Apathy, Hypocrisy, and Compassion for the Lost
I once heard it said that there's one thing worse than going to hell. Do you know what it is?
It's taking someone with you.
There's another side to that for those of us who aren't going to hell: The harshest rebukes that God will give when we get to heaven (and is probably saying now if we would listen to Him) are reserved for our apathy towards others' souls. Many of us would say we have compassion for the lost, but our actions toward them don't reflect it. When a friend that we know makes a bad decision, we don't reach out to them in love, much less let them know that what they did was wrong and will bring consequences. We pass by a homeless peddler on a street corner, perhaps dropping a few coins in their tin cup but not even considering to pray for them, God forbid that we might look at them, smile, and shake their hand. We know a father, brother, or friend who's viewing pornography, and we think we're doing them a favor by ignoring it, as if it won't carry countless negative repercussions for their present or future marriage and family. We know a sister or friend who's addicted to romance novels or fashion magazines, and we pretend it's harmless and has no effect on her self-esteem or outlook of life. Homosexuals and prostitutes would hardly dream of coming into our churches, because our looks and stares or just plain avoidance condemns them.
My point is, our inaction is not neutral, but is a negative action.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying to point fingers and quote Scriptures and become a "holy tattletale." But it is time to get over our fear of man and find some fear of God, because ultimately we will answer to One and not the other. Passivity never helped save anyone. Compassion is useless unless it translates into actions, words, and prayers that advance the gospel by impacting people. It's time to look lost people in the eyes, welcome them, touch them, and even become friends with them. It's time to go to where they are and stop expecting them to come to us by jumping the insurmountable barriers we put up between ourselves and them. Jesus is not a secret trophy to be passed around indoors under a cross and stained glass, hidden from the world, like the world would hurt God's feelings or something. This is our chance to live unapologetically devoted to God while in the world, rather than sheepishly hide behind our hypocrisy. It's time to leave the big pew Bible at home and put the words of God in our hearts so they'll be with us wherever we go.
I don't know about you, but I don't want someone else's blood on my hands. I can't force people to make the right decision, and ultimately they will make the decision for themselves. But I will make sure they know the gospel and experience it, because they experience me. I will live the gospel, not just speak it or profess dedication to it. I'm going to make it as hard as possible for every single person who comes in contact with me to go to hell.
What will you do?
It's taking someone with you.
There's another side to that for those of us who aren't going to hell: The harshest rebukes that God will give when we get to heaven (and is probably saying now if we would listen to Him) are reserved for our apathy towards others' souls. Many of us would say we have compassion for the lost, but our actions toward them don't reflect it. When a friend that we know makes a bad decision, we don't reach out to them in love, much less let them know that what they did was wrong and will bring consequences. We pass by a homeless peddler on a street corner, perhaps dropping a few coins in their tin cup but not even considering to pray for them, God forbid that we might look at them, smile, and shake their hand. We know a father, brother, or friend who's viewing pornography, and we think we're doing them a favor by ignoring it, as if it won't carry countless negative repercussions for their present or future marriage and family. We know a sister or friend who's addicted to romance novels or fashion magazines, and we pretend it's harmless and has no effect on her self-esteem or outlook of life. Homosexuals and prostitutes would hardly dream of coming into our churches, because our looks and stares or just plain avoidance condemns them.
My point is, our inaction is not neutral, but is a negative action.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying to point fingers and quote Scriptures and become a "holy tattletale." But it is time to get over our fear of man and find some fear of God, because ultimately we will answer to One and not the other. Passivity never helped save anyone. Compassion is useless unless it translates into actions, words, and prayers that advance the gospel by impacting people. It's time to look lost people in the eyes, welcome them, touch them, and even become friends with them. It's time to go to where they are and stop expecting them to come to us by jumping the insurmountable barriers we put up between ourselves and them. Jesus is not a secret trophy to be passed around indoors under a cross and stained glass, hidden from the world, like the world would hurt God's feelings or something. This is our chance to live unapologetically devoted to God while in the world, rather than sheepishly hide behind our hypocrisy. It's time to leave the big pew Bible at home and put the words of God in our hearts so they'll be with us wherever we go.
I don't know about you, but I don't want someone else's blood on my hands. I can't force people to make the right decision, and ultimately they will make the decision for themselves. But I will make sure they know the gospel and experience it, because they experience me. I will live the gospel, not just speak it or profess dedication to it. I'm going to make it as hard as possible for every single person who comes in contact with me to go to hell.
What will you do?
posted by Luke at 11:50 AM
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