Did you use words like friend, lover, or father? Was your description more about Him or you? Did you go back to a script you memorized about something that happened to you five, 10, or 15 years ago?
I learned growing up that we are here to tell others about Jesus and convince them that they had to "put their faith in him" or they would spend eternity in hell. In fact, I learned two questions I could ask someone that would open the door to me sharing the gospel. I memorized a five-step model with a tract that was a convincing argument and even the right words someone could pray (as I led them) to reserve their place in heaven.
Every Sunday, and weekdays on Christian TV and radio I hear people repeating similar arguments and prayers, convincing hundreds - even thousands - of people to "give their hearts to Jesus".
It reminds me of the story of Cyrano de Bergerac, who was not attractive, but articulate, who helped his more attractive (but less eloquent) friend win the heart of Roxanne (the title of the movie starring Steve Martin of the same story). This begs the questions: is God a naive woman who needs us to feed our friends lines to convince Him to accept them? or, are our friends really ready to start a real relationship with the Almighty if they need us to tell them what to say to him?
Don Miller develops this idea in his book Searching for God Knows What. For too long, I've tried to rationalize whether someone who prays the right thing when he's twelve can still be saved at 23, when he's turned from all that he believed then. Is he still a believer? Does he have a relationship with the Lord? Is Jesus Lord of his life?
It's a lot less complicated to consider the relational parallels Jesus himself used to describe his followers. He considered us "sheep who need a shepherd", "the sick who need a physician", his "bride", his "friends", and "sons of God". Relationships aren't fabricated; they grow naturally. They come from a heart that gets to know someone else and falls in love with and learns to trust another as that relationship develops.
Instead of persuading others to say a prayer, making a bargain with God I hope to live a life that convinces them He is the lover, shepherd, father, friend, they've been looking for -- that they will be able to express on their own the desire of their heart to turn to him, however that comes out.
2 comments:
Great article! This reminds me of another friend's writing this week where he reminisced upon a mission trip when he was young. The Lord used him to actually heal an older lame man. He and a friend went to this cripple's residence and prayed something awkward like, "Dear God, thank you for this day. Help this guy and make him happy. Amen." The old guy hopped up and was totally healed! It was as if God didn't need any magical words to be spoken!
Alright, so this wasn't exactly on target with what you posted, but it has a common theme in that talking to and knowing God isn't about speaking a properly-formed prayer. He wants our heart, not our lip-service.
Hey Man,
Heavy, heavy stuff Maynard! Quite thought provoking to the main stream crowd...
PB
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