Quote:
Originally Posted by Esaias
These are common faults in Pentecostal preaching these days. And I am not talking about so called 'liberal churches' either.
I will relate a story.
We were attending a UPC in Washington state. A visitor had been coming, but had not committed to Christ. After one service, the pastor, myself, my wife, and another brother were talking with the guy. The guy said something to the effect of 'I know I'll get saved when God is ready for me, but right now I just don't think I'm ready, God has not got me ready yet...' Not in those exact words, but that was the thrust of his statements.
The pastor and the other guy began to tell the man 'When God is ready... just give it time... keep coming to church...'
I told the man straight up 'TODAY is the day of salvation. the only thing holding you back is YOU. You are waiting on God to do something to you but God is waiting on you quit putting him off.'
With many similar words I and my wife both exhorted him to give his life to Christ NOW. We told him we would pray with him and for him RIGHT NOW and stick with him until either God showed him the truth or he (the man) chose to just let go of God. Even if it took all night or into the next day or whatever.
The man was visibly upset - not angry, but he got that 'deer in the headlights' look, he was obviously uncomfortable with a HERE RIGHT NOW call to get right with God and turn it all over to Him.
The pastor quickly defused the situation by reassuring the man 'it's all in God's timing...'
We shortly afterward stopped going there and as far as I know the man never did become a Christian.
|
An all too familiar story. Sad, Isn't it!