The Offense of Not Risking Offense

As a sidebar today's evangelism experience, let's draw some comparisons from today's events.

Let's say someone comes up to you and you know they need food. No doubt about it. Their bones are sticking out. Their stomachs are bulging from malnutrition. What would you do? You'd give them food, wouldn't you? Or would you just hand them a flyer which tells them to go to some food conference somewhere where they are singing about food? Perhaps you'd even think "maybe someone will bring some food and, with a little luck, this person will just happen to be at the right place at the right time to get some....See? I'm trying to help those dying of hunger".

Silly line of thinking, isn't it? Of course, if you saw someone who is starving you'd say "let me help you. I want to give you what you need".

Differ with me. I dare you.

So would someone please explain to me the 'sense' in handing out a sheet of paper that leads people to some event where 'we hope' that 'maybe' 'they might hear' 'a form of 'the gospel. Huhmmm?

Isn't that kind of like saying, "Ok, cue ball hits the 2, the 2 hits the 14, the 14 bounces off three sides of the table and hits the 9, which we hope goes in to the corner pocket"? For crying out loud! Talk about Rube Goldberg Evangelism!!!

"Ok, Let's hand out these flyers. Maybe people will come to our church and if they come long enough, maybe if they hear the right words from this person and that, they will piece the gospel together and get into the kingdom without even knowing it!"

WOW! That's all I can say. Wow.

Meanwhile, James says that "what good is your faith if you see someone in need and don't provide if you have the means to help them". His point is, that kind of faith is dead. So, I ask you to evaluate the state of contemporary evangelicalism. How does our Lord view a "Christianity" that won't even supply the clear gospel to the perishing...we refuse to give the least bit out of our riches in Christ. No surprise therefore that Jesus said that "Many on that day will say to me 'Lord, Lord...and I will say...'I never knew you'".

You can't give what you don't have. And per James, if you aren't giving it, what is the evidence you have it?

So, next time your kids tell you they are hungry, think of what Jesus said about giving stones to those who need bread. Better yet. do that with the lost that are around you every single day.