“INNER CITY EVANGELISM PROJECT SEES 260 PEOPLE RECEIVE CHRIST”

A headline like that reminds us where the real action is, right? Why do we spend so much time wrangling over theological systems like Calvinism when there's work to be done?

Here's why...

Relating one conversion, the BP news article on this outreach to Los Angeles tells how a young man named Allan came to Christ at a bus stop. When approached and asked by an evangelist whether he was “50, 75, or 100 percent sure” he would go to heaven when he died, he shook his head confused. The volunteer quickly laid out the plan of salvation and then asked “if there was any reason why he would not want to receive the gift of eternal life.” “Allan replied, 'I can't think of a reason.' So on the City of Angels' busy Vermont Street, at a smoky bus stop, Allan prayed to received Jesus Christ.”

Seriously...somebody who “can't think of a reason” why not to accept Christ doesn't know enough to receive Christ. I can think of several reasons that any responsible evangelist should feel obligated to share. How about,

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and
take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Lk 9:23)

or

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves...
and you will be hated by all for name's sake.” (Mt 10:16-20)

or

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life will be persecuted.” (2 Tim 3:12)

Don't get me wrong. I know I need to be bolder in sharing the gospel; but “evangelism” like that is not merely deficient, it's dangerous. We have a nation full of people who have been inoculated to the gospel by false assurance. The next time Allan is bothered by a nosy Christian, he can say, “Yeah, I've done that.”

This is where our “theology,” our view of what salvation is, laces its Nikes and starts walking. If we view conversion mainly as a decision, we must large-heartedly affirm the salvation of masses of “converts” who have no resurrection power in them, whose lives look just like the world, and who are going to hell. We make the new birth something man does rather than a work of God (1 Pe 1:3; Jn 1:13; Eph 2:4) and end up with Barna polls showing that “born again Christians” are just as immoral as the world. Didn't Jesus save us to make a people “zealous for good works”? (Tit 2:11-14; Eph 2:10) Is this just a pathetic wish or does the Lord get what he wants?