I have evenagelism Monday's from 5-8. Talk about a long class. In this class, the focus has been learning in a practical way to share your faith. We've been presented numerous ways, ideas, etc. etc. on how, when, where, to evangelize. It is a very interesting class, and the professor's, David Wheeler is one of the most passionate people I've ever met. Come to one of his classes, and within 30 seconds, you'll realize how much he cares about bringing people to the lord.
Yesterday, in class, we were presented with this question. " How many of you are comfortable sharing your faith"? The more I thought about it, the more I realized I wasn't, and I had never really truely evangelized to anyone. Anyone who knows me, knows I struggle with many things. I struggle with being compassionate. I struggle with language. I struggle with pride. A constant struggle is going on inside of me, trying to set myeslf apart from this world, spiritual warfare. With all of this stuff going on, I have never felt, "worthy" to share my faith. I know I'm changed. Changing, transforming into a disciple of Christ, but I'm no where close, and I feel unworthy. As class ended, I approached Dr. Wheeler, and pretty much just told him all of that, and he had one thing to say to me. One phrase that caught my eye.. " Don't look at me, look at what Jesus has done for me". If we make evangelism about us, not God, not Christ, not the Holy Spirit, then I believe were missing the whole point. Hopefully that phrase will encourage others, the way it has encouraged me.
Which leads me to another point
Where does Disciplship tie into my evangelistic outreach? One thing Dr. Wheeler does an excellent job of, is keeping the two together, and I don't even know if he realizes it. Listen to just one of his classes, and you will understand what I'm saying. He doesn't try to make evangelism out to be some big thing we do on the weekends. He strives to make it a point and an aspect of every single part of his life. So, maybe he won't even have to introduce Christ to someone, maybe they will notice, by his actions. How he mirrors the image that Jesus set forth for us.
Which leads me to another point ..
Many of my inner struggles come from my struggles with discipleship. I believe whole heartedly that we are called, as Christians to become like Christ. If we don't, if there is no transformation, then does Christ really live inside of us? That has been one of the things that gets to me, because I know, I see in my own life, that I am not a little Christ, I'm not perfect. We will never be perfect, but we will begin to change, we will begin to transform once we truely have Christ inside of us. Spiritual Warfare will begin. I'm no expert, and I hope not to sound like one, I'm just speaking purely from personal experiences and struggles in my own life.
James writes in Chapter 2
“What good is it, my brothers if a man claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes or daily food, if one of you says to him, go, I wish you well, keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?” In the same way – faith if not accompanied by action is dead, it is USELESS”
Part of my testimony revolves around this aspect of it. I got "saved" when I was like 7. But, was I really saved? Throughout the years, did I really bear the faith that James talks about? No way. Not in anyway, shape or form. I consider the true date I gave my life to Christ Novemeber 15th, 2009. It was here where, at a low point, completely seperated from God, completely useless, I surrendered my life truely to Christ. Since then, the Holy Spirit has been moving in me, putting questions on my heart, in my mind, about what it truely means to be a Christ follower, and if "saying a prayer, saying " I believe", is just enough.
Growing up, in the "Bible Belt", the word discipleship didn't exist. What I was taught from the church was pretty simple. Say a prayer, get saved. Jesus loves you. Duh. It was so simple. It was purely Evangelism/Salvation. Was that all it was, though? For years, I compromised. There's a problem though. Compromise only satisfies for the time being.
Discipelship, therefore, is a fairly new term, introduced to me by my parents several years ago. I used to hate it, (dad doesn't know this), but I couldn't stand it. I'd say "this is stupid, Jesus saved me when I was 7, it's impossible to become christ like, to do the things Jesus would have done, were humans, he's God. etc. etc. etc". I mean, I had every excuse in the book. I never told my father that, because I knew it would break his heart. Something he was so passionate about, his son couldn't stand. Every time I would hear the word, I would tune out, because I knew if I didn't, God would begin to convict me, and I didn't want that. I didn't want to live like Christ, afterall, God had "saved me" right? It's that mentality, I believe that is responsible for such hatred towards "Christians" around the world. Many "Christians", aren't even true Christ followers at all, and they are too prideful (like I was) to begin to recognize it.
Matthew 7:21-23 says it VERY clearly. It is a verse often overlooked, but I believe one of the most powerful verses in scripture.
Obviously, I struggled with this, with understanding it ( still do), discipleship, but it has been a good struggle, one that has helped me grow in my relationship with Christ. My father, Mark Robinson, recently spoke on the topic of Evangelism and Discipleship at Cornerstone Community Church, and how the two go hand and hand, rather than be seperated from each other. I encourage everyone who has struggled with these same things to watch this sermon , it may help clarify some questions.
Hopefully this made some semblence of sense, and has raised some good questions, in your own mind about your faith.
Discipelship, therefore, is a fairly new term, introduced to me by my parents several years ago. I used to hate it, (dad doesn't know this), but I couldn't stand it. I'd say "this is stupid, Jesus saved me when I was 7, it's impossible to become christ like, to do the things Jesus would have done, were humans, he's God. etc. etc. etc". I mean, I had every excuse in the book. I never told my father that, because I knew it would break his heart. Something he was so passionate about, his son couldn't stand. Every time I would hear the word, I would tune out, because I knew if I didn't, God would begin to convict me, and I didn't want that. I didn't want to live like Christ, afterall, God had "saved me" right? It's that mentality, I believe that is responsible for such hatred towards "Christians" around the world. Many "Christians", aren't even true Christ followers at all, and they are too prideful (like I was) to begin to recognize it.
Matthew 7:21-23 says it VERY clearly. It is a verse often overlooked, but I believe one of the most powerful verses in scripture.
Obviously, I struggled with this, with understanding it ( still do), discipleship, but it has been a good struggle, one that has helped me grow in my relationship with Christ. My father, Mark Robinson, recently spoke on the topic of Evangelism and Discipleship at Cornerstone Community Church, and how the two go hand and hand, rather than be seperated from each other. I encourage everyone who has struggled with these same things to watch this sermon , it may help clarify some questions.
Hopefully this made some semblence of sense, and has raised some good questions, in your own mind about your faith.
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