#7 Interesting

This last bit came up in the papers today in the Home section in the article entitled "Tracts 'no different from Da Vinci Code', as the closing remark by the DPP involved in the case.

"Mrs (Name), you may not have had the intention, but irresponsible evangelism can also cause hatred and dissension."

It instantly brought to mind a passage in the Bible:

1 Corinthians 10:31-33

³¹So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ³²Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— ³³even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

While I admit that the error made by the evangelising lady involved was unfortunate, it reminded me of the many times believers (including myself), contribute to forwarding messages that on the surface seem to do good, but in actual fact are spam, seemingly appealing to us through ethos (moral grounds) but in actual fact urging us to do spread a certain blessing message through pathos (emotions, e.g. coercion by saying that if you deny Christ, He will deny you as well). We are caught by guilt or even misguided trust because what is written is veiled on moral high ground and do as the message says in spite the fact that we were called to be "as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves" in Mat 10:16.

Sure, on the up side it seems that all is harmless. However,whether intentional or not this over time builds into a culture of blind trust. Ironically our faith is then undermined when we start to stop questioning our beliefs because we have gotten used to it. Because the day we lose the desire to know more is the day we start to know less and less of Him.

And not only does it undermine our faith, but it also causes listeners of the Gospel to not comprehend the full message of Salvation, because we as the vessels end up contradicting ourselves as we proclaim love but end up causing emotional hurt to the unsaved when we indiscriminately (and often we do not realise) force our beliefs upon others.

No one can force another and no one should be forced, only that the Message is preached and people decide for themselves.

So before we complain that our efforts are in vain as we share the Message the next time, let us take a step back and consider; have we really conveyed the full Message in both words, and actions? This is important because we would be cheating ourselves and robbing others of the chance to be saved if we didn't. Don't get so used to listening that you forget discerning. Because hearing is only the first step; Understanding is the other.