In my previous post I started to get into discipleship; and how exhortation and rebuke as well as challenging statements by elders wasn't "politically correct" today; and consequently how the typical layperson isn't given a healthy environment for growth and to help build new disciples themselves. These are drifting into side issues here; nonetheless in terms of proper explanation of the message of salvation we cannot ignore those things left unsaid but observed by onlookers when they view how the Body of Christ interacts. Further details may be given on this subject in another post.
For the time being; I would like to point out that ANY discipleship today has been a weak follow up process in general since the time of the Billy Graham and other big crusades in the US in particular when it comes to altar calls and resulting mass "conversions" if that is truly what they are. I am careful here naming names; there are no specific issues therefore that I am emphasizing as to the mention of one of several well known evangelists on this post other than stating that in general follow up was usually a one time or short lived event. If we go to a couple years in the future these type of evangelistic outreaches tend to have only a small percent of these "converts" continuing to grow in their faith; if even remaining a confessing Christian at all.
Okay; to the meat of the issue. Here are several points I deem necessary when presenting someone with the Gospel in the fullest sense.
1. Explaining properly that all good gifts come from above ( James 1:17) and assuming a proper message related to our total helplessness and hopelessness apart from Christ; repentance; and calling on Christ to save us through verbal and as best as we can tell believing in the heart ( Romans 10:9). This first step; of course can't be deficient with a person somehow thinking they have any way they can save themselves.
In my previous post I started to get into discipleship; and how exhortation and rebuke as well as challenging statements by elders wasn't "politically correct" today; and consequently how the typical layperson isn't given a healthy environment for growth and to help build new disciples themselves. These are drifting into side issues here; nonetheless in terms of proper explanation of the message of salvation we cannot ignore those things left unsaid but observed by onlookers when they view how the Body of Christ interacts. Further details may be given on this subject in another post.
For the time being; I would like to point out that ANY discipleship today has been a weak follow up process in general since the time of the Billy Graham and other big crusades in the US in particular when it comes to altar calls and resulting mass "conversions" if that is truly what they are. I am careful here naming names; there are no specific issues therefore that I am emphasizing as to the mention of one of several well known evangelists on this post other than stating that in general follow up was usually a one time or short lived event. If we go to a couple years in the future these type of evangelistic outreaches tend to have only a small percent of these "converts" continuing to grow in their faith; if even remaining a confessing Christian at all.
Okay; to the meat of the issue. Here are several points I deem necessary when presenting someone with the Gospel in the fullest sense.
1. Explaining properly that all good gifts come from above ( James 1:17) and assuming a proper message related to our total helplessness and hopelessness apart from Christ; repentance; and calling on Christ to save us through verbal and as best as we can tell believing in the heart ( Romans 10:9). This first step; of course can't be deficient with a person somehow thinking they have any way they can save themselves.
This comment thread is locked. Please enter a new comment below to start a new comment thread.
Note: Comment threads older than 2 months are automatically locked.
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
Please Sign In or Register to post comments...
Report Comment
Which best represents the problem with the comment?