This question came up at the latest Free Grace Alliance Conference in Dallas, Texas in October. We had just spent three days investing our time listening to men of God pouring into us truths of God’s word pertaining the fact that one is saved by trusting in Jesus alone, that He died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. I thoroughly enjoyed these speakers—soaking in all the nuances and gaining wisdom and understanding from God’s word. Many of these men are heroes of mine. Speaker after speaker, workshop after workshop offered great counsel on the scriptures, defending it rightly, dividing it accurately, and demanding that we…well, I’m not quite sure.
At the end of one of the last sessions a speaker entertained a question from the audience. The questioner asked, “So, what can we do?” It was a great question—one I had in my mind, and probably one others had, as well. We had discussed the clarity of the gospel for three days. We had listened to papers read by hard-working pastors and authors dedicated to the simplicity of the gospel. We had heard another viewpoint on James chapter two. We had heard the state of the Free Grace Alliance movement, and its rift with the Grace Evangelical Society. But, we also heard about five minutes of “what we can do”.
You see, one man was invited to speak about the free online evangelism courses offered by EvanTell. The website, www.act111.org, is excellent—I went through it, and it has helped me incredibly in sharing the gospel with others. (No, this blog is not a commercial for EvanTell. They have no idea I’m writing this.) This one man was given about five minutes to talk about what was needed most…action.
At the beginning of this conference we were told we would not be grinding down doctrine for three days. And, for the most part, we didn’t. There were no splitting hairs over “what would happen if” theologies. It was all in very good taste—very, well, grace-oriented. Yet, at the end of the conference I felt I had sat through enough lectures that answers the question, “What is the gospel?” I must say, if we don’t know what the gospel is, how could we share it? So I’m not belittling the importance of this. But I do wonder if most, if not all, of us at the FGA conference in Dallas were there either because we knew well the free grace gospel, or because we needed to. OK, perhaps there could be a few who needed to become aware of the simplicity of the gospel. Perhaps those should be evangelized?
Which leads me to the answer to the question first presented, “So, what can we do?” The man who asked this question received his answer. Remember, we had enjoyed three days of great information on the gospel. I hope and pray my tone in this blog is not taken in any way except gratefulness for the Free Grace Alliance. However, I was disappointed in the answer received to our brother’s question, “So, what can we do?”
Recently, I attended another conference in Louisiana. The topic was the Emergent Church movement. I had researched some of the details of this movement but was still shocked as I heard more of the dynamics and dangers the Emergent Church is producing in churches in America. One thing that struck me was how active those within this movement are. At one time, to be “missional” was to spread the clear gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations, but this word has taken on a completely different meaning for the Emergent Church.
But “missional” is their way of life. It is their hands-on activity. It is the blood that flows through the veins, offering sustenance for their movement to continue forward.
They do things. They don’t just sit and devour information about their movement. They don’t grind down the tiniest details of their ideologies. They know their stuff. And they know that they know their stuff (whatever that stuff actually is), so they are out there plowing and spreading and planting and reaping.
Back in Dallas, at the Free Grace Alliance Conference, there were many workers at the hotel where the conference was held. During the three days of gospel information, I wonder if anyone shared this good news with any of those workers. I confess I did not. Only five minutes were given to one speaker who spurred us onward to proclaim this good news. It is good news.
I was one of the youngest at this conference. I am thirty-five years old. Most who attended had gray hair. The Emergent Church has a future. They thrive on the energy of college-age and young adults. Their question was answered. They know what to do. And they are busy doing it, albeit, an unbiblical doing.
I spent a couple hundred dollars attending this conference. It really was a great conference—worth every cent. I look forward to next year. I learned several new things. One thing I learned saddened me, though. The answer to the question, “So, what can we do?”
To which the speaker replied, “I don’t know.”
And the people there laughed. I am not laughing. I want to do something. I’m a young pastor of a church of approximately fifty people. My ministry is growing, and I’m learning so much. One thing I’ve learned is that very few Christians actually share the gospel with others. In fact, very few pastors do, and aren’t we supposed to be paid for doing this (tongue-in-cheek)? If it is good news, if it is worth spending a couple hundred dollars and three days in Dallas (no offense my Dallas friends), and if it requires certain necessary divisions such as the one between GES and FGA, then it must be worth sharing it with, at least, one waitress at the FGA banquet on Tuesday night. What about the clerks behind the desk at the hotel? It was a very nice hotel—I hope we get the same one next year.
What about the waiters at the Spring Creek Barbeque where we scarfed down ribs on Monday night? I didn’t even give them a tract. I must have passed by a hundred souls during my stay in Dallas, learning about the clarity of that which saves souls from Hell. In what am I more interested—taking this information to build my local church to a certain number, gaining new weapons to argue with my Calvinist friends, inheriting greater doctrinal knowledge, sell books, buy books, promote my ministry, or build the Kingdom of God.
Oh, the Kingdom. The plenary speaker at this conference was fantastic. He spoke of the Kingdom in such a way that opened my eyes to new motivations of righteous and gracious living. And the motivation to share this good news with others sank deep into my heart.
So, what can we do? “I don’t know” isn’t a good answer. Grant it, the speaker who replied with “I don’t know” was put on the spot, and I understand that. I might’ve replied with that, as well. Nonetheless, if the simplicity of the gospel is at stake, then souls are at stake. Then the glory of Christ is at stake. The glory of Christ is at stake. (Yes, I typed that sentence twice.) Because that is the foundation of what we were at the FGA Conference for—the gospel. His good news being received by lost persons because of energized believers who know the simple gospel and share it passionately, lovingly, graciously…the glory of Christ. It is at stake.
“I don’t know.”
Oh, again, I don’t blame that dear speaker. I’m quite fond of him, actually. He has passion—I saw it in his presentation. I just wonder if conferences like this are solving the problem of the glory of Christ is at stake. Maybe it is, but I’m just not convinced. What can we do?
In wrapping up this blog, I confess that “I don’t know” is mostly my answer, as well. But, I believe it has something to do with evangelism. That word is not just suited for VBS.
Websites for the above mentioned ministries:
Posts
