Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. (1 Timothy 1:15)
It’s not until we are striped clean of pride, pretense, and presumption that anyone will see God in our lives. It’s not until others see that we are sinners in need of salvation that they will ever have even the slightest inkling that they might need it too.
This is what consistently goes wrong with our Christian message and why the world continually sees Christians as hypocrites and bigots, and why they are so consistently turned off to our message: WE HAVE BECOME PURVEYORS OF A GOSPEL MESSAGE THAT WE OURSELVES DON’T NEED ANYMORE. (Sorry, but I had to write it as loud as I could.) It’s as if our message is, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of which you are the worst.”
“To be sure, I needed Christ once, back then when I was a really bad sinner,” we say in so many words, though we may be unaware of saying it like this. “Now that I’m a Christian, I’ve petty much got it together, but I can see that you don’t. You are where I once was – you are a pretty rotten sinner – you obviously need Jesus.” Now answer me: Who wants to be around someone proclaiming that kind of message?
Doesn’t anybody see what’s wrong with these messages? They are messages that contradict the gospel. We talk as if we all need the gospel, until we get into church. Once we’re saved and in a church, well, we don’t need the gospel anymore. How quickly we forget.
“You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh” (Galatians 3:1-4)?
In other words, what are you saying? Thanks for dying for me Jesus, but I can take it from here?
This is the biggest of all evangelical veils: You need to be saved.
Come on you guys, let’s fess up here: We’ve got to be saved every day from ourselves. We are the sinners who need Jesus. We are the ones who don’t have it together. We are the ones for whom Christ died… and we need to know that right now, and we’ll need it tomorrow. It’s such a simple message.
John Fischer The Catch 
Yes, its true….I need to be saved every day from myself.
Plz don’t feel alone Kathlene…
Yes, but…
You know, when an alcoholic “witnesses” to another alcoholic, it goes something like this: “I was once in your shoes…” and then he tells him how he was saved from alcohol. A drug-addict does it the same way. So does a porn-addict. As a matter of fact, it’s how salesmen sell pretty much everything on the planet: “I used to drive a trap like yours, until I discovered the driving pleasures of a Model-T!”
So, I empathize with believers that share Christ as the latest cure-all, because that’s what we’ve grown up on!
But here’s my beef: we don’t talk nearly enough about sin, death and hell, the way they did in the days of Jonathan Edwards. If Christ saves us from the slavery of sin and eternity in hell, shouldn’t we talk about that? If you were trying to save someone from an evil slave master, wouldn’t you talk about that slave master and the hell he is putting that slave through? But instead of talking about the dramatic, transforming benefits of Christ, like freedom from sin, death and hell, we talk about the by-products: peace, joy, love, etc. Those are all wonderful, but isn’t it freedom from sin and an eternity of bliss with our Creator that we are really “selling?”
So, shouldn’t we be talking about sin, death and hell? After all, until someone ADMITS that he’s a sinner, he won’t see the need for Christ. How do you do that without something to the effect of “you are a pretty rotten sinner…” as long as you add, “and so am I,” which is your point, John. I just think we need to get back to the fire and brimstone preaching and witnessing of Jonathan Edwards, when people really knew where they stood, and when the confession, “I guess I’m going to hell,” was pretty common. What a lead! Can you imagine someone saying that to you, to which you might counter, “Yes, but you don’t have to.” Today, we have to convince people that there even is such a place. That’s how far we’ve come from the Gospel, and reality.
Jesus was speaking to a generation that believed in hell. If people don’t believe hell exists (and many today — even Christians — don’t), you’re highly unlikely to get them to believe in hell so you can save them from it. In the first three chapters of Romans, Paul manages to put everyone in sin, even those who were outside the law because he points out that every man is not even living up to his own standards he sets up in his head. He doesn’t need hell for that. You don’t have to believe in hell to be saved from it. You just have to know you aren’t living up to your own conscience.
Yes, but John: every generation, up until the present, has believed in hell. Are you going to tell me that after 2,000 years of talking about hell, we should suddenly change that? Are you further telling me that this generation is somehow different, somehow “special,” requiring a whole other approach? Isn’t that what every generation believes about itself, and isn’t that part and parcel with the totally self-consumed nature of man? We’re not different today – we’re the same, selfish, stiff-necked, hard-hearted people that the Children of Israel were in the desert, that the Jews were in Jesus’ day, that believers were in Paul, Martin Luther’s and Jonathan Edwards’ days. Nothing’s changed. And if that approached worked in days gone by, it will work today, IF WE WILL USE IT.
That’s basically what Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort’s ministry in LA is – the old tried-and-true, in-your-face, confrontational method – and it works. Their 180 movie is changing lives. And on March 27, Cameron is doing a one night, 500-theater presentation of a film called “Monumental” that will be an evangelistic event.
In-you-face works. Talking about sin and hell works. What doesn’t work is the mamby-pamby approach used by most Christians in this country where we try to find “common ground” and talk about things that don’t offend. That’s why most churches today are little more than country clubs. You go to a real church, where the Gospel is really believed, and you’re going to get some fire and brimstone.
Of course, when I speak of “fire and brimstone,” I’m not speaking of the caricature that non-believing authors, like Mark Twain, have made of it. I’m speaking of the type of preaching and witnessing that Jonathan Edwards did. So if you’re not familiar with Jonathan Edwards and his style of preaching, don’t assume that you know what I’m talking about when I refer to “fire and brimstone.”
I was once prompted to study “saved” in some detail. I discovered three distinct senses in which the word is used in scripture. We were saved (past tense), we are being saved (present tense – often a participle), we will be saved (future tense). Those mean somewhat different things – the different tenses have different senses, if you will. And it’s quite unfortunate, as you note, when all people hear us talking about is the past tense. If we think the saving is done at that point, we are sorely mistaken. There’s lots of saving still to be done in my life and in yours! Come, let’s get saved together!
Love this: “We are the ones for whom Christ died… and we need to know that right now, and we’ll need it tomorrow.” Yet I need to change it, in: I am the one for whom Christ died… (Praise the Lord!) and I need to know that right now, and I’ll need it again tomorrow.
The cross is an offense to those who are perishing.Throughout the history of our country, there was a Christian consensus that made the intolerance of the Christian gospel tolerable. However, the “melting pot” has melted, and now true Christianity is just one of many “acceptable” religions in a pluralistic culture steeped in the secular gospel of tolerance. To solve the problem of Christians having to commit the secular sin of intolerance, evangelicals invented the church growth movement and the megachurch. Rather than preach salvation by Christ’s “offensive” gospel, Christians could preach salvation by the “welcoming” church and all that it offers (“mere churchianity”, re: Michael Spencer). It’s sometimes hard to tell now if we are saved by Christ or by the church, whether the body is our saved place or our safe place. It doesn’t really matter if it’s “sinners in the hands of an angry God” or “God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life,” the reality is we don’t preach the gospel much any more (and that goes for me, too). Neither do we truly really teach and exposit the Word of God anymore. Why are we surprised that the coming generation is abandoning the church and the faith. We’re losing the war for souls because we took the bullets out of our guns and have been firing blanks.
You wrote an excellent comment:-) I fully support your statements. Thank-you
You really hit the nail on the head today John. I couldn’t agree more with you. When I speak with a fellow alcoholic who is trying to get and stay sober, this is exactly what I say to them. I let them know up front that I have been where they are, and I let them know that I continue to need God to save me each and every day. Once they get on track with staying sober a day at a time, I let them know about the troubles I face each day (mostly of my own making) that continue to emphasize my daily need for salvation.
This is also how I preach when I give a sermon, yes I let them know “I was once like you, lost and in desparate need of salvation”; but I also let them know that need continues each and every day even after my being saved initially. And I let them know that if I fail to bow down and admit my faults (sins) each day, my ego will rise back up and eventually I will fall completely away from God and end up in a worse place than I was initially.
Thank you, Kevin. This is helpful.
Thank you for this incredible Catch. You put into words what I’ve been trying to get my head around for years!
There’s a lot to ponder Waitsel, and John.
It seems to me that different people will respond to different messages in different ways. And we always need to be ready to deliver the right message to the right person in the right way. Jesus was the Master when it came to doing that. I’m not sure, but did Jesus ever do the same thing twice? Jesus always tailored His good news to different people in the right way.
Certainly there were times when Jesus delivered a hard message. But I’m pondering different scenarios: while developing a relationship with a friend who needs to adjust their understanding of the Gospel, which message will reach through their barriers? Which words, or actions, are best? And sometimes, actions speak louder than words. And sometimes words of grace will melt a heart of stone.
Maybe we’ve lost our way; instead of sharing the Good News that Jesus’ disciples shared as described in the Bood of Acts we have come to share Bad News. You are a sinner and must be saved. Maybe once we’ve shared the Good News that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior of the World, people will be convicted of sin by the Spirit of God. Maybe that is His job and not ours. Is the Great Conviction even a part of the Great Commission? Go and make disciples then, teach them to obey His commands. I see Paul and the apostles sharing the message of Jesus the Messiah and the Son of God in Acts, not running around convicting and condemning everyone for their sin. We should go and do likewise and leave the convicting and codemning to the Holy Spirit.
Just a thought.
I really agree with your last sentence; Leave the convicting and condeming to the Holy Spirit…that says it all. We are simply called to love one another.
Sorry – I just don’t believe that fire and brimstone is the way to go, at least not for me. I shut down and just will not listen. And I think that fire and brimstone again to me, insults my intelligence. As a seeker, when I’ve talked to some Christian friends (not all) I get this “closing of ranks”, or muted rolling of the eyes as in she’ll get it someday, or this “pained” look. It’s muted, I must say, but it’s there none the less. I ask questions because I want to know. I don’t want to believe by rote.. I don’t want to believe just because they want me to believe. The thing is though, that most of my interactions leave me feeling somewhat alienated, and a little guilty for not getting it. But two things I do believe in – LOVE and Acceptance/Tolerance. I try not to judge, though I admit it’s hard to do. But I try, and through the trying, I have learned so many wonderful things about all faiths. John, I like the way you put this in today’s post. When a person can see your daily struggle, your humbleness, and your genuine love for ALL peoples, it makes it much more inviting. Who needs fire and brimstone when one can have love and acceptance.
Mamby Pamby, Waitsel Smith? Forgive me for saying this, but in reading your posts, you sound so angry, and I’m not quite sure why. Maybe the in your face style works for some, but it sure wouldn’t work for me. I don’t need to be told I’m a sinner, I think we all know we are sinners. I don’t need to be told I’m gonna go to hell, I don’t need to be SCARED into believing. I see no JOY in the In Your Face style. What I want to see is the overwhelming JOY that comes with trying to be better human beings. For me, that is accomplished by a more open approach (call it mamby pamby approach if you like). And where is LOVE? I saw nothing about love and joy in your post. Please do not get me wrong – I truly respect your opinion, and it’s true that different approaches work for different individuals. . But we must also understand that there is no ONE RIGHT approach. The in your face seems to me to be so unforgiving. I also don’t agree that we are all still the stiff-necked, selfish, hard-hearted people you believe we are. We are human, and we are striving to be better people – we need guidance, and we need love. I am not trying to offend you Mr. Smith – I am trying to understand..
Don’t get me wrong, Kathy. I work with 7th grade boys in a discipling role, and sometimes I just need to be tender and gentle with them – which most people don’t think of in connection with 7th grade boys. 🙂 I’m not advocating “one size fits all,” or that this is the only approach. I’m speaking more metaphorically. I think the pendulum has swung way, way too far to the pseudo-grace side, to where we are more interested in pleasing people than in pleasing God – in part due to our politically correct culture. I think Curt and Ray’s ministry, Living Waters, has PROVEN that the in-your-face approach works. That doesn’t mean they are disrespectful or hurtful in what they say. It just means they shoot from the hip and don’t sugar-coat anything. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, look at their 180 film on YouTube. It is changing lives by the minute.
Also, I think it’s clear from Scripture that we are the same type of people that the Children of Israel were, whom God called “stiff-necked” and “hard-hearted.” Read Romans, if you don’t think so. God says that we who judge others – and we all do – are as guilty as they are. We are all sinners, in desperate need of Christ, and the fact that we are Christians hasn’t changed that.
And I did mention love, joy, peace and the other qualities you talk about. Those are fruits of the Spirit. We talk about the fruits quite a bit; but how often do we talk about the tree that produces those fruits, the Holy Spirit? We are so wrapped up in love, joy and peace, that we are neglecting the source of those. We are children dancing around the tree, picking up its fruit, without any concept as to how they got there; when God has called us to be gardeners, mulching, pruning, WORKING in His Garden and KNOWING where the fruit came from. I guess what I’m saying is that I believe there is a lot of naivete within the church, and it’s time we became “workmen who do not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” We need to get to roll up our sleeves and get to work and stop standing around singing “Kumbaya.” 🙂
And, no, I’m not angry. You read that into what I said. Why is it that when someone says something with conviction, we think they’re angry? That’s what I mean by being mamby pamby. We’re afraid of conviction. Have you ever read Stephen’s speech to the Sanhedrin in Acts 7, right before he was stoned? He ends with, “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.” That’s in-your-face. That’s fire-and-brimstone. And yet, wasn’t Stephen full of love? Wasn’t he one of those chosen by the Apostles to serve tables?
I think we have a lot of misconceptions in the church about what love looks and sounds like. I think we need to rethink that.
Thanks Waitsel for trying to help me understand. Yes there are a lot of misconceptions in the church, as I have seen in my journey – I’m not asking for sugar-coating – I am asking/looking for truth. I find that this on-line ministry of Johns does not sugar coat the message. That’s why I continue to read it every day. I may not agree with everything said, but I do know that by reading the post and the posts of others, I learn something new every time. I will look up your above references in an effort to understand. I thank you for your kind post. And you’re right, to me you did sound angry – that was my take – but I should have stopped myself and questioned my own perception. I should have asked, why does he sound angry to me. Am I missing something. Obviously, I was.
Wish you enough