But sanctify the Lord god in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meakness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
1 Peter 3: 15-16 NKJV
I often wonder the motivation for those who profess to be christians by using shame or guilt to add to the flock of the Lord. It is true that Jesus asked us to make disciples of all the world, but how we go about this really does matter. We can either make our approach the hard way, or the gentle way. As we see in 1 Peter 3:15, we are advised to receive the questions of others with "meakness and fear." The apostle Peter had been in the presence of the Lord Jesus, so he must have known a thing or tow about just how Jesus ministered to those who approached him. For I would doubt that Jesus would ever make someone feel guilty about not following Him. No, Jesus not only sought others, but responded to people in love as well. There was nothing forceful about Jesus when it came to telling them about His father in heaven. There was no guilt involved. However, what Jesus did do is give the truth, he told it the way He saw it. THIS, in my opinion, is what made people of His day extremely apprehensive.
The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possesions. Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Matthew 19: 20-24 NKJV
Ok, here is Jesus offering this rich young man the gift of eternal life. He does, however, add a catch to this offer. For the rich man to inherit eternal life he must give all he owns to the poor and follow Him. For some people this may seem like a no brainer. After all, what is a ""Heavenly treasure" compared to our earthly goods? Ultimately, the struggle this man faces is one of trusting in Jesus or in what he owns. Obviously, had the young man chosen to follow Jesus, he would have been provided for. However, instead of a possible thirteenth disciple we are left with a dejected young rich man. I would assume that as time went on that he regretted his decision made in haste. We never see Jesus condemn the young man nor ridicule him for his decision. Instead this turns into a teaching opportunity for His disciples, so all is not lost.
How many more people would be led to the Lord without hearing the words Must, have to, need to, hell, anger or punishment thrown at them? I know that if someone came to me and condemned me for not giving my life to their Lord I would not be too inclined to join them. It is not our guilt or condemnation that will turn the hearts of those around us to Jesus, but the love of Christ. The same love that did not condemn the adultress at the well or the woman caught in adultry and about to be stoned for her "sins." No, for Jesus poured His love into these children of God. And what of Saul, Zacchaeus and the thief on the cross? Were they shamed into submitting to the Lord? Again, the perfect love of Christ turned their hearts to the Lord. Each of us has the unique opportunity to share Christ with those around us. Let us talk of what the love of Christ has done in our own lives rather than what condemnation will contribute to those who do not follow the Lord. We may be surprised at their response.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the spirit.
Romans 8:1 NKJV
~Scott~
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