The Persuasiveness of True Christianity (Part 1)
Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>
From: Martin Overfield
Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2000
The Persuasiveness of True Christianity
"Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian."
(Acts 26:28) The context here is very important (Acts chapter 26).
While away for a few days trying to bury my head in books, I was
confronted with some common questions of modern so-called "Christianity":
"What is wrong with using entertainments to win people to the church?"; "Is
the Bible relevant to contemporary needs of people?"; and, "Why do some
insist on using outdated methods to build the church, which do not seem to
work as well as some modern methods?"
Concerning the use of entertainments to win people to the church -- and
ultimately to Christ is the supposition -- The use of entertainments, no
matter how apparently harmless, has NO Biblical precedent. If people must
have entertainments, or other considerations besides what Christ has to
offer on His own merit, then they are not being won to the true Church, or
to true Christianity, or to the true Christ.
There may appear to be some exceptions to this, but I would contend
that at some point such had to turn their eyes away from any earthly,
social,
or monetary prizes in order that they might gaze upon the crucified Christ.
The Bible is relevant to the true needs of every human heart in any age,
culture, or circumstance when people are willing to accept what it has to
say as the infallible Word of God. So much of what is called learning is
nothing more than the complicating and corrupting of the simple gospel
message by those who rebelliously refuse to take God at His Word. The
Bible refers to such as proud and unbelieving. They say that they have no
sin. Therefore, their sin remains, because they are not ready to admit their
need of the only cure that God has provided -- the death and resurrection
of His only begotten Son.
"they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other
scriptures, unto their own destruction." (II Peter 3:16)
When we preach the Bible in a relevant way, many are offended for the
very reason that the Bible IS RELEVENT. It applies to their sinful
condition and many do not want to hear it. But, thanks be to God, there are
a few who "enter in at the strait gate" and find the deep need of their
hearts satisfied in Christ.
Furthermore, some (including myself) insist upon the "outdated" methods,
because they are not outdated, but rather they are just as current and
effective today as they were in the early days of the church (all things
being equal). In other words, I am saying that, either we are not using the
same methods, we are not using them enough, or the people are just not
willing to listen to what God has to say. "For the time will come when they
will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to
themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their
ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (II Timothy 4:3, 4)
Now, before anyone dismisses my reasoning, let us consider what
specifically we are talking about: The old methods that still work today
are:
1. Prayer,
2. Preaching & Testifying, and
3. Practicing what we Preach
Paul was continually and consistently doing all three of these things
from the time he was converted and filled with the Holy Ghost until his
spirit sped off to the glory world.
PRAYER
When I told the inquirer about W. M. Tidwell's success through the
diligent, ongoing prayers of his people (hours of prayer, not just minutes),
he said, "Yeah, but where do we see the churches praying like that today?"
Exactly my point! If more would actually USE the old methods, they would
feel less inclined to use the cheap new methods!
PREACHING
God has chosen to save souls through the foolishness of preaching.
When the tendency arises to substitute the preaching of the Word with
sermonettes, little talks, sings, parties, socials, and etc., you may call
for
a sign painter to come and write "ICHABOD" over the door of the church.
Unless we get back to PREACHING THE WORD, we ought to call the
church by some other name. It is still the Word of God preached "with the
Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven" that will pierce through to the hearts
of sinful men and cause some of them to truly repent and receive a genuine
conversion experience.
Someone will say, "But, our preacher doesn't have much anointing." I
say, then get to praying until you do and either he will or God will answer
your prayers and give you an anointed preacher in his place. We don't get
rid of a good car when is lacking in oil; we fill it with oil. Whatever we
do, we dare not put God's Word on a back burner!
PRACTICING WHAT WE PREACH
If we have the goods, others will generally be able to see it. They may
not become Christians right away (if ever), but they will recognize the
genuine. They may say, or at least think, "If I ever get religion, I want
the kind that Brother Straight Walker and Sister Careful Talker have."
Say, no one really finds soured up, critical, moldy, dead and dry
religion to be attractive. True it is that we may have some emotionally
down days; but, if we have what Paul had, we can say with him, "I am sure
that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of
the gospel of Christ."(Romans 15:29)
I believe that Agrippa was very much persuaded of the truth of the
gospel, and the trustworthiness of the preacher, but he failed to "taste and
see that the Lord is good" for himself. Agrippa, though a wicked man, had
to admit that true Christianity is very persuasive.
Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield
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