Part 3

Another misunderstanding is why Christian leaders feel that they have to make church and the gospel look “attractive” to those in the world today, instead of letting the gospel stand on its own. God doesn’t need us to defend him, or make him look attractive, he wants to use us to share his love with the world. The Word is alive and active, God is always moving, and he is not limited by us, he doesn’t NEED us to move others, in fact if we are not with God, if we are trying to obstruct him or the gospel or any of his children, then we are in for a huge awakening, and not a pleasant one. We will be blown away by the truth, falling to our knees and shielding our faces because of his awesome power and glory, and if we still refuse to acknowledge him as Lord, we CANNOT stand against him. To think one can stand against the awesome power of God is damning. At the same time, if God is for us who can be against us? If we are his children, and we walk with him, desiring for his will to be done and seeking his kingdom, then no one can stop us either. That doesn’t mean we can go around, pushing people around, trying to force them to succumb to the power of God. The Gospel preached in the Word is one of truth, yes, but also one of love and peace.
As hard as you try, you cannot force someone to become a Christian, that moving of the heart can be inspired by the Holy Spirit - by God, and no one else. Threatening with death and damnation didn’t work in the Crusades, and it won’t work now. Christianity is not meant to be a threat. It is not for human beings to judge others actions or condemn them to the fiery pits of hell. It is for Christians to share with others the love of Christ and the truth of the gospel, and leave the rest up to God’s powerful moving of the Holy Spirit. God alone is Holy and just, he alone can judge perfectly. He gives us his word to hold ourselves and each other accountable by his holy standard, and even that is impossible without his amazing grace. He transforms us with his love, and his word is alive and active, his law one of love, but also conviction.
It is clear: something needs to change in the lives of those who claim to love, fear, and revere the Lord. Now - we are laughed at because we are inconsistent and unloving even amongst ourselves, when we should be laughed at because of our radical living out the will of Christ Jesus and living to inspire others to do the same.