April 6, 2015
“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament;
and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:3 KJV
Hey Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Hope you have been well. I have had a good semester. This, in part, because of the realization that the letter a lawyer wrote for me to the administration of the school to get the cops to stop hassling me about doing Evangelism seemed to be working. It has allowed me to feel like I can talk to students in some of the main thoroughfares I had been avoiding. I had been kind of “painting the corners” to use a baseball term for pitchers. (Hey it is spring!) I’ve had some great conversations with students who have come to Christ.
More recently, I had kind of an odd set of questions from an older, married nursing student (she looked 25 or so). She said she believed in Jesus as her Savior and went to a church I knew to be reasonably sound, but of a denomination that probably does not encourage Evangelism. So I just briefly showed her the points in the booklet I often use, offering it to her as a gift and saying she could use it to share her faith. She took it politely. When I mentioned many Roman Catholic Students had prayed with me to receive Christ, she said, with just a bit of an “of course you must know” air, “Don’t you think most Roman Catholics know Jesus?” “I don’t know,” I replied, “I don’t know most Roman Catholics.” Caught in her own stereotype, she backed off some and changed the topic to C.S. Lewis and his writing. I’m not sure enough about where she was going with her next round of vague statements to comment on them, but I do think that there is kind of a creeping idea in American Christianity that Evangelism is unnecessary to groups of presumed Christians. I have wondered, in part, where it has come from.
I recently heard a sermon at the church I have been attending where the pastor affirmed the text Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. The problem is that Lawrence is a 17th century French Catholic. He was born after Luther’s death and the Reformation was well established in Europe. Lawrence joined a monastery of his own volition and, one would have to assume, took the Romanist position on Salvation by Works. In Roman Catholicism, man is not completely sinful but has (as Aristotle would suggest and I also have had an Islamic student tell me) a “Spark of the Divine” in him. So you are capable of Good Deeds. In fact, if you are given an act of penance by a Roman Catholic Priest in the confessional, doing it “restores” your justification. Such as it is, Roman Catholic doctrine does not explicitly offer Assurance of Salvation. But my experience is not an accurate demographical slice of the student body, as I believe God is leading me to those who have yet to turn to Christ. Some of these may attend the Roman Catholic Church, but they do not strictly believe it’s teachings. I have discovered this is also true of a fair number of priests. Our society basically preaches that everyone who believes in God goes to Heaven if they are “Good”. Yet we know that, even were this possible, we are not good. Luke 18:19 “And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.” We preach to all because all need to believe on Christ’s work to be saved.
I share the Gospel with about 450 kids in a school year. I am primarily a Contact Evangelist, less so a discipleship person. Discipleship, I believe, is the job of the Local Church. If I had to disciple people (I do disciple some who come to Bible study) I imagine I could realistically be earnestly in the lives of about 10-20 people in a given year. The energy drain would mean I could share the Gospel with about half as many people – maybe. Last year about 110 peeps prayed with me to receive Jesus. So far this year about 100 have prayed (as of today). Nearly all of them attend church. Long ago I had to decide if I should preach to those I knew I would not disciple. I have since realized that every pastor I know preaches to those he will not disciple. If he preaches a salvation message, he has no idea who will hear or if they have turned unless he does an alter call, which is almost never done anymore. Almost no one is preaching the Gospel to those they intend to disciple. And if this discipleship was a requirement, all media Evangelism, through radio or even a live mic to a large group, would be disallowed.
Philip did not disciple the Ethiopian Eunuch. So to answer 2 typical questions: 1) How’s it going? It is going great and I am exhausted. & 2) Are you having on-going conversations? I talk to some students in the halls again and email a Bible study to most and encourage them to do an on-line subscription to a daily devotional. I give a Bible Study to everyone who prays with me to receive Jesus, a book if they want one of several I carry and a Bible if they do not own one. I pray for each one of these people each night for at least a year. The rest falls to Churches to be winsome enough to bring the converted in. That is not our ministry to influence. I hope and pray that by the Spiritthere is growth, since that is the only way growth is described in Scripture. Discipleship or hanging out with a believer younger or less mature to guide their life is not really seen in the scriptural text. For example, the Deacons of Acts do not seem to have been “discipled” by the Apostles, but the Spirit of the early church seems to have raised them up.
So we are still excited that God has used us this year and many have understood the Gospel and prayed to receive Jesus. We could not do this without your prayers and generosity. We are so grateful for your kindness in this and your help.
New Believers 2014-2015 . Berto, Jake, Kaichelle, Kayla, Jose, Arielle, Dustin, Matt, Robert, Kiara, Jevante, Kiera, Rashundra, Monique, Lonie, Aleena, CJ, Burnelle, Lorn, Andrew, Daniella, Ana, Chelsea, Maria, Caitlan, Zam, Nettie, Courtney, Christian, Daniela, Kayla, Adriana, Ruby, Leesha, Paola, Cody*, Atche, Sabrina, Sheridan, Mackenzie, Dannielle, Jason, Dontate, Michael, Kialah, Ryan, Jordin, Phabian, Jeanna, Paul, Eden, Loni, Jake, Michael, Deonte, Zachary, Sandra, Angela, Alex, Sean, Allie*, Remik, Conrad, Jorge, Jade, Eric, Shaq, Antoine, Maria, Christian, Victoria, Robert, Sheljo, Tiera, Jacob, Keith, Tara, Zquan, Danny, Joe, Magali, Desiree, Britany, Omari, Marcus*, Rilwan, Tom, Taylor*, Mike, Jeremy, Brandon, Deonte, Abby, Brian, Nick, Gabrielle, Rhema, Chris, Kenya, Daniela, Macick, Jithin, Anthony, Izzy, Zach, Joe, Nicole, Madeline and Tom*. (*committed but did not pray with me)
May you find comfort & hope this Spring, resting in the love of our risen Savior!
In Him, Bob & Ellen