“There is no urgent concern for converting people in the New Testament…. There is also no urgent concern for the numerical growth of churches by the efforts of members to convert others. There are no burgeoning church programs. There are no plans to train everyone to door knock and sell Jesus. There is an urgent concern for doctrinal and personal Christ-likeness. There is a concern for leadership, integrity, honesty and obedience to Christ in our personal lives. The idea that we are here to ‘win souls’ and not to know and show God is bogus.” (>>)
Wednesday, May 18th, 2005 :: 8:50 PM
1) Aaron Shafovaloff »» May 19th, 2005 @ 11:28 pm
Matthew 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
I like a lot of what Michael has to say. God is in control and I need to trust God for life and evangelism, and that will manifest itself in a sort of composure and calmness. But I can’t get out of my head Jude, which says, “snatch them from the fire”. And Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:
9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.
At the end of the day, iMonk sounds a lot different than Paul. I really wish he’d interact with more scripture.
You wish he’d interact more with scripture? I just skimmed the essay very quickly and counted 16 quotes or references to specific passages. The entire foundation of the essay is that what he was taught about evangelism didn’t line up with what he discovered in the Bible. He isn’t talking about his opinion, he’s talking about what he sees in scripture.
I think what you really meant was you wish he’d interpret the Bible the same way you do.
It’s a good essay. You’re right, he does interact well with scripture in it. So I take that back. That criticism doesn’t apply to this essay.