You Can Be Tempted, Like Anyone Else.
A response to several comments from “Age 57, NJ” to my article on “‘Viewer Discretion advised’ Preaching”
The point, my effusive friend in NJ, is that, as we all know, we must not preach on the street from anger, spite or a warped sense of guilt, but we also surely must not use means that are sinful.
Paul had no issue associating himself with who the lost were, but never does Paul associate with their sinful acts. For instance, Paul never said, “I have become a drunk to reach some drunks.” But he did say he had become a Jew to reach some Jews, a Greek to reach some Greeks.
Neither does Paul recommend going into Pagan temples to “rescue” some. No. What he does say is to use wisdom and have compassion on the lost as one who has been barely saved yourself. You can be tempted just like anyone else.
When I see profesing ministers of the Gospel subjecting themselves to barely dressed women under the guise of preaching the gospel to them I am reminded man deceives himself first.
Just recently my Pastor and I came to the conclusion that no man who desires to reach the lost may drink. Ever. It’s not about legalism it’s about testimony.
I am NOT saying ‘right living’ is the Gospel. But what is true is that what you do reflects upon the truth of the Gospel. In other words, a saved person is a changed person.
Does this mean we may subject ourselves to sin to reach some sinners? No. Just the opposite is true! We know better than they what we may become so we avoid it.
As Paul said, when we preach the Gospel we must look to ourselves to be sure we are not evidencing personally our disqualification from the very requirements we proclaim.
Just because this message is perceived to be “negative” does not mean it isn’t needed, or correct.
Patrick J. Burwell, OnlyJesusSaves.com
Response@OnlyJesusSaves.com
