October 2, 2005 pm How to Reap a Harvest. Romans 10:9-15
By Ronald E.
George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church
We have a problem. Why is it that so many modern folks are skeptical about the church, the Lord, and heaven? Why is it so hard today to get people to come in?
"I Don't Believe in Jesus, But What If..."
from an internet skeptic…
I was raised into a liberal, and yet Protestant family. As a child I went to church like any other, and even within the past five years I've attended the occasional session. Often people will tell me, "All you have to do is ask God to forgive your sins."
The problem with this, and one that I've seldom been able to ask without feeling alienated, is that within my heart I don't believe in Jesus. And so even assuming I repented and following the Bible to the word, I wouldn't have what is called true faith. This is difficult to explain, but while I want to be apart of this religion if it's real, several parts of it have ill logic. Logic that I can't convince myself to ignore. Here are some comments and questions that I'd appreciate feedback on.
1. If Christianity is such a good thing, then why has it caused so much death in the past? The Crusades are only one example.
2. When the world is so full of gray, then how can there be a strict set of guidelines that clearly defines right and wrong? If you follow these rules, you'll go to Heaven where everything's inexplicably perfect. If you don't, then you burn in eternal fire. It all sounds a little stretched to me.
3. I've been to sermons, and it's emphasized there that if you don't stay true to His word, then you'll burn in Hell. Doesn't it feel a little selfish to be praying and worshiping a supreme being specifically so that you aren't punished forever? In a few scriptures, there's an implication that you must be concerned with anything but yourself. An oxymoron?
4. Gay people are often criticized for their actions in the world, especially by Christians. I have homosexual friends, and several of them take to it rather naturally. Being hetero myself, I could never have sexual relations with another man and like it. I find it highly unlikely that something like this could be anything but real. Especially given the constant state of harrassment that many of them live in.
5. I've never felt the presence of Jesus Christ in my life. I went to church for years, and the closest thing to divineness for me was hearing women mumble in what I heard as jibberish. Ultimately I would like to believe, but at this point I have absolutely no reason to.
On the other hand, I'm going to tell you why I can't let myself shake the idea that there is no immortal entity.
Christianity has had such a huge influence on so many of the past. The United States of America was founded upon this religion. It's grown to have countless followers now. I inquire to myself, "How could they all have it wrong?"
There are plenty of creative freethinkers who've enveloped themselves deeply into your faith. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Adolf Hitler (his own perception of it anyway), etc.
Sometimes when I'm thinking about life and how I got here,
I become increasingly afraid of what'll happen when I finally die. Possibly
because deep down, I know that there's something I need to fulfill that I've yet
to. Whether this is knowing God or something else, I have no idea at this point.
I'm hoping that you might have some insight to my questions.
How can we answer the skeptic?
Scripture Text: Romans
10:1 (NIV) Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is
that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for
God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the
righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did
not submit to God's righteousness. 4 Christ is the end of the law so that there
may be righteousness for everyone who believes. 5 Moses describes in this way
the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will
live by them." 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not
say in your heart, `Who will ascend into heaven?" (that is, to bring Christ
down) 7 "or `Who will descend into the deep?" (that is, to bring
Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you; it
is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are
proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord,"
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with
your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says,
"Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is
Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who
calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
14 How, then, can they call on the
one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they
have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And
how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful
are the feet of those who bring good news!"
A. God’s Desire: Do we have a desire to see people be saved? v.13 (This is the seed) The seed of salvation is for everyone. Joel 2:32 everyone who calls will be saved. To be saved people must have the righteousness of God that comes through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. We must know Jesus and his righteousness. Paul says that people must have the word of faith.
B. God Message: People must confess with the mouth and believe with the heart that Jesus is Lord. People can’t seek to try to be good enough to go to heaven. People can’t try to live up to the law. We must bring people to the point that they will believe that Jesus is their Lord.
Must know God and have salvation first. Know that God called us to preach.
1. Must know the message- Good news have a personal knowledge of the message and must live it. Preach it. Give it.
2. Must know the Receivers. Who needs the message. The lost , the lonely, and the least. Everyone needs to hear the message.
D. God’s Harvest v. 16-17. Leave the harvest up to God. Are we sent to preach or to save. It is time to preach the Gospel, tell the Gospel, and live the Gospel.
E. God’s Challenge: Will recognize the importance of preaching, telling, and living the gospel? Don’t get stopped from preaching. Keep on preaching and planting. Faithfully week after week and year after year will we continue? Will you? Have you? Will we? Go out. How beautiful are the feet. Why feet?