denied...would it not be an injustice to God Himself to ignore it all and go about *business as usual*? Shall we say to Him that 70% of Scripture is pointless because we cannot know the day? Bro there are 365 days in a year. The fact that only the Father knows the day does not in any way mean that we cannot know the season...know that He is close...acknowledge the wicked wasteland that our world is becoming?
No...we should use every bit of knowledge that the Lord has blessed us with...because prophecy is not in vain.
So witness...and do so with whatever urgency God has laid on your heart. If it is to be with Love, then do it. If it is to be with fear....DO IT.
If it is only through fear that people turn to God, have they truly accepted the person of Jesus?
ReplyDeleteJesus' love is the reason we are saved. Jesus' love is the reason we have not already been wiped from the face of God's creation. Jesus' love is the reason for the message.
As far as it being the season, like I said, we don't know. Just like every other generation has been pointed to things that "fulfilled" the prophecies, so do we. We don't know for sure that what we are seeing as fulfillment is actual fulfillment. Only in hindsight do we know for sure.
I am not saying that we should not be witnessing with urgency. I am only saying that the urgency should be simply to show them Jesus' love and salvation, not to save them from the end of the world. If you are wrong about when the end is coming, then they have still died without him, and death is death, either in an apocalypse or by cancer. We should be fighting to bring every soul to him for no other reason than his desire that all should be saved.
Should the end be preached? Yes! Should it be the reason for our witnessing? No, it's part of the scripture, it is not the reason to witness. Trying to scare people to God is like arguing them to God, it doesn't work. Teaching fear is not teaching his Love. What did he teach more about, the end or God's love and glory? What are the greatest commandments? Fear God? Or love God? Fear your neighbor? Or love your Neighbor?
From experience, I'll tell you that prophecy and my eyes opening to the times we are living in brought me to a deeper knowledge of God...not necessarily in fear, but with open eyes to what is really going on in the world. We tend to become desensitized to much evil occurring all around us because it increases slowly. Understanding prophecy is just as much a part of the "Christian" walk as love or any thing else.
ReplyDeleteSome will be saved by love, but others could care less. Many will be saved by fear.
Should fear of the Last Days be the focus? Of course not. Jesus should always be the focus. But prophecy and understanding the days we are living in does not have to be *fearful*...and in fact can bring an individual closer to God because it forces one to trust Him all the more.
I agree. I'm not arguing about teaching of the prophecies. I am arguing that it should not be the cause or the sole topic. Sharing God's love should be the cause. Jesus' teaching should be the topic. He did teach about the end, but he taught a lot more about love. That is what I am saying we should do.
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