I asked my daughter and the Christian young man that wants to court her to write down a gospel presentation. Just to share the Christian gospel with me in writing. In their presentation, they are to include some things which I believe to be essential to the gospel: Who is God? What are people saved
from? Why does anyone need to be saved? What must one do to be saved?
My daughter is highly gifted with words, especially in writing. Yet she says this assignment is difficult for her; that sharing her faith has always felt uncomfortable and unnatural. She admits that while she can express almost any idea effortlessly in written form, this particular one is hard for her.
"Of all the ideas in the world that can be communicated in words, which do you think is most important?" I asked her. "Of course, the gospel," she answered quickly.
She tried to weasel out of the assignment, but I told her, "
His parents need the same assurance that I do. What kind of Christian parents would we be if we let our kids court unbelievers?" (Actually, both sets of parents are coordinating this courtship)
It seems strange at first that anyone - especially a gifted wordsmith like my daughter - should find a simple gospel presentation awkward, unnatural, and uncomfortable. But there is a very vital reason for that. I want them not only to know that reason, but also to joyfully embrace it.
The gospel is offensive to many people. It is, at best, foolishness to an unbeliever. It is different from any other idea that can be expressed in words because
it is completely dependent upon the supernatural work of the Spirit in order to be received and accepted. That is one reason why a gospel presentation is difficult even for someone powerfully gifted in the most eloquent use of words.
It surprised them both to learn that
even the Apostle Paul experienced this very same phenomenon. He describes it in his first letter to the Corinthian church:
I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God (1st Corinthians 2:3-5 NASB).
Some ability to present the gospel in words is absolutely vital. We must be prepared at a moment's notice to offer a defence for the hope that is in us. Yet no matter how skilfully and perfectly we present the gospel to someone, we are always completely dependent upon the Holy Spirit to communicate it to the hearer. It is He alone who prepares and enables anyone to hear it, let alone accept "the foolishness of preaching (1st Corinthians 1:18-25)." No matter how well we may have our theological ducks in neat little perfect rows; no matter how persuasively we can explain and elaborate upon the great truths of Scripture, all of that is useless without the quiet, invisible, unseen, supernatural application of that truth to the heart by the Holy Spirit. The things of God are perceived and wrought in the heart, far surpassing what our minds can understand or anything that we can put into words.
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised (2:14).
That's one big reason why people should embrace this phenomenon instead of being frustrated by it: "That your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God."
There may be other reasons for their apprehension (especially on the part of the young man - Erin's papa is not to be trifled with, and no man cometh to my daughter except through me). But I suspect it's difficult for many people, even long-time Christians.
Can y'all think of other reasons to explain this?
Thanks in advance for the many thoughtful replies I'm sure are coming,
Robin
