The great debate ends at affection!

There has always been a tension between the thoughts of when, where, and how to share the gospel. Some believers think that in all situations, in all times we should be talking about Christ and sharing the gospel. This thought drives us to programming such as tracts, visitation and evangelistic training that is script driven and word heavy. The other side in it's worry of offending people, believes that it is simply a lifestyle of being kind and courteous that will lead people to an understanding of who Jesus is. It's funny that in the extremes of these two thoughts they both ironically become exactly what they are trying to avoid. In the all talk approach they are trying to be deep and serious yet they come across as shallow and almost laughable because there is no relational or lifestyle foundation to give their claims any credence. How can one talk to a complete stranger with no foundation of respect about the most important and intimate topic they will ever be engaged about.  On the other hand the camp that is all life and no talk try to show love and not offend when all that happens is they watch people without hope walk straight into an eternity apart from Christ, which is the most unloving, offensive thing they can do.   There is not a simple answer to this dilemma and the cop out would be to say it is both ways. That is true but is overly simplistic. The problem is that we let our own personalities and preferences make us lean into one side or the other and once we are there we must defend it biblically and experientially until death. We preach sermons and invent programs that take us down the road of one of these two extremes and then you can't turn back without admitting that you were wrong. This topic came up because of a funeral I am preaching of a gentleman who lived out correctly what the bible presents as the gospel and it's advancement. I was praying for a word that would describe this person and God laid the word "affection" on my heart. After looking it up in my concordance, the passage that I was drawn to was Romans 12:9-21. It is a passage that I have read before but from this day forward I will read it everyday and make it my goal in this life to live it out. The subtitle over it is "Marks of a true Christian" WOW! That alone should make us study this passage deeply. I will end this blog by saying if you can read that passage and it doesn't move you, challenge you, inspire and motivate you then you are not living for Christ. It outlines our attitude toward God, toward other believers and toward lost people. It speaks of the beautiful blend of living the gospel out by caring the way Christ cared and sharing your faith by talking about it. To put it simply, the key to sharing the gospel is to be open about your affection toward God and your affection toward people. Talk without care is worthless and care without talk is worthless. I will not live the rest of my life being worthless! Peace with God and peace with men.