Bo​az Baptist Chronicles

Some folks believe that you have to be mean, nasty and just plain ugly with others in order to tell them the truth (in this case, giving someone the Gospel).

Poppycock.

Just because I am a friendly guy, doesn't mean that I don't believe that men won't burn for eternity for their rejection of a holy Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. As far as I know all born-again Christians believe that. Don't you?

The truth is...

"...the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (II Corinthians 4:4)

Well, what are we to make of this verse?

Taking it at face value, we are to conclude that Satan has, indeed, blinded the minds of them that haven't yet believed the Gospel. Just that simple. People are lost in their sins and--whether they know it or not or have thought about it or not--if they really understood their predicament, many would be looking for a way out. (I know I did.) Our job is to help them.

I'm reminded here of what my friend, Chuck Hamilton, used to say. He said that "you don't need a ten pound mallet to do the job that a ball-peen hammer will do."

Certainly, the mallet will get someone's attention alright, but what of the harm and destruction it will leave behind?

What am I saying here? Just this.... Pick the right instrument for the right job. Just that simple. Instead of using a buoy knife to do major surgery on someone's body, I would hope that a conscientious surgeon would purposely pick delicate and precise instruments/implements instead. Remember, his job is to help, not hack.

If you think about it, in the spiritual realm, sin is a major problem, a problem that needs an operation--the operation of God. (Colossians 2:12) If we both agree that a lost man or woman will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire for not believing the Gospel, they could sure use a friend right about now, wouldn't you say ...someone with compassion, willing to sidle up to them in order to help them get out of their horrific lost condition? Wouldn't you agree that, since the Lord specified that it's our job to dispense His Gospel (Mark 16:15), calling it "help," by hacking away at someone while claiming to be adMINISTERing the Gospel to them might be a far stretch? Are you smiling at what I just said? Wouldn't you, also, agree that we are to pick the most useful instruments available to deliver it?

"The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness." (Proverbs 15:2)

Before I get to the question that I posed at the top of this article, let me say that there is no doubt that God will mock and laugh at the unsaved man or woman who refused to listen. (Proverbs 1:24-32) If someone is like that in your life, obey the leading of the Lord, in those cases. That is not the tenor of this article. This article is simply about being ready at a moments notice to help someone out of their distress.

Now to my title...

"Are You Priming Someone's Friendship Today to Give Them the Gospel Tomorrow?"

Job asked... “How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength? How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is? To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?” (Job 26:2-4)

Read those questions again, dear Christian friend, and tell me that you aren't supposed to be friendly with folks in order to give them the Gospel and tell them the truth. What would be the point of not being friendly?

Pastor Bob

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdtAtC99rH0