Reaching Those Far From God - part 2

We recently had an amazing experience at Northridge Church (I'll share the video soon) of people sharing what their life was like before and after following Christ. It was the most moving thing I've ever experienced in church. It was the only time I've been in church where a group of people got a standing ovation in the middle of the sermon. It was unbelievable, and was SO glorifying to God.

Later, someone said something like this to me: "That was great, but we are going to have to work hard to keep them away from those old habits and lifestyles." The more I thought about it - the more that bothered me. It didn't bother me enough to say anything (yet), but here is what I'm thinking.

I think there are two concerns that we ought to equally have.  First, is from the parable of the sower:

• Matthew 13:5-6 - Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
  
  This is a valid concern. We long to have someone's growth be genuine - NOT quick growth with no root.

But there is a second equally valid concern:

• Matthew 23:15 - Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
  
  Creating a legalist who follows all the rules without a heart for God is NO BETTER (and is arguably worse) than one whose conversion is fake and they return to their old ways of life.

My fear is that many would be "comfortable" with Matthew 23:15 because they wouldn't be able to recognize a legalistic hypocrite because they look SO GOOD on the outside. I'm not sure how to verbalize it, but I wonder how we guard against a new believer becoming a legalist that looks "right" but doesn't have a heart for God.

Am I the only one who wonders if we'd be a lot more "comfortable" with Matthew 23:15 than we would with Matthew 13:5-6?

Comments

[Eric J]

"My fear is that many would be "comfortable" with Matthew 23:15 because they wouldn't be able to recognize a legalistic hypocrite because they look SO GOOD on the outside. I'm not sure how to verbalize it, but I wonder how we guard against a new believer becoming a legalist that looks "right" but doesn't have a heart for God."

The best way to guard the hearts of new believers is to focus on the hearts of Christians.

Legalism runs rampant within our community--funny how it always seems to be the "other" guy or gal though.

[Mark Nelson]

This is the man at church who's decked out in a suit and tie (oh, and cheating on his wife) reprimanding the teenager who comes to church in blue jeans for being "irreverent".

God help us to remain sensitive to our own spiritual needs!

[michele]

I have appreciated these conversations! and I keep coming back to one of my favorite scriptures...

Collossians 4
2 Devote yourselves to PRAYER, being WATCHFUL and THANKFUL. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door!!
4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be WISE in the way you act toward OUTSIDERS; make the MOST of every opportunity.
6 Let your conversation be always FULL of GRACE , seasoned with SALT, so that you may know HOW to answer everyone!!

Being devoted to prayer, God IS going to deal with everything in us that is not of Him, especially the attitudes of our heart. Whether it be fear, legalism, hypocrisy, judgement, self righteousness, false humility, ect ect..aren't all of these things really stumbling blocks to our minstry to others???
When we have the heart of God, won't we begin to see the lost through His eyes?? and respond in a way that honors Him???

[michele]

.....continued
I realized that I left out a really important part of the scripture....

so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

Paul wrote all of this from a place that
was not comfortable!!

[Jan F]

David -
Amen - well said.

[Harlan]

Well, you know how I feel about legalism . . . I almost wonder if the 2 passages are almost tied together in some fashion? What I think is that they both warn of "shallowness". Legalism is a "Christianity" of control, manipulation, and conformity. I think it's primary characteristic is it seeks to produce "like-kind" believers in a short amount of time. Most likely because the legalistic view lacks an accurate vision of God, his Grace, and His Word. It lacks grace and patience. It can produce quick "results" that can easily destroy an immature heart. Grace, patience, and love are the required nurturing elements for the long walk ahead of us. For those of us that have walked "the other road" and have overcome horrid problems and addictions through His love there is that strange undeniable transformation in some cases that help us to never look back. I stopped the things I did overnight. I take no credit, but I was able to walk away from two of the most perilous addictions almost as if a light switch were flipped. I've never looked back and I've never had to fight those battles again. That leads me to believe there is a vast amount of power we must recognize and relinquish into God's transforming hands. And there is a certain amount of faith, love and patience we must use to nurture, strengthen, and yes, reach out and help those who may stumble along the way. "His love endures forever."

[Harlan]

Legalism: "These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion . . . . but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh." Colossians 2:23

[Mark]

From the statement "That was great, but we are going to have to work hard to keep them away from those old habits and lifestyles," I wonder if there may be a misunderstanding in what the person meant. Maybe the comparison is better with Matt 13:7-8:

"Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

Maybe the person that made the comment was thinking more about how the community helps to keep someone from getting choked off and to surround those people who want to help them follow God, not just get them to obey some rules. I can see their statement as a critique of the community they are in more then the individual themselves, are the they surrounded by the thorns or by others who are in good soil.

Jesus also tells the crowd and his disciples to obey the Pharisees in Matt 23:3, however he criticizes their lack of justice, mercy and faithfulness.

[David F]

I think that religiosity/legalism is one of the sneakiest, destructive and easiest to fall into threats to real Christianity. Both in the life of the ‘Christian’ and in what it says to the unbeliever about who God is as the unbeliever observers and is affected by the ‘Christian’.

God grant you grace and wisdom as you address this challenging subject. I pray for you.