As you think about inviting someone to our upcoming outreach
events, what are your initial thoughts and feelings? Well, it’s what we “do” as a church so I
better invite someone…enthusiasm because the events sound great…a sinking heart
at the prospect of your slightly mumbled invite…worry that people might laugh
at you when they find out you are a Christian?
Whatever we think, in Romans 1:16 Paul has some challenging words
for us which I think help us have the right motivation as we think about
inviting friends and family to our events.
So what does he say?
"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the
power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for
the Jew, then for the Gentile."
What is the first thing you notice? Well very
simply, Paul is not ashamed of the gospel. He is able to boldly
proclaim without embarrassment of the message or whom the message is
about. He feels no fear of ridicule or disapproval. He
was fearless in his
proclamation and had utter confidence in the message he was preaching.
As we look upon our own lives, how
confidently can we echo Paul’s words? Cast your mind back to the last time
you tried to invite a friend to an event or tried to explain what you did at
church on Sunday – how did you feel? Embarrassment that your
words sounded foolish, discomfort that your views appeared to sound intolerant,
apologetic that you might be imposing on them or a reluctance to even speak at
all? Sometimes our actions and words can
display an attitude which seems to say, “For I am ashamed of the gospel.” We need to face up to that
shame and listen to Paul’s message. We are not to be ashamed of the
gospel. In fact we should be eager and enthusiastic in our proclamation.
However, it’s all very well me telling you not to be ashamed and
using Paul as an example. You might be thinking well Paul was
different, special. He'd had a vision of Jesus. He was an
apostle and eloquent thinker. I am nothing like him. But as we look at why Paul was not ashamed of the gospel, we
see his reason had nothing to do with himself and everything to do with
the message itself.
Quite simply Paul is not ashamed of the gospel because it is
powerful. It is not a weak, foolish message but instead it is a
life-changing message that comes directly from God. And what is it
powerful to do? It is powerful to save. It is powerful to
bring people to that initial point of repentance and obedience to
God. But the gospel is also powerful to keep us to the end. It
is what keep us persevering, keeps us faithful and brings us safely
home.
And Paul knows the gospel is
powerful enough to save everyone. He knows there is no one for
whom the gospel is not necessary or relevant. And again how much do
we need to hear Paul’s words? We need to see that the gospel is
powerful to save all. If we don’t grasp hold of this truth we are
tempted believe that there some people for whom the gospel cannot
save. I’m sure that if you think over your friends and family members
who aren’t Christians you can think of someone who in your head seems so far
from God that you have no idea how they could ever become a
Christian. But if Paul is right, then the gospel is powerful enough
to save even them. There is no one out-with the scope of the gospel
and more than that no one who can come to God any other way.
So as we think of inviting friends
and family to Frockchicks or the Christmas event, let us do so without
embarrassment or shame because we know the gospel of Jesus Christ is
powerful and can save all.
If you have questions about this post, please do email womenatcharlotte@gmail.com
