"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are going about the sea and the dry land to make one proselyte, and whenever he may be becoming one, you are making him more than double a son of Gehenna than you are"
Matthews Account 23: 15, Concordant New Testament
By definition, a proselyte is a person who has converted from one opinion, religion or party to another. Donald Trump can be described as a proselyte, for he once sided with the Democrat party back when the Democrats were actually relevant. In His "Woes to the Pharisees," Jesus publicly condemns the Jewish authorities for their conversions of proselytes. Jesus suggests that these Pharisees do not create a righteous convert, but one who is "More than double a son of Gehenna than you are" {Matthews Account 23:15}. Now, for clarification, Jesus used the reference of Gehenna in a bad way. For in Jewish lore, Gehenna was that place of punishment after death. Think of it as a form of hell. Through their teachings and traditions, the Pharisees held the people under their yoke of authority, and Jesus called them out for this. Why do I bring this up? The other day I was in a conversation with a Gym Rat friend who often claims to be a believer, but also believes in some pretty outlandish stuff. Is he truly a proselyte? I'm not sure. What I do know is that I've had to research more than a few claims which he has made in order to convince myself that he is mistaken. But something interesting happened that changed my outlook on my situation with my friend. Another good friend suggested to me that it is only Jesus can change my Gym Rat friends delusion. I can speak Jesus into him, but it is only the Father who will open his eyes to the truth of his life in Him. I use the example of the apostle Paul, who indeed became a proselyte for Jesus on that road to Damascus. Remember, as he traveled to Damascus, the man Saul was doing so that he would persecute the followers of Jesus in that city. Well, God had other plans for Saul that day. Many believers will agree that Paul is one of the greatest speakers of Jesus of all time. This coming from a proselyte.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are of God, for many false prophets have come out into the world
First Epistle of John 4: 1, Concordant New Testament
By his own admission, Paul's conversion came at a point not of his own choosing, but "When it delights God" {Paul to the Galatians 1:15-16}. Why is this important? Because I do not set the timeline of when the Father will open ones eyes of another to the truth of their life in Him. My Gym friend will not become a proselyte on my time schedule, but on Gods. In my own experience, it has taken me over forty years for my own eyes to be opened to the truth of my life in Christ. I have experienced Sunday sermons, conversations with other Christians as well as time alone in prayer, yet it was only when it delighted the Father that my eyes would be opened to my life in Him. I can speak Jesus into the life of my friend, but it is only according to the will of the Father that he will come to know Him. Make no mistake, those who know the truth of their lives in Christ will undoubtedly be a positive factor in the lives of those around them. I believe that this is why Jesus spoke to the truth of "Letting your light shine in front of men" in His sermon on the mount {Matthews Account 5:16}. We are indeed the light of the world {Matthews Account 5:14}. That light is the light of Christ within us {Johns Account 1:4-5}. We can speak the truth of Christ Jesus into the world, but it is the Father who will open their eyes to the truth of His Son in them.
~Scott~
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