Far too many Christians will not witness per se. That is, they will not actually talk to someone about their need for Jesus Christ. There are many reasons, which I lightly touched upon in another article.

On the other hand, many Christians, hopefully, will ask someone if they would like to attend their local church. It isn’t as prominent as years gone by, but it still happens. The invitation may be lessening due to the replies that are becoming more vocal. I know I won’t cover them all, but let’s take a look at a few.

One of the first responses that comes to mind is, “They’re all hypocrites.” Wow! That’s a tough one. How do you respond to that, especially when you know they’re probably right to a degree? Isn’t it sad that so many outside the church scene see Christians in this light? You betcha.

Well, let’s consider a few more. Some will reply, “All they want is your money.” Another that comes to mind is, “They’re too judgmental.” This is really starting to sting, simply because you know it’s true, again, to some degree.

I’m going to spout out a few more, and then consider where we go from there.

·        “They have no fun.”

·        “They’re idiots.”

·        “Nobody could be that stupid.”

·        “Those people are so naïve.”

·        “The Bible is just a bunch of fictional stories anyway.”

·        “They hurt my feelings.”

·        “No one came to see me when I was in the hospital.”

·        “They did my family member real dirty.”

·        “I know some of them, and I’m as good as or better than any of them.”

·        “I’m a good person. God understands.”

·        “All their beliefs are old-fashioned and out-of-sync with science.”

·        “Many of your leaders say that there are many ways to God. Well, I’ve got mine.”

·        “So-and-so in your church was caught cheating.”

·        “I know some of them, and they are dishonest.”

·        “They’re stuck up.”

·        “I went once, and no one even spoke to me.”

·        “I work in the public, and most of them are very rude and selfish.”

·        “All they want to do is point out my sins, but what about theirs?”

·        “I was without a job, and no one in the church would help me and my family.”

Well, let’s stop here. I think we all get the point. We have a problem, in the churches of America.

As we hear these responses, we hang our head because we know they are right. They’re not fools. They see what goes on in the houses of “worship.” Worse of all, we may be one of them who is a hindrance to the lost soul we have just invited to attend our local church.

What do we do?

First of all, we need to take a long look at ourselves. Ask the person’s forgiveness if we have offended them in any way. Tell them that Jesus saved us, but we are a work in progress. We are a sinner saved by God’s grace, but we’ll never be perfect until we are in Heaven with Him.

Secondly, concerning the “bad church responses,” many claim to be Christians, but that is not always true. Only those who have put their faith in Jesus are His. Yet again, Christians are not perfect.

Thirdly, we will all stand before God as individuals, not as a group. We will all answer before God, “What did you do with my Son?” God knows who are His, and true Christians will not be judged, because Jesus was judged for us.

Fourthly, introduce Jesus. He is God. He paid for our sins to free us from the damnation of sin. None of us are good enough to be in His family, unless He puts His cloak of righteousness upon us, by our faith in Jesus Christ. If we stand before Him on judgment day, it will be because we have not accepted Jesus as our Savior. At that time, that person’s righteousness will be judged, and it will fail the test because,

“… we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)

Some of you may have different ways to respond to that lost soul you have invited to your local church. For that matter, some of your answers may be better than what I have presented. The bottom line though is that we Christians must realize that we are under the world’s microscope. We are being watched. Everything we do is a reflection on who we say we are. Someone once said, “Pictures speak louder than words.” Another said, “Your life speaks so loud, I can’t hear what you’re saying.” We must remember that.

Grant Phillips

Often in Scripture, “the Father’s will” is mentioned in one form or another. Have you ever considered just what that is, “the Father’s will?”

Point 1

Jesus’ disciples asked Him how they should pray. He gave them what is commonly, and incorrectly, called the “Lord’s Prayer,” in Luke 11:2-4, the shorter version, and also Matthew 6:9-13. By the way, the actual Lord’s Prayer is located at John 17:1-26, the entire chapter.

In the first verse of Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus says to His disciples,

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done[emphasis mine] in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9)

How often have we said those words and not even thought about, “What is the Father’s will?” I’m of the generation that was blessed to be able to say that prayer in school. I can’t imagine how many times I have quoted the disciples prayer in school, in church, other places and in private.

I think the remainder of these verses makes it clear that:

1.     We are to separate ourselves from profane things and dedicate ourselves to Him, thus “hallow His name.”

2.     We are to pray for the day that His kingdom will be likewise on earth and thereby His will accomplished.

3.     We are to pray for our daily sustenance.

4.     We are to ask forgiveness from Him, having already forgiven others who have harmed us.

5.     We are to follow His lead through the treacherous trails or temptation.

Point 2

In another passage, Jesus gives a frightening pronouncement concerning the Father’s will. It goes like this:

“21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father[emphasis mine] which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Is it possible we could accomplish all these religious quests mentioned in the above verses, and still not be in His will, thereby not belonging to Him? Obviously, we could be very religious and outwardly saintly, undertaking many feats in the name of Jesus Christ, and still be lost. What does He want of us? The answer is in the next verse,

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:” (Matthew 7:24)

So if our soul is not built on the rock, we are lost, even though we have done all those glorious things in the name of Christianity. That being the case, what is the rock? Jesus tells us in this passage.

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

The Catholics say Peter is the rock, but that isn’t what Jesus said. Jesus said, Peter is but a stone, but He, Jesus, will build His house on a large stone. The rock, or large stone, was recognized in Peter’s acknowledgment that Jesus is God, and he accepted Him as such. Jesus, the Son of God is the rock, not Peter.

“And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:4)

Now go back and look at Matthew 7:24 again.

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them …”

Peter’s faith had feet. So should ours.

Point 3

Now let us look at two verses. They are:

“For whosoever shall do the will of my Father [emphasis mine]which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:50)

“Even so it is not the will of your Father [emphasis mine] which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” (Matthew 18:14)

It is not the Father’s will that anyone should perish. Therefore, it is the Father’s will that His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, would pay the penalty of sin for mankind, thus providing man the only way back from his fallen nature to God. Anyone who is of the age of accountability can be rescued, but only through the Father’s provision of His only begotten Son. Those who die and have not reached the age of accountability will go to be with God. What is that age? I don’t know. That would depend on God’s decision for that particular person.

Point 4

In the next verse the Father’s will could not be clearer. Every true believer in Jesus Christ saved by the grace of God, the only way we can be saved, is guaranteed eternity security; i.e. once saved always saved (OSAS).

“And this is the Father’s will [emphasis mine] which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” (John 6:39)

If you have truly been saved by placing your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will obey His commandments. Will you do so all the time? Will you be perfect? Of course not, to both questions, but Jesus will live in your heart by His Holy Spirit, and it is the Father’s will that your place in Heaven is guaranteed. Period.

Point 5

On this last verse I’m going to stray from the will of the Father, to the will of the father of this world. He has many names, but we’ll just call him Satan. Any fool should know that the will of Satan is the absolute antithesis of anything that God stands for. If God is for it, Satan is against it. If Satan is for it, you can bet God wants nothing to do with it. So the last verse.

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)

Most anyone would be offended if you told them their father was the devil, as were the scribes and Pharisees who got the news from Jesus personally. I’ve never told anyone that, and will not do so. I’ll just leave that up to the one who has the right to do so. However, the facts are, if you are not in the Father’s will, you are most certainly in Satan’s will. You’re living for him, and he is loving every minute of it.

The Good News is in two previous verses we used, if you are one who would rather not be under the control of the head demon of hell. If you would rather not spend the rest of eternity in the lake of fire along with Satan, the antichrist, the false prophet, the fallen angels and everyone else who are in his camp, then these verses are for you.

“Even so it is not the will of your Father [emphasis mine] which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” (Matthew 18:14)

“And this is the Father’s will [emphasis mine] which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” (John 6:39)

Today, you can choose to be in the Father’s will. What will you decide?

Grant Phillips