This morning I read the Book of Jonah (just 4 short chapters). It is an exciting story. It is filled with action, emotion, adversity, rebellion, and paradox. Jonah ran from God’s will. Who hasn’t been in his shoes at some time? God has probably told all of us to do something we did not want to do. Then God arranged circumstances until we changed our minds! We have probably all felt betrayed by God. We did God’s will but the results were not what we had anticipated. Jonah never expected Nineveh to repent. He expected to see a fire-show. The fact that things did not end up like Jonah expected really upset him.
Jonah was a fickle fellow, like we all are at times. He was more concerned with saving face than saving people. He preached destruction was coming. When the people repented and destruction was avoided he thought that was going to make him look bad. How would they know his message was true unless the judgment came? But what does it matter? God was interested in saving those people, not validating Jonah’s message.
Then Jonah ran away and sulked. You know the plant story. What is more important, plants or people? What is more important, our shade or their salvation? Being completely honest, our convenience takes precedence over most things. If this were not so I’m convinced we would be experiencing revival right now!
Hmm. I'm not so sure Jonah expected a fire-show. In fact, I think things did end up just like Jonah expected. I think he suspected the people of Nineveh would repent and God would spare them. In 4:2 Jonah says, "I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity." I think Jonah didn't want to go to Nineveh and preach because he didn't want his enemies to have a chance at forgiveness. I think the fact that they got spared and he had helped them peeved him more than anything... although you've got a good point - it surely had to be aggravating to have prophesied destruction that didn't come about.
ReplyDeleteI never quite get the part about the plant. God says Jonah "had compassion on the plant," but I don't think he did - at least not the way I think about compassion. I don't think Jonah gave a fig about the plant, except for what it could do for him. But maybe this self-centeredness is the key. Maybe the problem was that Jonah only saw the Ninevites in their relationship to him - as the enemies of his country - instead of as people that God loved, made in God's image.
"If this were not so I’m convinced we would be experiencing revival right now!"
ReplyDeleteBrother George, why in the world are not more Christians fired up about evangelism?
Bill Bright once said that less than 2% of Christians regularly share teir faith. Less than 2%!
How can we get more Christians to actively share the good news?
I have been looking for the answer to that question for 35 years. I know that once you witness it becomes addictive. The question that burns in my heart right now is not "Why don't they witness more?" but "Why don't I witness more?"
ReplyDelete(Please forgive me if I sound a little irritable. My husband just got called away on an emergency business trip and I'm kind of bummed to have a weekend alone. Sigh.)
ReplyDeleteI'm so tired of this kind of conversation! I don't really mean you two in particular, but this sort of thing pops up all the time in the church. Christians should witness more. Why don't they? Why don't we? Why don't I? It's not really a discussion, but a lament... or maybe just showing that we're spiritual and care about these things. (I know if I say such things, that's probably what it is! ;-) ) If you want to talk about sharing our faith, let's talk about it. Let's mention some reasons. Let's propose some solutions.
Why don't I share my faith more? The short answer is because I'm scared to. I have a lot of experiences getting shot down and criticized and rejected by my atheist family. God is working on the scars, but they're not yet fully healed. Also, until a few years ago I was doing well to have a conversation of any sort with a stranger, much less on a topic that mattered. I'm thrilled just to be able to chat with someone on everyday happenings - but talking about their spiritual condition seems like stepping out into very deep waters, indeed. What if I sink the relationship before it even begins?
I think that, for me, learning to witness more depends heavily on the quality of my relationship with God. I do talk about my faith more now - because it's so much a part of who I am. As God becomes more and more the focus of my complete attention, as I learn to hear His voice more clearly, He becomes a part of every conversation. If I'm in tune with Him, then I speak the words that He puts in my mouth.
I think it's important to give people tools to learn to witness more effectively. I love the series of sermons you're preaching now, George. And Wayne, the class you teach, The Way of the Master, is great encouragement and instruction. Bravo! I think these kinds of things are all very helpful. But more than anything I think the key to Christians enthusiastically spreading the Gospel is Christians first seeking God with all their hearts.
What do you think, brothers?
Okay, I'll sit down and shut up now. :-)
Oscinea -
ReplyDeleteYou're right on with your last sentence....."But more than anything I think the key to Christians enthusiastically spreading the Gospel is Christians first seeking God with all their hearts."
That is the very key right there!
If it's any encouragement to you, I'm scared everytime we go out to witness. Literally my hands are shaking and my palms are sweating.
But before we talk to the first person, we huddle up for prayer and ask God to make us bold as lions and meek as lambs. We invite the Holy Spirit to take over and speak through us so that His word will not return void to Him.
We shake off the fear of man because we know that people are dying and going to hell all around us and we have the words of life.
You said, "Also, until a few years ago I was doing well to have a conversation of any sort with a stranger, much less on a topic that mattered."
That was me too.
I would never have gone out of my way to talk to someone about spiritual things. God convicted me of this a few years ago and He has changed my apathy to compassion.
And I'm sure that most Christians are fearful of what to say, how to say it, feel like they might goof it up; I certainly was...and I still feel that way sometimes!!
But I think you are right on...seek first Him and He will change our hearts!
By the way...are you my class now?
Thanks, Wayne. I appreciate the encouragement.
ReplyDelete