CONCERN FOR THE LOST Evangelism is the heart of Christianity. In recent years many have lost sight of this fact. The services of the church are not marked by earnest concern for the lost as once was the case. One wonders if we believe there are lost people anymore. Brother H.A. Dixon commenting on the lack of evangelism said, “We do not believe people are lost without the gospel and that we are lost if we do not take the gospel to them.” Is there a basis for the charge that we are not concerned about the lost? Change places ‘with the preacher for a moment. Put yourself in the pulpit and view what he sometimes sees in the audience. Present the word of God as fervently as you can. Urge and exhort those who are not Christians to obey the gospel, plead with the wayward to return to the Lord. While you are in the process notice how those professing to be Christians and faithful at that, are reacting in the audience. There is the clown who has a joke that is just too good to wait. So as the preacher urges people to “cast sad eyes at Calvary” or consider the worth of their soul, a joke is cracked, others titter at his wit while the invitation song is sung. He plays a buffoon while God’s angels linger near. He may consider himself a wit; perhaps he is half right. There is the sleeper. As the gospel is proclaimed his or her head droops until the sub conscious warning of loss of balance snaps him out of it. They then rear up and back and look foolish and embarrassed and the preacher wonders, why even try and reach such a crowd. Satan is quite successful in using sleepy members, crying children, giggling boys and girls and empty pews to distract minds seeking truth. Then there are the early leavers. The preacher starts the most crucial part of the sermon. The final plea is about to be made, the invitation song is about to be sung and some just must go and slake their thirst or perhaps simply leave. To the unsaved they are declaring, “You may roast in hell but I have a roast in the oven” or “You may go to a place where you will never get a drink of water but I need one now.” Others distract by wandering back into the assembly while the hymn is being sung. Jesus said, “He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words hath one that judgeth him; the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). How would you treat Jesus if he came to your house? Precisely the way you treat his word. His word emphasizes the need to be evangelistic but the traits and habits mentioned do not create an evangelistic atmosphere. This is not all that lends credence to the charge that we are not concerned about the lost. Are we praying for the lost; calling specific names before God’s throne? What have you done lately by word or deed to express your concern about one who is lost? Can it be that we really don’t think people are lost anymore? —-Leon Cole
Posted on: Fri, 18 Apr 2014 09:04:47 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015