For debate...

On Facebook today a friend of mine posted this question - 'Why don't we see more people saved in the Church?'

For what it's worth, here is a thought.

I think one of the problems (and God will solve these problems and bring many more to repentance too!) is that we constantly fail to meet people where they are at.

Two things often happen during witnessing and have happened to me many times, don't worry I'm just as much as a fool as the rest of us!

The first is, the Christian fails to glorify Jesus. Basically, the Christian goes too far in going down to someones level and becomes like them, doing the same things of them to the point where if you watched for a few hours and had to point out the Christian, you would have no idea who to pick!

The second is, the Christian fails to get down to the level of the person they are witnessing too. Often this is manifested in a judgmental attitude and a failure to understand why somebody says and does the things they do. If you can understand why somebody is who they are, you are making progress in understanding why they don't know or want to know Jesus and knowing how to remove those barriers.

When we start loving others like Jesus did (i.e self sacrificially, becoming like a servant) I truly believe we will see incredible things happen as people begin to open their eyes to the reality, presence and beauty of God and let Him into their lives.

Of course, we can only do these amazing things through the power of God. So let's be confident because we have a God who gives us what we need and gives abundantly.

Please feel welcome to post any thoughts and comments you have might have on this issue in the comments box below :)

Philippians 2:6-8


 Who (Jesus), being in very nature God, 
   did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 
rather, he made himself nothing 
   by taking the very nature of a servant, 
   being made in human likeness. 
And being found in appearance as a man, 
   he humbled himself 
   by becoming obedient to death— 
      even death on a cross!

Mark 12:30-32 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Crazy Love!

"Love makes you do crazy things, insane things, things in a million years you wouldn't see yourself doing, but there you are doing them."


 Wicker Park

I would imagine we are all well acquainted with the though that love makes you do crazy things. As my challenge for the Church for 2011 was to love more, it would be great to see if loving people crazily has Biblical basis.

Sometimes our problem is that we love, but we give people only a certain percentage of our love, and it involves so many conditions!

- I will do many things for you but not this, this and definitely not that!
- I will love you when I can be bothered
- I love you but I don't like showing it
- I will love you more when you do nice things to me.

Our problem is that our love is selfish and lazy and we need to kick ourselves hard to put this right in 2011!


- I will do many things for you but not this, this and definitely not that!

Acts 2:44-47

All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Do you have any possessions, time, rituals that you just won't give up to or for anyone? The example of Jesus' disciples is that they shared and gave everything to each other and to others. They put others above themselves. This highlights the Biblical teaching of serving others -

Mark 9:35
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

- I will love you when I can be bothered

Luke 10:30-35

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.

So helping this man was clearly an inconvenience, because the Priest & Levite couldn't be bothered. These were people who should have helped the man. Not the Samaritan, enemies of the Jews! But this Samaritan went to a great expense to help someone with no promise of repayment or anything in return. Jesus used this as an example of loving a neighbour. To love like Jesus did, we should be making crazy efforts for those who may never repay us or even care about what we have done.

- I love you but I don't like showing it
Mark 10:21
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
John 11:35
Jesus wept. (at Lazarus' death and seeing the grief of his friends, he then went and brought him back to life!)

Don't believe the lie that it is soppy or sad to show people how you feel. Sometimes it is just what people need to be shown that someone cares and that they are loved. Some people have never felt such things. It is very hard sometimes and it isn't always wise to declare your feelings but keep on the lookout for any opportunity you get to bless someone :)

- I will love you more when you do nice things to me.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Need I say more?