Yesterday, we learned that we know we love the brethren, if we love God, and follow the Word of God:
"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments." -1 John 5:2
A logical next question could therefore be - how do we tell others the Gospel, or about God's warnings and judgments? How do we share the truth of God's Words with others? Do we first try to form a close relationship, get them to trust us, then we tell them? Do we tell them in a very loving, gentle way? What if they die before you get a chance to tell them, or what if they just don't "get it" when you repeatedly try to gently, and lovingly tell them?
I'm one of those people who wouldn't get it. Frankly, it can take over a decade to have much of any close friendship with me. I have noticed it takes a long time to get close to me. My speed is slow in that regard, and that is fine with me. If someone were to try to tell me truth from God's Word carefully, compassionately and gently, and perhaps would dance around the topic a bit, trying to get me to figure it out, it would probably fall flat for me. I would just think you're a bit wacky and nonsensical. This tactic works for many people, certainly many people have gotten saved this way, but there are people out there like me, where the compassion route doesn't necessarily work.
How did I hear the Gospel? I didn't receive it through compassion, I received it through learning about hell, and that that is a place I do not wish to spend eternity at. THAT got my attention. Fluffy-wuffy-lovey-dovies make me want to RUN, so that is not a way to get through to me, LOL. Perhaps this is part of my Autism, but I do not like being around much emotion. When people are crying in church, for example, that's their thing. Don't expect me to join, I may even move further away from them, because, for lack of a better term, I can feel the "energy field" that accompanies strong emotion, and I don't like it. I tend to keep my feelings to myself. I rarely outwardly emote, other than joy - I like joyfulness. :-) As for other emotions, I don't tend to know how to emote "properly," anyhow, and that's probably why I don't much bother trying. If I think a person needs to know how I feel, I will just tell them.
I was saved not by compassion, but by being pulled out of the fire.
Which way are we supposed to approach people about Christ? Is it wrong to preach hell-fire and brimstone to get people saved? Or, on the flip-side, is it considered manipulative to first create a relationship, and reach them with compassion, but not get a lot into the hell-fire side? I could ask you what you think. I could even create a poll, but let's just get right to what God's Word says on the subject. Here's the clear answer straight from the Scriptures:
"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." -Jude 1:21-23
Bingo! Some Christians have the gift of compassion, and that's how they bring people to Christ. Others, like myself, are straight forward and to the point - you're going to hell if you don't put your faith in Christ. Hell was not created for you, it was created for the devil and the angels that sinned, but your spirit was created eternal. Therefore, if you reject heaven, hell is the only eternal place left. No New Jerusalem or heaven for you. To learn how to be heaven bound, click here.
I jokingly call myself an "elbow" in the Body of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 12). I know I poke and jab, and it can bruise others, but I never do it from malice, hate, or ill intent. I just don't. I do it, because I am driven to. I have Christian friends who are the opposite. They are driven to form close relationships with many people, and they reach people through love and compassion.
I can't claim my compassionate friends drive people away from Christ, just because that tactic would not work on me, just like it's not right for my compassionate friends to claim that I drive people away from Christ with my hell-fire-ness. I can be compassionate, and when the Spirit leads me to, I am. Because of this, I'm certain a compassionate person can also be hell-fire straight forward, when the Spirit moves them to, as well. There is nothing wrong with either.
The next time someone tells you the way you reach others for Christ is wrong, point them to this Scripture:
"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." -Jude 1:21-23
