In one verse, Green offers some possibilities.
Maybe they don't understand itThat one bothers me. We're often fed this notion that we're to blame. We're not doing enough. We're not taking the message out enough. We're not living it right. If only we did that, God could save more. It's a lie, you know. God isn't stuck up there, begging for help. He saves whom He will save without fail. It is true that we don't say it or live it sufficiently. We are horrible at the Great Commission. Some are good at "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation" (Mark 16:15), but that's not the Great Commission. The Great Commission is "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matt 28:19-20). "Preach the gospel" is only the start of the Great Commission. Making disciples ... teaching them to obey all ... that's another thing entirely. We do fall short and ought to ... you know ... obey better, but ... the lack of faith in Christ is not due to our shortcomings (Eph 2:1-3; 2 Cor 4:4).
Or maybe they just haven't heard
Or maybe we're not doin' all we can
Living up to His Holy Word.
So ... how do I live with Jesus? I make a practice of being filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18) because I can't even get close to perfection on my own, and confessing sin (1 John 1:8-10) because ... I still sin. I ultimately rely on the only One who is able to perfect in me the good work He began (Php 1:6) as He conforms me daily into the image of His Son (Rom 8:28-30). Like Paul, I say, "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus" (Php 3:12), all the while counting on the God who works all things after the counsel of His will (Eph 1:11).
4 comments:
Your point abut us believing that we are at fault is spot on. Its' not an excuse to not be salt and light or to be unprepared to share the Gospel, but it is an acknowledgement that it is ultimately the work of YHWH, not us. He'll use us, but He's not reliant on us.
I went to the funeral of a client's husband a few years ago. He had zero faith, in fact he was hostile to Christianity. It was the most depressing, hopeless, funeral I've ever been to. To have no hope or promise of anything beyond merely existing is so far beyond me that I simply cannot comprehend it.
I agree with you and Craig, there is a balance to be struck between encouraging us to do and speak and live better, but we can also rest assured that we have not led anyone away from Christ that He had called. We should repent of our failures, but not despair. I do disagree with the song line you quoted, "Maybe they don't understand it". According to Paul, they do understand it, they just don't like it or want God in their lives.
Coincidentally, both David and I recently wondered, “how do people live without God in their lives?” (at your 9/1/25 post). I truly can’t fathom the degree of difficulty doing so must entail, in every aspect of one’s life--whether personal relationships, work issues, health and well-being concerns, child-rearing efforts, morality, politics, etc. To be left to one’s own devices and natural inclinations is a sad and sorry way to live one’s life; those without God’s truth to guide them through life’s trials are truly at such a disadvantage. Personally, I might have been able to function well enough without God’s involvement back when I was young, healthy, and resourceful, but the older I grow and the more challenges that arise, the more and more I need His care, guidance, and protection; truly I could not live without His help to me. This is not because I am a comparatively weak and pathetic person (as atheists might charge) but because the Lord is all that I wish I were--strong, wise, unfaltering, perfect. I sure hope I convey this message to those close to me as I press on, living my life in reliance upon Him.
David, I agree with you. I would note that any "failures" on our part are likely to be our failure to share the Gospel when YHWH puts those He's chosen in our paths. It's amazing to think that YHWH actually allows us to play a small role in the salvation of those He's chosen.
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