This infamous chapter with the core Gospel verse of John 3:16 has many insights. One of the ideas that came to me is the fact that all people who come to Christ and believe go through a process similar to child birth. Jesus used the birthing process as similar to the conversion process. I believe that we as evangelists who are sharing Christ with others, must do so with an understanding that each person who hears will go through this process. Our role when sharing the Good news is to hear what the Spirit is doing in the listener. Too often we want to have a new birth rather than having a full birth. Taking the baby before it is ready, can cause many dangerous effects for the baby. Having someone say "the prayer" before they are ready to receive new life in Christ is equally dangerous.
Over my years of ministry, I have seen and on occasion pushed, manipulated people to "accept Christ". Only to see them fall away. It is like having a still born. What is the spirit doing in that person? Are they ready to believe? Or is it more about me wanting them to be saved?
In Guadeloupe during my early ministry, a renowned French evangelist came to the island. A three day campaign had 120 or so who made a profession of Christ. About 6 months later, I asked the elders of the church how many of them were in the church. They said, less than 20. That experience forged in my mind a critical issue that we must be careful how we call for people to make a decision.
Later on in this passage, we are told that the Spirit is like the wind. We do not know where it comes from or where it goes. The salvation experience is entirely of God's doing. When you read John 16:8, you will see as I did following the experience I mentioned above, that I can convict no one of their sin. It is all of the Spirit. My role as the messenger is to prepare my words and thoughts in the best way possible for that person to understand. Once I have share the Gospel, it is the sole role of the spirit to convict of sin and judgement.
As we seek to disciple believers, examine yourself to determine if you are in any way playing the role of the Holy Spirit in the process of conversion. I know I had to make some major shifts in how I viewed the conversion process. It changed forever my approach.
Steve
When I was reflecting on this passage I was moved by what I guess is a sub-plot in these early chapters. That is the response of John the baptist. His own disciples questioned him about the rising popularity of Jesus. it would be easy for any man to respond more like the Scribes and Pharisees by seeking to protect my turf or protect my own following by some manipulative means.
ReplyDeleteI want to be like John the Baptist. Even though Jesus said John was greater than all the prophets before him, John humbled himself and glorified his cousin Jesus. My humility is real, and I see it most clearly when I kneel at Jesus' feet. I want to be humble like John.