Evangelism Questions
4/18/24
I don't entirely know why I field some questions. Maybe it's because I seem non-threatening. Maybe it's because of a presupposition that someone in a clerical collar probably isn't really a Christian. Whatever the case, here we go.
The young man, taking a "theology of the gospel" class at a local church, asked me two questions.
First, "Do you believe in God?" I told him that was a foregone conclusion. I am a Christian pastor, and my belief is not only in some sort of divine being but specifically in the Christian God, who is eternally existent as one God in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I wanted to make sure the record on that was absolutely clear.
Second, he wanted to know how I understood God. What do I make of him? This is a more difficult question, which I acknowledged. After all, God as described in the Bible is an incredibly complex being! I chose to focus on the Trinity, since that concept decidedly identifies only the Christian God.
The historic creeds of the Church, such as the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed, have a section on the Father, one on the Son, and one on the Holy Spirit. God the Son, Jesus, called the Christ, is the focus of those creeds, as he is the focus of all of the Bible. He's the only one who is able to keep God's law perfectly, earn favor, and to give that favor to you as you believe in him. He's the one who redeems you from sin, from death, from the devil's dominion, and who does it out of his gracious pleasure. He's the one who gives us life.
As I was describing this in brief, the young man started writing really fast. I think he expected the same kind of answers I had heard another person giving him - God is kind, good, and loving. True enough, but that can be said of all sorts of people. I wanted to give him something that only God in Christ does.
God is described in the Bible as the only one who's going to bail you out, again and again, precisely when you realize you have acted offensively toward him. He's the only one who knows you inside and out. He's the living God who gives His life to you and lays down his life for you. (I mentioned these pretty slowly, as the young man was still essentially transcribing.)
I asked the young man if he believed God in Christ is his savior, and if he knew Jesus forgive his sin and is the one who gives him life. "Yes," he said. "Then we have fellowship in Christ," I said.
There's one true God. Don't bother looking for a substitute. There's none other who comes even close.
4/18/24
I don't entirely know why I field some questions. Maybe it's because I seem non-threatening. Maybe it's because of a presupposition that someone in a clerical collar probably isn't really a Christian. Whatever the case, here we go.
The young man, taking a "theology of the gospel" class at a local church, asked me two questions.
First, "Do you believe in God?" I told him that was a foregone conclusion. I am a Christian pastor, and my belief is not only in some sort of divine being but specifically in the Christian God, who is eternally existent as one God in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I wanted to make sure the record on that was absolutely clear.
Second, he wanted to know how I understood God. What do I make of him? This is a more difficult question, which I acknowledged. After all, God as described in the Bible is an incredibly complex being! I chose to focus on the Trinity, since that concept decidedly identifies only the Christian God.
The historic creeds of the Church, such as the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed, have a section on the Father, one on the Son, and one on the Holy Spirit. God the Son, Jesus, called the Christ, is the focus of those creeds, as he is the focus of all of the Bible. He's the only one who is able to keep God's law perfectly, earn favor, and to give that favor to you as you believe in him. He's the one who redeems you from sin, from death, from the devil's dominion, and who does it out of his gracious pleasure. He's the one who gives us life.
As I was describing this in brief, the young man started writing really fast. I think he expected the same kind of answers I had heard another person giving him - God is kind, good, and loving. True enough, but that can be said of all sorts of people. I wanted to give him something that only God in Christ does.
God is described in the Bible as the only one who's going to bail you out, again and again, precisely when you realize you have acted offensively toward him. He's the only one who knows you inside and out. He's the living God who gives His life to you and lays down his life for you. (I mentioned these pretty slowly, as the young man was still essentially transcribing.)
I asked the young man if he believed God in Christ is his savior, and if he knew Jesus forgive his sin and is the one who gives him life. "Yes," he said. "Then we have fellowship in Christ," I said.
There's one true God. Don't bother looking for a substitute. There's none other who comes even close.
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