Wednesday, February 3, 2010

FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM

If you believe in friendship Evangelism, go to North Korea, and work your charm. Yes we are friendly, yes we evangelize, but never think that draws goats. We are a savor of death unto death...(and to others a savor of life to life).

All the unregenerate are God haters, enemies of God, and would crucify Him if given the opportunity; There is no middle ground.

Jesus was the friendliest evangelist ever in the infinity of time, life, and existence. And He was hated without a cause, crucified, mocked, spat upon, called a Demon, and they shouted all the louder, "We have no King but Ceasar, Crucify Him!! Crucify Him!!" Crucify this friendly evangelist, and release Barabbas who has never cured a leper, raised the dead, or forgiven sins.

The car was travelling 87 mph in a 55 mph zone, after a 30 minute chase, the car was finally boxed in and brought to a halt. The Cop asked, "Why were you speeding, and why didn't you pull over when I turned on the siren??" The speeder: Honestly, neither you nor the goverment are friendly ENOUGH so I am not interested in what your government, your laws, or even you have to say."

The solution was not "Friendship Evangelism":

2 Cor. 4:8-11 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; [9] persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; [10] always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. [11] For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

2 Cor. 1:8-10 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. [9] Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. [10] He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

2 Cor. 11:23-33 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. [24] Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. [25] Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; [26] on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; [27] in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. [28] And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. [29] Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

[30] If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. [31] The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. [32] At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, [33] but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.