What we experience as “normal Christianity” these days seems to me to be a very substandard product. Unless converts are carefully discipled, urged, coaxed and pressed along they seem often to become dropouts. What needs to be observed is that this is a false “product”. We have created an evangelism method that majors in intellectual reason and persuasion. As a result we have converts that are converts in mind only and not in heart. They need constant reinforcement and encouragement simply because they have not truly been born-again. A true conversion is accompanied by a new life.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
We have become so hungry for success in the ministry that we are determined to get it, with or without God’s help. Why else would our churches employ such worldly methods such as rock music to woo and win the lost! Having done that, then what are they truly won to, if not the world! We are taught to approve of such drive and ambition and creative ways of doing ministry, but I doubt that God does.
In a very simple and even shallow study of the history of gospel work, it becomes very evident that true gospel work is carried by an unresistible and powerful influence of God. I was reading the other day about just such a thing that took place in South Korea in the very early part of the twentieth century. At that time unsaved folks were banging on the pastor’s door late in the evening and urging him to come out and preach the gospel to them.
Normal conversions result in folks that are so greatly thankful to God for His mercy and grace that they willingly become His humble servants and followers. I urge you to read Psalm 116 in this context and see what a typical convert looks like.
Psalm 116:16 O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
