I'm not much of a witness in that respect. =A0Evangelism is a gift, and
not all of us have it.
That is a bit of a cop out. It is also, unfortunately, a common one,
one that inadequately interprets just what Christ was saying in Mt.
28:19. He wasn't calling everyone to be little Billy Graham's. You
are right in you mentioning our particular gifts. However, gifts are
not stagnant. You may have one gift in your present calling and other
later on in life. You may have several. But back to Mt 28. Christ
is calling all true believers to evidence their living faith
as_they_go_about_their_ earthly journey. For most it is not so much a
special calling as a general calling. Have you never had people come
up to you and ask the reason for you kindness, for your "glow" of
contentment? Actually, one of the greatest witnesses we have before
the watching world is our peace in the midst of a storm. "You say you
have faith, I say display it for me so that I know that it is real."
THis is basically what James was driving at. In Rom 5, for the second
time, Paul declares that he is not ashamed of the Gospel, but this
time, experientially. i.e. it works in real life.
You watch certain people all the time, do you not. Do you not think
that there are people who regularly study you?
I admit that you have a point. =A0However I am happier as a Christian
than I was before, as life now has meaning, whereas before all I was
doing was fillling in time between birth and death, and not very
successfully either.
It's not a case of somebody else "being like me".
And here I think is the presuppositional error of the original
question. It presupposes that Christianity is all about "Be like
Mike" as in some slick 5th Ave Nike commercial add. Honestly, it has
very little do with me. And, if we're being honest and frank with
ourselves, we recognize just how ugly we are inside because of
indwelling sin, that it never crosses our mind that we want our own
disciples, but rather we want to point people to the true Rabbi of
whom will personally lead them in discipleship.
=A0There are a lot of
people out there far better off, with much better jobs, who are
unlikely to see "me" as something to work towards.
What's with all these "externals?" That is worldly thinking. Col 3.
Our minds are not to be trapped by such limited horizons. The gospel
is not some 10 step diet problem/solution. The gospel is the power of
God. It is sown in weakness but in His power, brought to fruition.
If anyone recognizes something of worth in me, it is not me that they
are recognizing but the Spirit and the fruit He produces within me.
=A0It's a case of
truth - is Christianity TRUE or not? =A0Is Christ "The way, the truth
and the life" and is His statement that "No man comes to the Father
but through Me" TRUE or not.
If it is, then that's it. If it's not, then it hardly matters at all.
"If?" Faith is a conviction. It is a forced consent. I know (oida)
that it is true. As the song lyrics detail, "You ask me how I know He
lives, He lives within my heart." It is manifestly personal. His
Spirit testifying to my spirit. Doubt is a process. It is necessary
_at_the_beginning. But once we have been "born from above", there is
no room left for doubt. What doubt remains is a product of the sin
that yet remains in us (Rom 7). But we are called to "consider it all
true (6:11).
1 Jn 2:12-14 is a most wonderful little passage. "Children" in v.12
is not the same as in vs. 13 & 14. In the later the word used is of
those who are in need of a parent, a tutor, a nanny, a guardian to
watch over them. They recognize who their parent is but they think
childishly. They are unable to chew, let alone swallow meat (Heb 5).
They are satiated with mother's milk.
"Young men" are characterized by having the Word dwell in them
richly. They are learning "sound doctrine" and fighting for
orthodoxy. It's not that they have over come temptation, but they
have overcome being susceptible to false teachers/ teaching. They are
not indicative of new believers who are easily called away as Peter
speaks of in 2 Pet 2, esp the later verses. "Young men" are
strengthened by being in and knowing the Truth. John's two "post
card" epistles of 2nd and 3rd Jn constantly refer to the foundation of
living in the Truth.
"Fathers." This is where every truly born again believer seeks to
be. But how is a father to be distinquished from a young man?
Fathers grow beyond mere doctrinal orthodoxy. They have matured
beyond an accurate theology, beyond mere knowledge of correct doctrine
by becoming personally enthralled with God HImself. They live in
wonder, in love and in praise of the Him that sits upon the Throne.
Your faith in no longer defined by your doctrine but by your adoration
and passion for the Lord's Christ. Like Paul, fathers simple desire
is simply "That I might know Him."
Bishop Moule once wrote:
Lord and Saviour true and kind,
Be the master of my mind.
Bless and guide, strength and still
All the powers of thought and will.
While I ply the scholars task,
Jesus Christ be near I ask.
Help my memory, clear my brain,
knowledge still to seek and gain.