Of Whom I am the Worst

     I've felt very unsettled about something lately.  A saddness overwhelms me at times when I think about a world that sees Christians as a group of  boring people filled with a long list of don'ts.  Even more discouraging is the idea that Christians place themselves above others, when in all actuality a Christian should first and foremost be a servant.  Of course, there are those people and groups who scream, yell and accuse "in the name of God".  You know, the ones with all of the media coverage.  I'm not talking about them.  I'm talking about the Christians like Paul.  The one's who recognize that they are Christians because of their desperate need for a Savior.  Paul is respected as such a vital missionary.  He is recognized as a man on fire for Christ.  Yet, Paul says this:
1 Timothy ¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶ But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. (emphasis added)
     Paul, the worst of the sinners?  Has Paul met me?  I fail everyday!  Yet I have such freedom and release.  How do I explain this peace and joy to someone who feels "happy" most of the time and sees no need for a Savior?  How do I get through to truly kind people that it just isn't enough to be a good person?  How do you break through the brokenness of someone who is angry at God and bring them closer to Him?  I literally weep over a world who thinks they are fine without God.  Oh, what joy and hope they are missing.  What a life of freedom they deny themselves.  What a terrible destiny they are headed for.  Why don't they see it?
     Something occurred to me when reading a book, "Praying Effectively for the Lost" .  This book opened my eyes so much to what a battle it is to introduce someone to God.  The book if FULL of eye-opening scripture that helped me in my approach for talking to someone about God.  One verse that I had never given much attention to was: 
2 Corinthians4:³ And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
  Here, Paul is more than likely explaining to his critics why there haven't been massive groups of converts when he is speaking to the crowds.  The following excerpt from a commentary on http://www.biblegateway.com/ explains the verses well.  Paul is explaining why the message isn't getting through to many.
The fault lies rather in three areas. First, the audience is at fault. If there is a hidden aspect to what he preaches, it only appears so to those who are perishing. As in 2:15-16, Paul divides humanity into two groups based on their destiny: those who are on the road to destruction (tois apollymenois) and, by implication, those who are on the road to salvation. To the one the gospel makes no sense (v. 3), while to the other it is plain as day (v. 6).
The fault lies, second, with the situation. The minds of those who are perishing have been blinded. The blindness is of a particular sort--it is a blindness to the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ (v. 4).
The fault lies, third, with the source of the blindness. Unbelievers cannot see the gospel's light because their minds have been blinded by the god of this age (v. 4). This is the only place where Paul refers to the adversary of God's people as a god. He is usually called Satan or the devil.
     I understand so much more now.  When I speak of sin and salvation to someone that has been veiled, I speak a foreign language.  So what do you do when you are trying to explain the need for a Savior to someone who has been blinded to understanding scripture?  I love that the book mentioned above says first and foremost to pray.  We should not approach anything like this without prayer.  Specifically, for the veil to be removed.  The book goes much further, and I highly recommend it.  It is not a long book, and it is free, although a donation to cover shipping and printing is suggested--but not required.
   John 3:17  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
         If Jesus didn't come to condemn, then why should I?  Who am I, the worst of the sinners, to condemn?  Does this mean that we sugar-coat the Christian walk without a mention of sin?  I don't think so.  I think about the scene in the movie Fireproof where the dad finally gets through to the son.  He has visited his son more than once.  He has waited until Caleb was ready to hear.  He is gentle, he is loving.  He is not condemning.    
Caleb Holt: Dad, if you're gonna tell me I need Jesus, please don't. I don't need a crutch to get through life.

 John Holt: Son, Jesus is much more than a crutch. He's become the most significant part of our lives.


Caleb Holt: Dad, why do you keep saying that? The most significant part... How is that?


John Holt: When I realized who I was, and who He was, I realized my need for Him. I needed His forgiveness and salvation.


Caleb Holt: See, I don't understand. Why do I need His salvation? What? Am I gonna be thrown into hell? For what? 'Cause I got divorced?


John Holt: No. Because you violated His standards.


Caleb Holt: What? 'Thou shall not kill'? Dad, I help people. I am a good person.


John Holt: According to you. But God doesn't judge by your standards. He uses His.


Caleb Holt: And what are His?


John Holt: Well, truth, love...


Caleb Holt: Okay. I'm honest.


John Holt: Faithfulness...


Caleb Holt: I care about people. I am those things.


John Holt: Sometimes. But have you loved God? The one who gave you life? His standards are so high, He considers hatred to be murder, and lust to be adultery.


Caleb Holt: Dad, what about all the good I've done?


John Holt: Son, saving someone from a fire doesn't make you right with God. You've broken His commandments. And one day, you'll answer to Him for that.

  I love this because the father, John Holt is firm.  He doesn't wag a shameful finger at his son and say, "tsk, tsk" as many people picture the Christians doing.  Neither does he puff up and say, "Well I no longer struggle with this because I have removed sin from my life and that is why I am so holy."  No, he stands beside him, relates to him.    He expresses his own need for a Savior.  He has waited until his son was ready to hear it, though. 
     To the hurting I might say, "You weren't made for this.  You were made for joy and blessings.  Can I tell you how to find these things?" 
     To the angry and bitter I might say, "This is consuming you.  What a heavy load you carry in your anger.  What if all of this could be gone?  What if there is a way to be released from this?  Would you be willing to hear?  Because I want so much more for you."
     To the people who belive only the weak and unintelligent believe in Christ I might say, "If you are correct, and there is no need for God, and I am wrong,  then I have lived a life of hope with an amazing book to instruct me.  If you are wrong, you will spend eternity in torture.  I can't imagine that it is worth it.  Once you've opened your heart to God, I can't explain it....but you no longer THINK you are right about being a Christian...you KNOW you are."
     I'm not saying I'm any kind of expert, but my point is that the approach should be one of love and of desire to introduce people to God.  The convicting?  The "rules"?  That is for God to guide them through. Yes, they may need the guidance of a friend when that time comes. I've heard of  "new beliver" classes, and I have to admit I've never attended one.  My prayer is that they are focusing on the relationship.  A list of don'ts and rules of how to dress and how long your quiet time should be are setting someone up for discouragment.  God will ask more of them when He knows their heart is ready to hear, and there is a time and a place to teach these things, but if they are motivated because of the rule book, it won't last.  If their motivation is to grow closer to their God, their perfect Daddy, their Creator, maybe the changes they make will come from the heart, and maybe it will be a celebration, not a stumbling block.
     You see, Jesus also didn't come to make people the best Methodists, Baptists, Catholics, Lutherns, (the list goes on and on).  That is a preference of worship.  I love the song "More Like Falling in Love" by Jason Gray.  I think he was talking about me when he wrote this song:
  
Give me rules

I will break them

Give me lines

I will cross them

I need more than a truth to believe

I need a truth that lives, moves, and breathes

To sweep me off my feet
It ought to be
More like falling in love
Than something to believe in

More like losing my heart

Than giving my allegiance

Caught up, called out

Come take a look at me now

It's like I'm falling, oh

It's like I'm falling in love

Give me words

I'll misuse them

Obligations

I'll misplace them

'Cause all religion ever made of me

Was just a sinner with a stone tied to my feet

It never set me free
It's gotta be
CHORUS

...It's like I'm falling in love, love, love

Deeper and deeper

It was love that made

Me a believer

In more than a name, a faith, a creed

Falling in love with Jesus brought the change in me


    I mean which sentence sounds more appealing to you?
1.  "You are lost, you are going to hell, and I'm not!  Don't you want to be like me?"(attractive, right?)
2.  "Let me tell you about the greatest love there ever was."

     I'll take the second one!  Conviction of sins is a major part of the walk.  We cannot be refined vessels, ready to be used without going through the refining process.  But if someone doesn't know WHY they are removing stumbling blocks from their life, or for whom they are removing them, they aren't going to get very far.  There does have to be an admitting of sin and repentance.  That is part of Salvation! But these words are foreign to someone who has no Holy Spirit to interpret these words to them.  First, pray that the veil is removed.  Then, introduce them to God.  John 3:16, John 10:10, other verses about love, healing, and abundant life.  Then relate to them, "I wouldn't need a Savior if I weren't a sinner myself".  THEN get to the part about a need for repentance. 
     This is just an example.  All witnessing should be bathed in prayer and guided by God.  I just know that I would have saved myself a lot of heartache had I known God once I accepted Christ.  Unfortunately, it was YEARS later before I truly came to know Him.  Even when I was more focused on my Christian walk, I caught myself trying to look and act like other Christians who I looked up to.  The problem with that is they were still sinners and they would always disappoint and fail me.  Now, I've learned to let God map out my path.  I try to stay on it, yet often I choose to take a detour.  He doesn't wait for me to return to the path.  Praise God that he is running after me, calling me back to His path constantly when He sees that I'm straying.  Oh what would I do without my Savior?