;)
Quotable – Robert Don Hughes
Posted by Quotable in IMPACT Features
“If Christians really want to persuade the world to follow Christ, it is critical that we do not appear to be manipulative in our techniques or our purpose. If we are, the result may well be that we inoculate the world against the gospel instead of leading the world to accept it.”
Robert Don Hughes, in the essay, “Cross-Cultural Communication,” in Missiology: An Introduction to the Foundations, History, and Strategies of World Missions, John Mark Terry, Ebbie Smith, and Justice Anderson, Eds.
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
And … I have to wonder what the visitor in our midst thinks when we hear a protracted “invitation” complete with sad story told beforehand. I certainly felt those were manipulative when we first started attending a baptist church.
To manipulate the gospel is to misunderstand its power.
John 12:30-33 “Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. (31) “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. (32) “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” (33) But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.”
Manipulating invitations is like charging for the gospel….and some preachers grow to love rewards of the wrong kind. Preaching the gospel is a great reward.
1 Corinthians 9:18-19 “What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. (19) For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more.”
Blessings,
Chris