The Fruitless Life

This is a vent, just so you know. So I've been doing quite a bit of soul searching for a little while now, with the focus in the area of evangelism. How do we do it? How do I do it? There is a lost and dying world, and what am I doing about it? Is my life bearing fruit?

Now when I search for answers, I am much more aware when people speak on the topic. I open myself up to really hear what they have to say because they may have the key to what I am searching for.

However, with this, the more I hear, the more confused I become. It seems that each teacher has a different perspective on the way it should be done, or even the way JESUS did it.

I am growing to hate messages that push evangelism simply because I feel so thoroughly confused afterward. Some people seem to take the "in your face" approach (which I am not really able to do), others take the "relational" approach (which would be fine, but I seem to make no impact in my friendships for Christ). Others take the "felt need" approach (perhaps that one will work, and as a Social worker I may get that opportunity, but if I'm in a secular organization, we aren't allowed to talk about Christ. So if their felt need is taken care of but they still don't come to Christ, what good did you do?).

All I know is that one of God's highest priorities is to seek and save the lost. That should be MY highest priority then too. And yet, my life is fruitless. Yes, fruitless. I feel the weight of the lost, and yet I seem incapable of bringing them the Good News. Awesome.

So the speakers talk about GOING! Isaiah wasn't called, he volunteered! So volunteer to go reach the dying world!

Yep, check! Did that. I'm willing to go and do whatever you want. I'm trying to figure out HOW. Do I stand on a soap box and preach? Well, that's too offensive! Do I just love people? Great! I can do that...I DO do that, and yet THERE IS NO FRUIT. What's the problem? Am I missing something? Do I have to go to another country to see fruit? Is fruit just not what I am supposed to produce? Well that seems dumb.

Over and over again they tell me, billions are going to hell. Who will save them? Won't you go? And over and over again, I look at my life and what I have done...and it seems fruitless, in the sense of salvations. Am I just called to discipleship? To take those that are saved and disciple them? "Everyone's called to evangelism!"

So what am I missing God? Am I just preparing at this point? Is it even OK to be preparing and not seeing fruit? I am willing! I am willing to go anywhere do anything for however long you want it. So do I just go SOMEWHERE and hopefully it works out? Or do I wait for your go ahead? I would think the second, but other's say the first too.

I hate this! Can't I just live for you?...I have been....but there's no fruit...so something is amiss.

What does an evangelistic life look like for me?

Who am I to listen to and believe?

So many people die without knowing you and I'm doing nothing. Are you ok with me preparing and THEN going? Can I afford to wait? Others can't afford it. It's all so urgent, but I am desperately searching for an outlet and cannot find one. Where is it? Where do I plug in? Where do I pour out? Where is my niche? There's no time to waste. This isn't a game. I've volunteered, when is it my time to go?

Sincerely,

The Fruitless Life

Food For Thought

(The response to Tyler Halstead's discussion of Christians Working in Bars. Facebook note)

Well this is certainly all interesting to read. Good theories. I would lean much more strongly with Abe, Brian, and Bryner. It's true, we must fight in uncomfortable and dangerous territory sometimes. Yes, we must rescue people right from the gates of hell. But I don't think that we, as Christians, can afford to blur the line between the church (the body of christ, a royal priesthood, a holy nation 1 peter 2:9) and the world. There must be a fierce distinction between the light and the dark because that's how it's intended. They can't coexist really, they are so violently opposed to one another.

Jonah was sent to Ninevah to tell the people to REPENT or JUDGEMENT would follow. He didn't pass out more idols or work in the temples and talk on the side of how God wasn't ok with such things. He told them REPENT of all this or you WILL BE DESTROYED. God is VIOLENTLY opposed to sin. He wants to destroy it. I don't think that the church can afford to forget that God is a God of mercy AND of judgement.

And we must not forget that WE are accountable for anything that could cause another to sin. Perhaps a good example to follow in grey areas like this would be Paul. Even if EATING MEAT would cause someone to sin HE WOULD NEVER EAT MEAT AGAIN (1 cor. 8:13). How DRASTIC this would seem to us. So I would think this could be extended to..."If serving beer to my friend would cause him to sin I WOULD NEVER SERVE BEER AGAIN" or "if I watch that movie and it causes them to sin..." or "if I listen to that crude joke (which doesn't bother me) which then allows my brother to think that's ok and sin...then may I never listen to a crude joke again!"

But personally, a lot of my friends drink and some are alcoholics. They know what I stand for and they watch me when I say "no" to a night at the bar, or "no" when they offer me a drink. Yes, some may think poorly of me, judging me quickly and saying I'm too good for them, or too self-righteous. I've never preached at them, but they know I don't agree with it by the fact that I decline the offer and explain why when they ask. The fact that I don't agree or condone with what they are doing offends them and makes them uncomfortable so they like to make all sorts of excuses to make themselves feel better. Others of my friends see that I am choosing something different and respect me for it. It's a clear line that separates me from this world (In it, not of it).

But frankly, if my sister were an alcoholic it would be wrong for me to give her a beer. So what's the difference if I were being paid for giving the beer and I was giving it to a "stranger?" Isn't that person my sister too? Doesn't that still make it wrong (whether I FEEL like it's wrong or not)? In actuality, I would probably tell my sister that she SHOULDN'T be in a bar getting a drink, and I would tell the bartender NOT to serve her. And she would get mad and yell at me and call me all sorts of names. But if I love my sister enough to tell her the truth and do what's best for her (even if she doesn't like it), shouldn't I also do that for a stranger? Shouldn't I love them like I would my brother or sister? Isn't that BIBLICAL?

Furthermore, if I knew a fellow believer was ENABLING my sister to continue living a lifestyle of sin and death by serving her alcohol, I would not be happy. That would actually deeply hurt me. And I would have some STRONG words with that person (since that person is my brother/sister in christ too and shouldn't be enabling their sister to continue her walk away from God).

But let's extend this to other grey areas:

Bar: you serve beer. It's the person's choice whether they get drunk or not and therefore sin. I can talk to them about Jesus if they ask.

Strip club: you dance. It's the man's choice whether or not they come in and look lustfully. I can talk to them about Jesus if they ask.

Abortion clinic: you counsel young girls or you are the doctor who preforms the abortion. It's grey whether or not it's murder, and it's the girls choice to have it or not. I'm there for them in a time of need, they would do it anyway, I'll talk about Jesus if they ask for it.

There's a better way to build relationships with people than to serve them the very addiction that is killing them

There's a better way to support people through tough times than to offer them a quick escape that only leads to death

After what Jesus did to the money-changers' tables, I can't quite picture him working in a bar.

And how would the "sinner" feel about you once they became saved and free from the addiction/pain/guilt? Would they thank you, or would they have to learn to forgive you for giving them the very thing that kept them chained?

Just food for thought. I know it's long.

"If you've never wanted to quite, then you've never attempted anything great.

If you've ever attempted anything great for a long period, you'll want to quit"

Tommy Barnett