Thursday, July 26, 2007
The Responsibility of the Saved
Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching . . fellowship . . .breaking of bread . . . prayer.”
Christ came to save the lost, this is very clear from His stated mission in Luke 19:10. He also commanded us to make disciples in His Great Commision - disciples, not simply converts. This is hard work – it requires follow-up to conversions, and it’s where many churches drop the ball. Many of the new believers fall away quickly because they don’t get grounded in God’s Word or get involved in fellowship. This weighs heavy on the heart and mind of the people witnessing, as it should. But . . .
Not all of the responsibility lies on the church. There is a responsibility of the saved. The people in Acts 2 that responded to Peter’s message, believed and were saved – and then they devoted themselves to learning the Word and to fellowshipping with other believers. They didn’t just lie there with their mouths open and say, “Feed me!” They didn't wait around for the Apostles to make church entertaining and comfortable for them. They actively responded to the new life within them and pursued God. They felt the hungering and took steps to find the food.
A saved person, one who truly responds to their own sin and to the love of Christ, will want to move forward, will have an in-born desire to press into God. They will have some ‘devotion’ to the cause. This doesn’t release the church from our responsibility of discipling, I’m just saying that we shouldn’t have to feel like we’re pulling teeth trying to get the ‘saved’ to read their Bible or come to a Bible Study or get involved in church. Sometimes I get frustrated with the level of energy that seems to be required to get those who are supposedly professing Christ as their Savior to have any personal urgency to get to know Him better. Again - it really shouldn't be that hard.
Am I questioning whether they have truly had a conversion experience? Honestly – yes. Yes I am. I used to pass it off as simply as a weak or immature Christian. But I think it's time we wake up to what it truly means to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
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6 comments:
Hey! That's pretty good stuff. Just kidding, I'm checking to see if you can leave comments.
I often wonder the same thing--those who claim to have had a conversion experience but have shown no desire to pursue or worship God after that experience. Was the experience real? What do you say to someone who claims to be a Christian but says there is just no desire to follow God? In some cases, they say they want that desire and am frustrated by the lack of desire.
I agree 100%. There are too many people out there claiming to be Christian, but refuse to change their worldly ways. Its not enough that Christ died for us--we want salvation + the world! If we are truly saved and are truly grateful to Jesus for his shed blood, the least we can do is live our lives for Him through the Holy Spirit that dwells with in us!
I'm so tired of people who profess with them mouths, but prove otherwise in their actions. If we are truly saved, then we need to procliam it verbally, but also PROVE it in our daily actions. Salvation came at a high cost--let's show Him that we love him and not just say it because we feel we have to.
Well said Tdags. I find it hard to believe that anyone who has truly embraced their sin and brokenness will become "saved", yet nothing will change. I'm not sure I would call it an experience as much as I would a whole new life. When we decide to follow Christ, it is an entirely new way of life. A love that could never have been possible before.
I think the problem may have a lot to do with the message. Not the actual Gospel, but the way we have portayed it. We need to make sure the Gospel is being preached in its most pure sense, without our own interpretations. Then, people will hunger for Christ. They won't be able to get enough.
good stuff.
I posted a new blog!
I posted a new blog!
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