WHY SO MANY ALMOST

WHY SO MANY ALMOST.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

  Yesterday’s DT question is: As Christ’s representatives sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ the one and only Redeemer, why do so many hearers reject His freely offered gift of present and eternal deliverance?

  The question is the result of sermon heard sitting at Pastor Bob Myer’s feet Sunday morning, my later repeated readings of print text he provided me with, and pondering the message therein; that our USA independent individualistic attitude very much adversely effects churches in the USA, in particular Benson Baptist Church. We love to celebrate Independence Day, every day!

  In response to the DT question posed:

+++

In my experience, people who flatly reject Jesus are actually angry with him or with God (not realizing the irony of being angry at someone who doesn't exist) because they have had a painful childhood or because they have seen someone they love dearly, who they believe to be a good person, suffer greatly before their death. Great pain causes us to either turn completely to God or completely away from him.

  I also see many adults who have not been brought up with a knowledge of God, so have no interest in learning as an adult because they believe they are doing fine or believe that Christianity demands that they give up everything fun in their lives.

  Also have to admit that I am not good about telling them either. I put in my thoughts when the chance arises, but never begin the conversation myself.

Cheri [NV]

+++

There's multiple reasons I can think of.  I don't mean to present this list as exhaustive.

1)  The Gospel is an offense to the flesh.  Our pride doesn't like hearing that we can't do what we need to on our own and need a Savior. (Ro 3:10, 3:23, 5:12, 6:23)

2)  Positional arguments, as opposed to principled arguments, are tough to internally overcome once we've dug our heels in.  An individual who has said for a long time (s)he doesn't need Jesus will fear losing face if they admit they've had a change of heart. (James 1:19, 4:6)

      *This concept is also applicable for discussions or negotiations Christians engage in after being saved, not just limited to non-believers accepting Christ for the first time.

3)  True Christianity often calls for giving up instant "rewards" for the sake of greater long-term gain.  For some this instant gratification seems too much to give up. (Rom 12:1)

4)  The truths of Christianity deal with the spiritual realm, sometimes not the tangible or material.  Self-described "realists" are very reluctant to believe in anything they can't physically see or touch (Eph 6:12, Col 3:2, Phi 4:8)

5)  Some people have had bad personal experiences with the church and/or Christianity and as such have made their minds up to not go back to church (Matt 5:16, 1 Ti 3:7)

6)  Modernist philosophy, which says that math and science are absolute but religion and morals are relative, has become the main line of thinking in the US.  Those who subscribe to this philosophy usually don't fully trust in Christ for one of two reasons:

      -They think Christians are arrogant for thinking that Christianity is the only true way to heaven and see this as hateful and/or intolerant of other worldviews (John 14:6)

      -They are open to the teachings of the Bible but see them as one option among many, AKA "I can learn some things from Christianity, some things from Islam, and some things from Buddhism and then combine them to create my own personal religion because I define my own truth" (John 14:6, 2 Ti 3:16, 17)

David [NE]

+++

From Gotquestions.org

"Why do people reject Jesus as their Savior?"

  The decision to accept or reject Jesus as Savior is the ultimate life decision. Why do many people choose to reject Jesus as Savior? There are perhaps as many different reasons for rejecting Christ as there are people who reject Him, but the following four reasons can serve as general categories:

1) Some people do not think they need a savior. These people consider themselves to be “basically good” and do not realize that they, like all people, are sinners who cannot come to God on their own terms. But Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Those who reject Christ will not be able to stand before God and successfully plead their own case on their own merits.

2) The fear of social rejection or persecution deters some people from receiving Christ as Savior. The unbelievers in John 12:42-43 would not confess Christ because they were more concerned with their status among their peers than doing God’s will. These were the Pharisees whose love of position and the esteem of others blinded them, “for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.”

3) For some people, the things that the present world has to offer are more appealing than eternal things. We read the story of such a man in Matthew 19:16-23. This man was not willing to lose his earthly possessions in order to gain an eternal relationship with Jesus (see also 2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

4) Many people are simply resisting the Holy Spirit’s attempts to draw them to faith in Christ. Stephen, a leader in the early church, told those who were about to murder him, “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!” (Acts 7:51). The apostle Paul made a similar statement to a group of gospel rejecters in Acts 28:23-27.

Whatever the reasons why people reject Jesus Christ, their rejection has disastrous eternal consequences. “There is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” than the name of Jesus (Acts 4:12), and those who reject Him, for whatever reason, face an eternity in the “outer darkness” of hell where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30).

Recommended Resource: Jesus: The Greatest Life of All by Charles Swindoll

+++

  One of the ways I was challenged by mentors in my novice days was being asked a question with the only option for answering was to give a applicable summarizing passage from God’s Word (required digging & deciding L) and then explain what I understood He said.

  In response to yesterday’s question I share Jesus’ answer: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.  But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." [ESV Jn. 16-3:21] 

  To mentors Bud Bond, the Germeroths, the Heger brothers, and you I say individuals do not want to give up what they believe is independent control of their personal life. Even those that trust Christ as Redeemer have a continuing battle with His Lordship. We either accept and love the light of the world, or we live all-about-me loving the darkness of independent living far from the light. (Jn.8:12; 2Cor.4:4; Mt.5:14) For the lost this is an eternal one-time decision. For those of us presently and eternally secure in Him it is a continuing confrontation involving the truth of Romans 12:1-3.

EBB4