You Be the Judge! Preach the Disease and Then the Cure or the Cure and Never The Disease?
Posted: 09/05/2006
You Be the Judge!
Let’s play a game.You are the judge.Your job is to rate the following two scenarios on a scale of one to ten.One=just plain dopey.Ten=that makes a ton of sense.Ready?
Scenario One:
Dr. Megan U. Feelgood walks into an exam room, puts on her best bedside manner and begins, “Mr. Johnson, I know you are a successful man and you have a lovely home and family, but I would like to invite you to spend some time in a place that really makes me happy.Now, perhaps you have had a bad experience in the past with hospitals, but I want to tell you about my hospital.There is a frozen custard machine in the cafeteria.It is the tastiest custard I have ever had and you can eat as much of it as you want if you will just check into the hospital.Won’t you come?”
Mr. Johnson considers how much he likes custard and responds, “Um, thanks Doc, but I can get custard any time I want.Besides, I am not that nuts about custard.Can I go now?”
“Not yet,” Doctor Feelgood blurts.“You see, the hospital has a killer sound system and the announcements they make are really relevant.No more of that, ‘Paging Doctor Schultz business.’These are really relevant announcements.”
“Can I get out of this goofy robe?”
“You aren’t getting it, Mr. Johnson.Every Friday night the hospital organizes a patient social and all the patients get together and have a great time.”
“See ya, Doc.”
What do you rate that scenario? Illogical or brilliant?
Scenario Two:
Dr. Grace O’Lone walks into an exam room with a serious look on her face.“Mr. Johnson, I have taken ten x-rays and they all conclude the same thing.You are sick and you are going to die.Your demise is certain and painful.Look at these x-rays, they don’t lie.”
Mr. Johnson is trembling, “But Doc, I don’t wanna die.”
“Are you certain?”
“I have never been more certain in my life,” Mr. Johnson sobs.
“I have some good news, Johnson.They have a cure at the hospital.”
Mr. Johnson doesn’t even wait to take off his flimsy robe as he runs out the door to the hospital.
You be the judge.Is that scenario more reasonable and logical?One to ten?
May I ask you, how do you share your faith?
If you encourage someone to attend your church because it has Starbucks coffee, a thumpin’ sound system and relevant messages, then you are Dr. Megan U. Feelgood.
You are Dr. Grace O’Lone if you hold up the mirror of God’s Law in an effort to help a sinner understand his infinite offense against God.That is the man or woman who will flee to the cross of Christ in gratitude.
If we lure people to our churches by promising fun or relevance, then we are doing two things wrong:
We are using the church as an evangelism method.We were told to “go and preach,” not invite and entertain.
We are creating false converts who are visiting the hospital with the wrong motives.
Now, it is possible that someone may step foot in the hospital’s door because they like custard.It is possible that some may hang around the hospital long enough to somehow discover they have a terminal illness and need the hospital for more than fun.But honestly, doesn’t that sound silly?
And so, my seeker sensitive friend, may I challenge you?Is it really a good idea to lure people into church to fill their felt need until they eventually hear the truth about their real need?More than that, is it a Biblical idea?Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples, not send out postcards promoting a relevant lecture on marriage.
Furthermore, we are not commanded to make sure people have fun on Sunday.We are sent to preach repentance and faith for the forgiveness of sins.
Please.Please.Leave the safety of your church and do what you have been commanded to do.Go make disciples.Use the Law as a schoolmaster to help them understand the exceeding sinfulness of sin.Then they will flee to the Savior for mercy and you will not have to plead with them to attend church.When God soundly saves people, they will desire fellowship with the brethren all by themselves.
You be the judge.But remember, you will be judged for your decision.
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Re: You Be the Judge! Preach the Disease and Then the Cure or the Cure and Never The Disease?
Posted On: 01/10/07 10:23:33 AM
Age 33, NC
Todd, I love the Doctor analogy to help understand what the Bible says concerning sharing our faith the way Jesus did! I wholeheartedly believe that the law of God was given for us to know what sin IS.(Rom 7:7) If we fail to understand what it is that keeps us from eternal life then we are failing to understand the God of the Bible. He is the just Judge of the universe(Rom 2:16) and He will judge this world in righteousness. (Acts 17:30-31) So the issue is not one of happiness or if our needs and problems are taken care of, its an issue of righteousness found only in Jesus Christ! Click here to reply to this post
Re: You Be the Judge! Preach the Disease and Then the Cure or the Cure and Never The Disease?
Posted On: 09/19/06 03:05:24 PM
Age 35, TX
Sometimes the truth stings. This modern-day parable hits at the heart of exposing un-biblical ways and motives in "doing church." Thank you for this timely example of stressing the importance of "going and making disciples," instead of "sitting and waiting" for those who enter the "hospital" doors. Click here to reply to this post
Re: You Be the Judge! Preach the Disease and Then the Cure or the Cure and Never The Disease?
Posted On: 09/07/06 04:54:01 PM
Age 35, IN
Thank you so much for this timely and truthful article. Just this past week we had a meeting at church where our elders and senior minister laid out "the direction God is leading our church". Immediately after the meeting, my husband asked to meet privately with the elders. We are scheduled to meet with them at their next elders' meeting. My husband and I have been struggling SO MUCH with the direction our church is going. The issue is the same as this article: invite seekers to church so their needs can be met. Apparently, God is leading our church to reach out to the hurting, so we are going to help them with their hurts. Please don't get me wrong. I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART that God can heal strained relationships, broken marriages, drug problems, lonliness, etc. But the Lord is not a therapist, He is Savior. He is not saving us from troubled relationships. He is saving us from eternal damnation. And when we try to evangelize by meeting "felt needs" we are reducing the Savior to a Dr. Phil. Can anyone respond with biblical support for this "seeker" method of evangelism? This way of doing church today where seekers are invited in instead of us (believers) going out? From every instance I can find, the apostles never dealt with the symptoms of the problem. They dealt with the problem of sin head-on and preached repentance. Only AFTER a person believed were they considered part of the church. Click here to reply to this post
Re: You Be the Judge! Preach the Disease and Then the Cure or the Cure and Never The Disease?
Posted On: 09/06/06 10:44:08 AM
Age 43, VA
You have given a beautiful example and put into words what I have been struggling for years to convey to others. Click here to reply to this post
Re: You Be the Judge! Preach the Disease and Then the Cure or the Cure and Never The Disease?
Posted On: 09/06/06 08:30:27 AM
Age 51, IN
Todd,
In my Junior year of Bible College, the chancellor of the college told us, "Gentlemen, what you win them with is what you win them to." That counsel has resonated with me for over thirty years. Thank you for such a powerful illustration of that principle. God Bless You. Click here to reply to this post
Re: You Be the Judge! Preach the Disease and Then the Cure or the Cure and Never The Disease?
Posted On: 09/06/06 08:19:25 AM
Age 51, KS
I agree with your basic stand against "easy believism."
I wonder when you use the 10 Commandments, how you would answer the question "Do you keep the Sabbath?" Using the 10 commandments as a way to "convict the sinner of his sin" unnecessary at best, since this is the Holy Spirit's job, and dangerous at worst because then you need to discuss the whole Jewish vs. Christian system. Romans seems to be a cleaner presentation. All have sinned. Any adult who can look you in the eye and claimed not to have sinned, will not be convinced by all 10 of the commandments--or even 9 of them
Charlie McClelland
charliem@wamego.net Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: You Be the Judge! Preach the Disease and Then the Cure or the Cure and Never The Disease?
Posted On: 09/06/06 06:36:21 PM
Age 32, BC
Using the 10 commandments as a way to "convict the sinner of his sin" unnecessary at best, since this is the Holy Spirit's job, and dangerous at worst because then you need to discuss the whole Jewish vs. Christian system. Romans seems to be a cleaner presentation. All have sinned. Any adult who can look you in the eye and claimed not to have sinned, will not be convinced by all 10 of the commandments--or even 9 of them Charlie McClelland
Conviction of sin is by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. To say that preaching the law is unnecessary is contrary to the scripture where the Apostle Paul says in Rom 7:7, "I would not have come to know sin EXCEPT through the law" (and then he goes on to cite the 10th commandment). The truth is that in order to find life, we must die. As long as we think there is some good thing in us, we cannot die for we hold on to our flesh because of the good we think we see in ourselves. The law helps us see clearly.
In 2 Cor 3:6-7 we read "...for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. But if the ministry of death, IN LETTERS ENGRAVED ON STONES, came with glory..." So it is the 10 commandments that have what Paul calls the "ministry of death." Back to Romans 7, we read in verses 9-10: "I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; and this commandment, which was to result in life, PROVED TO RESULT IN DEATH FOR ME."
Why does Paul say, "I would not have come to know sin except through the Law"? Was he suggesting there was another way to see ourselves as God sees us, as sinners, in order that we might die to ourselves? True, in Romans we are told we are all sinners, but how so? If you are called arrested and called into a human court, wouldn't you be likely to resist until you knew the charges against you? This is no different in God's court. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: You Be the Judge! Preach the Disease and Then the Cure or the Cure and Never The Disease?
Posted On: 09/06/06 05:37:07 PM
Age 32, BC
Charlie, you bring up a good point. I was certainly confused by the 4th commandment on the Sabbath at first. But what is the Sabbath? Some think it may mean that we set aside time for God at least once a week. This was the literal command for Israel only. But in Hebrews 4 we are told the significance of the Sabbath. In verse 4 it says "and God rested on the seventh day from all His works" and in verse 5 "they shall not enter my rest." What is this rest?? In verse 8 it speaks of another day which verse 9 describes is a Sabbath rest for the people of God. Verse 10 is the key: "for the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His." So, the question concerning the 4th commandment should be, "have you failed to rest from doing works which you think will get you into heaven?" This is how this commandment should be used when bringing a knowledge of our sin before God. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: You Be the Judge! Preach the Disease and Then the Cure or the Cure and Never The Disease?
Posted On: 09/06/06 01:22:29 PM
Age 40, TX
Jesus used the Law when He talked to people about salvation. That is enough of a reason for us to do likewise. Matt 10:24-25. God Bless Click here to reply to this post
Re: You Be the Judge! Preach the Disease and Then the Cure or the Cure and Never The Disease?
Posted On: 09/06/06 02:11:05 AM
Age 31, CA
the falacy in this is that it's presented as an "either/or" argument. either one is presenting 'custard' and fluff, or one is presenting the law. could it be possible that the church is to be about the law and truth, AND about community and body life? that a coffee shop at the church could allow people in the church to build community and serve each other using their gifts?
some people will come to Christ when they see the truth and realize their need. and some people will come to Christ when they see a community of believers loving each other well, and they see THAT need in their life, and are drawn in to be exposed to the truth.
there is room for many approaches in evangelism, if all are founded in the truth of Christ. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: You Be the Judge! Preach the Disease and Then the Cure or the Cure and Never The Disease?
Posted On: 09/06/06 02:55:02 PM
Age 40, FL
I believe Todd was saying that if you're using all the fellowship time, the coffee shop, the awesome worship/soundsystem, the new building, the pastor's Powerpoints, or the youth dramas, in order to draw the lost, you are wrong. As far as building/equipping a body of belivers, there's nothing wrong with these. In order to make disciples, to paraphrase, Jesus said GO, and He didn't say attract them. Scott Click here to reply to this post
Re: You Be the Judge! Preach the Disease and Then the Cure or the Cure and Without The Disease?
Posted On: 09/05/06 01:03:01 PM
Age 29, KY
Thank you, Todd. This is another fabulous analogy illustrating the importance of the use of the law in evangelism. I can't wait to share this one with my pastor. May God bless you, both for evangelizing the lost and for teaching us how to do so as well. Click here to reply to this post
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