Would the police have right to punish you if you were never told or shown that murder is wrong?

There is a law against it, but no one ever told you and by horrible upbringing, you never truly knew it was wrong, so one day Sven makes you really mad and you push him off a cliff, sadly Sven passes away, and you go on about it like nothing happened. Soon police detectives link you to the murder and your hauled off to jail, it’s proven that you simply didn’t know the law, however, now you’re truly sorry for breaking the law.. are you guilty? Yes, you are.  Will you be punished? Yes! You’ve been shown to have a sound mind, that you planned the murder, and carried it out. Your parents are questioned, and to the amazement of everyone they never taught you murder was wrong, because they “loved” you so much they refused to set rules for you to live by. The remaining children your parents have are taken away, and the parents are punished to the fullest extent of the law. And as they flip the switch on the electric chair your last thought is.. “I never knew”. While you’re guilty of this crime they are guilty of a worse one. Ignorance of the law is no excuse, and hiding the law from other is as great an offense.

Recently I had a discussion with a Christian that he thought showing people the law of God, and their sins in that mirror was judgmental, and unbiblical. I think Romans 7:7 is in order “.. I had not known sin but by the law..” Paul the apostle, the Pharisee had not known sin but by the law… the light of the Law that Jesus expounded upon in the Sermon on the Mount shone on his heart and opened his eyes to the law of God, that he would be judged on every thought, word and deed.

This Christians view is that we should show the lost the love of Christ, and that will lead them to repentance and faith. However is that love? Is the above scenario of not telling your kids the rules love?? Absolutely not!!! How many lost people can name the 10 commandments? Not many I’ll bet… how many that can name them know their purpose? And how many got to heaven by trying to keep them? And how loving is it NOT to tell the lost about their sins…and the punishment awaiting them.

This post could go so many different ways, and lead into to so many different things, why is that? It’s because preaching a love only, law starved gospel is the root of 99% if not ALL the problems in the modern church. This is what happens when we don’t show people they’re guilt before a just and holy God, we have to “push for decisions” because the Holy Spirit has not been allowed to work in that persons life. They’ve only been shown the love of Christ, they make a decision because, well who doesn’t like love, and when the promised trials and tribulations come they fall away, or worse stay in church with a hard heart playing like they’re a Christian all the while believing they’re saved.

Is it love to not tell the person they’re a sinner? It is Judging? We’re not telling them anything, it’s by their own admission!! If I ask a murderer is he murdered a person, and he says “yes”.. am I judging him? It comes down to scripture twisting and not knowing the bible. No it’s not judging, Firstly the bible makes it clear “there are none good, no, not one” hence “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” is it judging to walk into a prison and say to the rapist “you’re guilty of rape”? Absolutely not! However, it is murder for the evangelist to walk up to a person, knowing the bible declares them guilty, and knowing the only payment for that guilt is death, and then ignore that death sentence completely…but telling the person how much they’re loved, and all the great things that God will do for them… but when they die, they’ve never repented of their sins… and they experience the deserved wrath of God. Oh how I feel for those people… because they were lied to. By “loving people” who do not understand the role of the law in evangelism, or the seriousness of the sins we have all committed, or the wrath of a Just and HOLY God. In short it isn’t “love” to hide this from the lost, it’s murder, it’s hatred, it’s selfish, it heartbreaking, it’s… heresy.

Ignorance, and “love” will condemn entire generations to the lake of fire. I can not help but think it’s fear of confrontation, perhaps conviction of something we have in ourselves that we wont let go of. In any case Ezekiel 3 says the following… if we do not warn the dying man, or speak out to dissuade him he will die in his sin… “You will surely die” is the word of the Lord.. NOT “Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life” – Seriously, how I weep for those misled by the love only heresy. (Yes, Heresy)…

16 At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me: 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for [a] his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.
20 “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 21 But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself.”

In short, Presenting Law then Grace is the only way to evangelize biblically. everyting else is a man made attempt to fulfill the great commission, and please man at the same time. Kids don’t like spankings, and the truth hurts.. it hurt me when I found out I was a murderer, a liar, and a theif. But it also drove me to Christ….

Tell them the truth IN LOVE and show the “Love of Christ” by being honest, and 100% truthful with them..Don’t leave out the “bad” because you’re uncomfortable with it. Love them enough to tell them.

Let me tell you my experience, I’ve followed evangelism and been in some way involved in it since the Lord saved me. I’ve read numerous books on the subject, and been to a few trainings on the “how to’s” of it. The first book I read was “Fire evangelism” by Dr Che Ahn (I think) I didn’t agree with most of it. The second book, was “One thing you can’t do in Heaven” by Mark Cahill, third was “The Way of the Master” by Ray Comfort, which led into the School of Biblical Evangelism, and attending Ambassadors Academy through living waters. I’ve also read “Becoming a Contagious Christian” by Bill Hybels. As well as “Evangelism in the New Testament” by Jon Speed…So I think I have a balanced view of some of the techniques involved in evangelism.  I’ll admit, lifestyle evangelism is far easier than all other kinds… after all, I am living a good life hoping someone asks me about the light that’s in me! (Not evangelism, it’s being a good witness, but not evangelism) It takes far more love and courage to walk up to someone and present the Law and Grace… 

Putting yourself out there isn’t evangelism. Putting yourself out there and actively speaking of Christ to everyone you meet might be evangelism. Are you speaking the law and grace? That’s evangelism. Are you telling only one side of the story? Law or Grace? I wouldn’t consider that evangelism, it’s a lie… Not evangelism. The real definition of evangelism is proclaiming the gospel of Christ to the people, if you’re only preaching Love, or only preaching Law, that’s not the gospel of Christ. However an equal and balanced presentation is preaching correctly, congrats that’s evangelism! This goes for food pantry’s, clothing distribution sites, etc.. if we’re not sharing the Law and Gospel DO NOT CALL IT EVANGELISM!!! Also if you’re not sharing the law and grace in those places, shame on you. How can you claim to be showing the love of Christ when you’re not telling them how to be saved, all you’re doing is sending them to hell with warm clothes, and full bellies! Share the whole gospel with them!! 

It’s obvious I don’t believe in Lifestyle evangelism, here’s why – what if you’re planning on sharing the Gospel the next day, and your friend dies the night before? How many years did you hide the gospel, the truth from your friend? It’s deceitful as well, are you making a friend only to share Christ with him? And if you’re not sharing Christ, is that person really your friend? It’s a dangerous game. Everyone has their own evangelism style, however the law and grace is the only right way… Whether you do it through tracts, open air, or one 2 ones.  Lifestyle evangelism is a fear filled, man centered response to the great commission, it’s a lie, saying that you are evangelizing, when you’re not. Friendship evangelism…? Well.. I’m up in the air on that one. I recommend the book “Evangelism in the New Testament” By Jon Speed. Decide for yourself. 

Likewise I don’t believe in preaching grace or love only. (or law only) Why? Because while God is love, how loving is it for me to ignore the law, and not present to you the mirror of the law? How can you know sin, unless the law is presented?  If we go around ONLY presenting love, then we will give the impression that God is only love. That He won’t punish sin, and that He won’t send anyone to hell.  And that’s NOT the God of the Bible.  Likewise going out and preaching ONLY law portrays God as a hate monger who wont save anyone – since this isn’t a problem that I am aware of, I am not even going to address it. 

Paul says in the Bible “I had not known sin but by the law” what’s this mean then? It means that unless we use the law, and share the law people who don’t know it, won’t know their sin before God, hence they won’t see the seriousness of their situation.  A love only gospel has produced a country full of false converts, where 80% of the nation claims Christianity, yet lives like hell Monday through Saturday, we can’t even outlaw abortion! The road is wide to hell; want to send more people there? Preach love only. Now I am not saying don’t preach love… by ALL means preach LOVE!! But balance that love with the law… show them how great that love is! Show them that they’re guilty before the Judgment seat of God, then show them how loving God is!! How HE sent HIS Son to DIE for THEM on a cross, a horrible and brutal death, only to RISE AGAIN forever defeating SIN and DEATH and that HE did ALL THIS FOR THEM.. THAT’S LOVE FRIENDS!!  Is it love to never say repent and turn? Or is it love to warn them, and say repent and turn because here’s what’s waiting if you don’t, and here’s WHO is waiting if you do! 

In short if you’re not preaching the law AND grace… you’re not preaching the bible. 

Exodus 24:12
And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.   (emphasis added) 

Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. – (can we do all the law???? NO!! that’s what makes GRACE so wonderful) 

Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (SHALL NOT DEPART!! IF WE FORGET THE LAW, WE’RE LAWLESS MEN AND WOMAN DESERVING OF HELL, BUT WE DON’T KNOW THAT BECAUSE THE LAW IS FORGOTTEN, YET WE’LL STILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE IT’S THE LAW) 

Luke 16:17
And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. ( WE WILL BE JUDGED BY THE LAW, HOW HATEFUL TO NOT TELL THE LOST ABOUT IT)

**please don’t think these are the only verses that deal with the law, and presenting it, there are tons… look it up!!!

It goes on and on, to preach the gospel, without the law, is nothing short of heresy. And every preacher who does, whether they’re a street preacher, or in a pulpit should be kicked out and banned from preaching until they know the truth. AFTER they repent to those they’ve lied to, and tell them the truth. 

Harsh? Not if you’re telling the truth already. 

Ray Comfort say it far better than I can in Hells Best Kept Secret and True & False Conversion

I’ve been struggling with this since my previous “Santa” post. I was told the “Christian” bookstore was using  jolly old St. Nick as a tool to draw people in hopes of sharing the Christmas story, and that the folks may pick up (buy?) some literature. I can see the point, but also stand behind my previous post that Santa is a pagan symbol, that attempts to blot out Christ from Christmas. 

If we’re using Santa as a tool, what to stop us from hiring bikini models or hard body beach guys to preach in the open air, and witness on summer days?  Perhaps because the models would cause lust?  just as Santa’s presence is promoting a lie, and a false god.  The bible tells us to be in the world, NOT OF the world. Why not use the characters from Twilight to spread the good news?

 In all honesty why not have the manger scene, and have the shepherd boy share the story of Christmas, and then the gospel of Christ. Why bring in the world at all? If we held a music concert for outreach, would we let Black Sabbath play? I certainly hope not! 

Thoughts? please??

Here’s my thoughts:

 open your doors to the public, offer some (Free) refreshments, and give away a book on the gospel of Christ.. FREE! Perhaps a FREE Bible.. and have people there to answer questions, and share the LAW & Grace!!   THEN throw out your Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen, the shack, and emergent church lies, and promote the truth.

Kimmswick is a VERY small town who’s only money comes from tourism, profiting from the history of the town Kimmswick’s streets are lined with small shops perfect for a Sunday getaway. Oddly the town has the appeal to draw more than 150,000 people every spring and fall during their annual festivals. We had participated in the fall festival this year, and while the first day was amazing, the second day they shut the preaching of the word down, and told us we were breaking the rules if we left our 10×10 space. With only a few hours left we stayed until the rain started, and headed home. That weekend we passed out literally thousands of tracts, and had hundreds of conversations. One of the chief complaints the city hall had when we spoke to them was the crosses. One man carried his around town, and I held mine near a busy street, they weren’t happy. 

 Tomorrow I am going to take it and stand along the parade route, in hopes of starting conversations about Christ. I am nervous, and a little hesitant. But it must be done. Lately I’ve been really convicted about all the pictures people take, and posting them, it could easily be seen as pride… a “look what I did” type thing. So if we take any pics, I’ll post them, but don’t expect a lot. I would actually like to get pics of my wife evangelizing, she is more than happy to take pics of me, but no one can ever return the favor. She does more than I do typically, especially in planning, photos, the “behind the scenes” stuff. She’s a blessing. 

old and new cross.

 I really would appreciate your prayers; Lord willing we should be heading out around 9:00 or 9:30 am. If anyone is in the St. Louis area and would like to join me please let me know. I honestly don’t expect a big crowd, but… ya never know. 

*and sorry if I stole the name of this article from someone… it is familiar, but seemed to fit.

I BEG you please examine yourself! MAKE sure you’re right with God, it’s more important than your job, family, friends, or life… even moreso than your next breath! Cry out to Him, please. That’s my prayer, that the Lord would save you, and would give you that confidence that Paul mentions here. Then go and tell everyone you know… please. It’s of the utmost importance. Don’t let another second pass…