Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
They are a sinner and in rebellion against God. That is where they are at, is it not? So if I start with the sin I'm starting with where they are at. God started with John the Baptist's baptism of repentence remember. Repentance from what? From sin, from rebellion. So even God started his preaching the gospel with addressing the sin. You can't start or heal a relationship with anyone without addressing the things that divide first. Can learn a lot from watching Dr Phil.
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And there is a reason that the "great commission" was not actually given to everyone. Not saying there is no cause to speak the gospel.
Your version of how to preach the gospel is based on the "if you beat them, they will repent" theology of I'm not sure who. But it is not the way it was done in the Bible. Even John the Baptist's declaration to repent was not specific as to what was the sin to be repented.
And it is likely that they couldn't repent of the sins that had not been laid out. Like thinking of adultery in your heart = adultery. When those people came to the Jordan, they did not repent of the sins they didn't know about.
But if we take the example of the one we are supposed to be following, the only bold declarations about people's sin was made to those who were the elite of the Jewish religion. To the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees. But to the publicans and sinners, he ate with them. He taught them and brought them to see who he was and to believe and repent.
And since neither you nor I have completely stopped sinning, why do we spend our time forcing the unsaved to straighten up before they come to Jesus? It was the Temple that was cleared with a switch, not the dark alleyways where the prostitutes work their trade.
Zacchaeus was attracted to Jesus. It was after Jesus came to dine with him that he recognized his sin and repented. You are set to force the sinners to understand their sin first. To come with a life already in transition.