False Conversion Runs Strong In The Leadership

[cec1964]

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I remember sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost and ungodly over twenty years ago and the typical angry responses I heard then are the same typical angry responses we sometimes hear today. It is very common to get responses such as the following: This offended me greatly. This makes me so angry I can barely contain my complacency. I believe that Christ made us as we are. He loves us, no matter what! How dare you preach to me and use John Wesley’s words before I say something I’ll regret.

Just so you know my John Wesley comment was: As a famous preacher once said, “Before I can preach love, mercy, and grace, I must preach sin, Law, and judgment.” His name was John Wesley. (1703 to 1791)

You simply must expect this type of response from the lost and ungodly when sharing the gospel of truth sometimes. What is very shocking and sad, is that this was the exact response I received from a female Episcopal Priest just last week when I shared the gospel of Christ Jesus with her. Dear Brothers and Sisters this is the problem that affect the church today and it is called False Conversion. If you read below you will see my response.

MY REPLY TO HER:

First let me apologize if I have angered you in any way. I can only tell you that my intentions were out of love and to share the gospel message of Jesus.

I must agree with you when you say “Christ loves us no matter what”. Not only does Christ love the saved, but also the lost. He loved us all so much that he died on the cross for us. Christ just does not love our sin and he has given us all free will to choose a life of sin or a life for him.

I must disagree with you when you say “I believe that Christ made us as we are.” As an example, Christ did not make a person with addictions to pornography nor did he make a man addicted to lust so that he will cheat on his wife or have sexual relations outside of marriage with many people. Homosexuals argue that they did not make a conscious decision to be that way, so it must be natural. They are born that way—just as all of us are born with a sin nature and sinful desires (Ephesians 2:1–3). It is natural for them, and for all of us, to be tempted to do things that God says are wrong. In the same way, pedophiles, adulterers, alcoholics, drug addicts, etc., don’t make a conscious decision to “choose” that self-destructive lifestyle; they simply give in to their sinful desires. However, although sin is natural for unbelievers, that doesn’t mean God wants them to remain that way. God can set them free from their sinful nature (Romans 7:23–8:2), give them new desires (Ephesians 4:22–24), and help them withstand temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13).

I feel the problem is the Modern evangelism methods used in the contemporary churches today. Instead of preaching the good news that sinners can be made righteous in Jesus Christ and escape the horrible wrath to come, we have settled for a “modern gospel” that implies that God’s primary purpose in saving us is to unfold a “wonderful plan” for our lives; to solve all our problems, make us happy, make us healthy, give us a wonderful marriage, bring us financial prosperity and protect us from the hassles and stress of this life. God has made us all this way so we all can live in sin and create a God in our own mind that is alright with our sinful lifestyle.

The Bible says in Psalm 19:7, “The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul.” Scripture makes it very clear that it is the Law that actually converts the soul. People who make a commitment to Jesus Christ without the Law may do so because they are seeking true inner peace and lasting fulfillment. They come to fill a void in their lives. There is no trembling. There is no fleeing from wrath of God. There is no fear at all. To them, God is a loving father figure, not a holy God of wrath, but a God that only wants to take care of them and make them happy. Without the Law, they haven’t been stripped of self-righteousness. They don’t truly believe that their just reward is eternal damnation in Hell. Even most professing Christians believe they are basically good and are headed to heaven when in reality they are doomed to spend eternity in Hell.

Charles Spurgeon once said the Law serves “a most necessary purpose” and that sinners “will never accept grace until they tremble before a just and holy Law.”

People who make a commitment to Jesus Christ without the Law may do so because they are seeking true inner peace and lasting fulfillment. They come to fill a void in their lives. There is no trembling. There is no fleeing from wrath of God. There is no fear at all. To them, God is a loving father figure, not a holy God of wrath, but a God that only wants to take care of them and make them happy. Without the Law, they haven’t been stripped of self-righteousness. They don’t truly believe that their just reward is eternal damnation in Hell. Even most professing Christians believe they are basically good and are headed to heaven when in reality they are doomed to spend eternity in Hell.

False converts have never “crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts” (Galatians). Therefore, like the pig, their natural inclination is to go back to wallowing in the cool dirty mud. Pigs need to wallow in the mud to cool their flesh. So it is with false converts. They never truly repented, and their flesh is not dead with Christ. Instead, their flesh is still burning with unlawful passions, lust, wicked thoughts and perversions. The heat of lust is too much for a sinful heart; the false convert (sinner) will always return to the filth in the cool mud. These people will die in their sins and spend eternity in Hell.

Again, I am sorry if I offended you in anyway. I pray God blesses you and guides you in all his ways.

Pslam19-7
www.psalm19-7.com

P.S. Just recently I talked with a Priest from the Reformed Episcopal Church and he told me that “It’s much harder than it would seem to wake these false converts up to the lord, because most people’s devotion to God is from 10:30 to 12 on Sunday - an attitude I’m very familiar with since that’s the way I grew up in the Episcopal Church.”
www.psalm19-7.com/true_false_conversion.html

[Canadian Phil]

cec;

That was...bracing. Not wrong, mind you in the sense that part of conversion is realizing that we aren't God, or the Savior and that is probably a good thing. The function of the moral law (as Paul demonstrated) was to show us, first, what is sin and, then, that we don't have the power to keep away from it. This is, also, what I think John Wesley and Spurgeon are saying in the comments you quoted.

I would dispute one or two things. It is not part of the nature of an addict to be addicted because our nature is what God created and we know what he created is good. That is, an addict is not created to be addicted, but rather has taken on habits which became (perceived) needs which became addiction. The addict's human nature remains good, even if he/she is very sick with the effects of addiction.

Second, I think there are different ways of saying what you are trying to say which are likely to get through to people today better. Yes, I think we have to say that being a Christian isn't about being self-aware or having all our wants/desires validated. What we mean by being Christian is so much more; that we are at the mercy of compulsive desires and that we have to admit how enmeshed with the world and its tempatations before we can truly turn to God. Yes, we should say that there are consequences to the way we live our lives, but, in a large measure, most people who turn to the church realize this in the here and now.

I think that, ultimately, what I'm trying to say is that there is a middle ground between the kind of evangelism of 'cheap grace' which you are, rightly, critisizing and the evangelism that you are arguing which begins with the wrath of God. If you look for that middle ground, you may find less angry response and, honestly, a better chance to share the good news.

Peace,
Phil

[Sojourner]

I'm not sure, cec, whether you are posing a question about the most effective means of evangelism, or if you are stating a theological position. But, let's assume that the Spurgeon quotation represents your view of a productive evangelistic technique. It would seem that the effectiveness of this approach in "bringing people to Christ" could be measured. How many people have come to Christ as a result of this approach? How many people have come because they are faced with the unbounded love of God? I've never undertaken a study, but I think there are many approaches that yield fruit. But, ultimately, God chooses whom He will save because salvation is a gift from God. He chooses to give it, elsewise, it would not be a gift.

[cec1964]

The Lost Key to Biblical Evangelism

There must be a key to reaching the lost. There is and it’s rusty through lack of use. The Bible does actually call it “the key,” and its purpose is to bring us to Christ, to unlock the Door of the Savior (John 10:9). Not only is it biblical, but it was used throughout church history to unlock the doors of revival. Much of the church today doesn’t even know it exists. The problem is that it was lost around the turn of the twentieth century. Keys have a way of getting lost. Jesus used it. So did Paul (Romans 3:19,20) and James (James 2:10). Stephen used it when he preached (Acts 7:53). Peter found that it had been used to open the door to release 3,000 imprisoned souls on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus said that the lawyers had “taken away” the key, and had even refused to use it to let people enter into the kingdom of God (Luke 11:52). The Pharisees didn’t take it away; instead, they bent it out of shape so that it wouldn’t do its work (Mark 7:8). Jesus returned it to its true shape, just as the Scriptures prophesied that He would do (Isaiah 42:21). Satan has tried to prejudice the modern church against the key. He has maligned it, misused it, twisted it, and, of course, hidden it—he hates it because of what it does. Perhaps you are wondering what this key is. I will tell you. All I ask is that you set aside your traditions and prejudices and look at what God’s Word says on the subject.

In Acts 28:23 the Bible tells us that Paul sought to persuade his hearers “concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets.” Here are two effective means of persuading the unsaved “concerning Jesus.”

The other means by which Paul persuaded sinners concerning Jesus was “out of the law of Moses.” The Bible tells us that the Law of Moses is good if it is used lawfully (1 Timothy 1:8). For what purpose was God’s Law designed? The following verses tell us: “The Law is not made for a righteous person, but...for sinners” (1 Timothy 1:9,10). It even lists the sinners for us: the disobedient, the ungodly, murderers, fornicators, homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, etc. The Law was designed primarily as an evangelistic tool. Paul wrote that he “had not known sin, but by the law” (Romans 7:7). The Law of God (the Ten Commandments) is evidently the “key of knowledge” that Jesus mentioned in Luke 11:52. He was speaking to lawyers—those who should have been teaching God’s Law so that sinners would receive the “knowledge of sin,” and thus recognize their need of the Savior.

Prophecy speaks to the intellect of the sinner, while the Law speaks to the conscience. One produces faith in the Word of God; the other brings knowledge of sin in the heart of the sinner. The Law is the God-given “key” to unlock the Door of salvation.

The Bible says in Psalm 19:7, “The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul.” Scripture makes it very clear that it is the Law that actually converts the soul. To illustrate the function of God’s Law, let’s look for a moment at civil law. Imagine if I said to you, “I’ve got some good news for you: someone has just paid a $25,000 speeding fine on your behalf.” You’d probably react by saying, “What are you talking about? That’s not good news—it doesn’t make sense. I don’t have a $25,000 speeding fine.” My good news wouldn’t be good news to you; it would seem foolishness. But more than that, it would be offensive to you, because I’m insinuating you’ve broken the law when you don’t think you have.

However, if I put it this way, it may make more sense: “While you were out today, the law clocked you going 55 miles an hour through an area set aside for a blind children’s convention. There were ten clear warning signs stating that fifteen miles an hour was the maximum speed, but you went straight through at 55 miles an hour. What you did was extremely dangerous; there’s a $25,000 fine. The law was about to take its course, when someone you don’t even know stepped in and paid the fine for you. You are very fortunate.”

Can you see that telling you precisely what you’ve done wrong first actually enables the good news to make sense? If I don’t clearly bring understanding that you’ve violated the law, then the good news will seem foolishness and offensive. But once you understand that you’ve broken the law, then that good news will become good news indeed.

In the same way, if I approach an impenitent sinner and say, “Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins,” it will be foolishness and offensive to him. It will be foolishness because it won’t make sense. The Bible says that “the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness” (1 Corinthians 1:18). And it will be offensive because I’m insinuating he’s a sinner when he doesn’t think he is. As far as he’s concerned, there are a lot of people far worse than him. But if I take the time to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, it may make more sense. If I open up the divine Law, the Ten Commandments, and show the sinner precisely what he’s done wrong —that he has offended God by violating His Law—then when he becomes “convinced of the law as a transgressor” (James 2:9), the good news of the fine being paid will not be foolishness. It will not be offensive. It will be “the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16).

With that in mind, let’s look at some of the functions of God’s Law for humanity. Romans 3:19 says, “Now we know that whatsoever things the law says, it says to them who are under the law that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God.” So one function of God’s Law is to stop the mouth, to keep sinners from justifying themselves by saying, “There are plenty of people worse than me. I’m not a bad person, really.” No, the law stops the mouth of justification and leaves, not just the Jews, but the whole world guilty before God.

In Romans 3:20 we read, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” So God’s Law tells us what sin is. First John 3:4 says, “Sin is transgression of the law.” In Galatians 3:24 we learn that God’s Law acts as a schoolmaster to bring us to Jesus Christ that we might be justified through faith in His blood. The Law doesn’t help us; it just leaves us helpless. It doesn’t justify us; it just leaves us guilty before the judgment bar of a holy God.

Charles Spurgeon ;D, called the Prince of Preachers, stated, “I do not believe that any man can preach the gospel who does not preach the Law. The Law is the needle, and you cannot draw the silken thread of the gospel through a man’s heart unless you first send the needle of the Law to make way for it.”

[Canadian Phil]

cec;

I was hoping for a discussion on this subject because it could be fruitful to discuss how to evangelize and, particularly, what works and doesn't work. So, I was a little disappointed at your response.

Could I suggest, I hope gently, that this approach might explain some of your problems with hostile responses to evangelizing. For one, most people prefer to be spoken with, not preached at, as a rule. For another, they usually like candor and I'm afraid that this last post was lacking something of that. Most of successful evangelism these days (and I suspect throughout Christian history) tends to work through relationships and that means being willing to talk with a person, not make a speech.

cec, it isn't that I think you're necessarily wrong in all of what you're saying. Much of it is right, but, really, your methods are getting in the way.

Peace,
Phil

[cec1964]

Let me first start off by copying a paragraph from my last e-mail:
Can you see that telling you precisely what you’ve done wrong first actually enables the good news to make sense? If I don’t clearly bring understanding that you’ve violated the law, then the good news will seem foolishness and offensive. But once you understand that you’ve broken the law, then that good news will become good news indeed.

There are many churches today that teach the Word of God and there are many that do not and are lead by false prophets. Now they both have one thing in common. The people who attend these churches are all sinners. The people who sit in the front row and listen to the heretic Katharine Jefferts Schori are sinners just like the people who attend a church that teaches the Word. of God. So one must ask, what is the difference?

The difference is True and False converts:

FALSE CONVERTS:
False converts have never crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. As you all know, idolatry is perhaps one of the greatest sins because it opens the door to unrestrained evil. It gives sinners license not only to live in sin, but to sanction it, which comes from Satan. Many a church has made a God in their image, one they feel comfortable with in their mind, now they can create their own moral standards to go along with him…or her. The problem is that sin is so enticing to the lost that they prefer to live in darkness rather than remain in the light of the conscience. To them, the conscience is a downer. It is so much more fun to live in sin and create a God in their own mind that is alright with their sinful lifestyle. Many people snuff out the light and abandon themselves to the dark world of sin, not realizing the terrible consequences of their actions.

THE TRUE CONVERT:
The Bible says, “Desire the sincere milk of the Word, if you’ve tasted that the Lord is gracious.” A healthy lamb will have a healthy appetite. You don’t have to force-feed a healthy lamb. Someone who’s soundly saved will desire the sincere milk of the Word. They’ll discipline themselves. When someone is truly and soundly saved, you will have trouble keeping up with them. Someone who is soundly saved will desire the sincere milk of the word and cannot get enough of it. They’ll discipline themselves to do what is right in Gods eyes. They have a burning desire to share their faith to all who will listen. They have a burning desire to crucify their flesh and stop sinning in order to please God.

In a nutshell, the False Convert will dive head first into sin where the True Convert will fall into sin and it will bother them greatly.

EXAMPLES:
A sin is a sin in God's eyes. If I look at a woman with lust in my heart at the beach I have comitted adultery in God's eyes. Like Jesus warned, “You have heard…You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. A woman might tell a lie when put on the spot or take home some office supplies from work to a homosexual going out to a club and picking up somebody for sex. It could be somebody you hates somebody in his heart. Again, Jesus warned, “Whoever is angry with his brother without cause is in danger of judgment.” Many people think you can only violate this commandment by actually killing somebody. God sees hatred in the heart to be as wicked as murder. We can violate this law by attitude and intent. All these people are guilty of sin.

Just ask anybody the following questions:
Have you ever told a lie and if so, what does that make you?
Have you ever lusted after a woman or a man?
Have you ever stolen anything small or large?
Have you ever hated somebody?

Now after they answer YES to all of these you will find them to be a Lying Thieving Murdering Adulterer at heart"!

But here is the problem I see now with the Episcopal Church versus the Charasmatic Episcopal Church or another good church teaching the pure Word of God.The leadership in the Episcopal Church is filled withFalse Converts and False Prophets. They are leading their people astray. Just take a priest that enjoys being a homosexual and living that lifestyle. He or She has made a God in their image, one they feel comfortable with in their mind, now they can create their own moral standards to go along with him…or her. The problem is that sin is so enticing to them that they prefer to live in darkness rather than remain in the light of the conscience. To them, the conscience is a downer. It is so much more fun to live in sin and create a God in their own mind that is alright with their sinful lifestyle.

In closing many people miss the point and try to throw the word Hate around and say....you don't want homosexuals in the church. No people that is not the point. All sinners from homosexuals, rapist, adulterers, theives, liars, etc should all come to church and repent and become a True Convert. But just because somebody is not willing to crucify the flesh and repent we should not make them Priest and Bishops to lead the flock astray so they can create a God in their mind and image to go along with their sinful lifestyle!!!

When this happens, many things happen:
www.psalm19-7.com/homosexuality-in-the-church.html

[Sojourner]

About how many people a week do you bring to Jesus?

[mewg]

Isn't deciding who is and who isn't a True Convert something that only Jesus has all the facts to do?