Been listening to alot of preaching lately....came across a sermon about soul winning and it made me really think.
The crux of the message was simply that we are called and saved to go win others to Christ, and basically if we fail we go to the hot place.
I have heard this at least three or four times over the years...if you don't preach, you don't go. Many sriptures are used, with the main one being were Paul exclaimed "Woe unto me if I preach not the Gospel", also the scripture that tells us to warn the unruly etc.
What are some of your thoughts on this? I have believed for a long time that we are to be salt and light as opportunity presents itself...but not to make our own platform to preach on. How many saints or ministers can lay claim that they have NEVER missed an opportunity to witness or win others to Christ.
Essentially, we have blood on our hands if we are not actively soul winning. What say ye??
He that winneth souls is wise. We are all called to be witnesses. What does "witness" mean? If you have experience the power of God in your life, you are a witness of the difference he can make in a life. Some PROCLAIM the power of God, and others quietly let their life proclaim God's grace for them. IMO, it depends on the personality of the person. Some people are outwardly vocal with opinions and others are more quiet and reserved. I don't think God requires us to work outside of our personality, or become a personality that they are not comfortable with.
__________________ Words: For when an emoticon just isn't enough.
We are not called to win souls. We are called to make disciples of Christ. Getting people wet and getting them to chatter is only a small part. Christ wants disciples. In otherwords train people to be Christ's representatives on earth.
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A religious spirit allows people to tolerate hatred and anger under the guise of passion and holiness. Bill Johnson
Legalism has no pity on people. Legalism makes my opinion your burden, makes opinion your boundary, makes my opinion your obligation-Lucado
Some get spiritual because they see the light. Others because they feel the heat.Ray Wylie Hubbard
Definition of legalism- Damned if you do. Damned if you don't. TV
I realize in the day and age we are living in that many are looking for an "easier" way to be saved and "make it". I just want to exclaim that is not the point of my post, neither is it my motivation for asking.
In alot of cases in Christendom, there seems to generally be two schools of thought on salvation....grace, free, and cost paid upon calling on and believing on Christ; and then the other which also includes baptism in Jesus name and the Holy Ghost..or New Birth.
I believe the new birth, and the peers I have in the UPC, generally add to the initial birth these other qualifying factors...such as the absolute necessity of winning souls, the dress, how and what you are entertained by, and the list from a OP perspective is ever growing...anyone who has been around for any amount of time knows that.
What really concerned me is that I know I have not taken opportunity to win folks, I have come short in this and many other areas.....coming to terms with that is one thing....realizing that their blood could be on my hands for eternity is another..
I believe we are commanded to preach the Gospel to a lost and dying world. But ultimately, no one comes to Christ unless the Father draws them. We can't "win" them to be saved. We can only preach.
Let me clarify my last statement...I have one some folks to the Lord...but I certainly have not taken EVERY opportunity afforded to win every soul I come in contact with.
John 15:2
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
My entire time in spent in the Wonderful World of Pentecost had me believing that the core of witnessing was "soul winning" and THAT metric was based on how many random people you shared the Lord with and invited to church. So someone who had the personality fit for any given Multi Level Marketing job usually scored the most points.
Last edited by RandyWayne; 08-10-2012 at 10:22 AM.
My entire time in spent in the Wonderful World of Pentecost had be believing that the core of witnessing was "soul winning" and THAT metric was based on how many random people you shared the Lord with and invited to church. So someone who had the personality fit for any given Multi Level Marketing job usually scored the most points.
That is the TRUTH RW.... people who have those kinds of abilities, almost always involve themselves in some kind of scam, involving scamming people into believing they need a product that they really don't need.... and then go down to a local church, and pastor, and do the MLM scamming on the side if they need to. I knew a pastor who sold World Book Encyclopedias and was quite successful with it, doing this on the side, while he also ran the church! Not to mention an Amway business, and Melaleuca (tea tree oil) MLM also.
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