After dinner, I’ll be reading this book by a very gifted street evangelist and author, Ray Comfort.
I got this book free from The Strange Fire Conference – Bohol some 3 months ago. Amidst all my tasks and disorganization, I’ve forgotten about it! Then last night, I saw a video by Ray Comfort from two years back. He mentioned this book in that video. The video is about a satire Christian organization called Babylon Bee and their interview with Elon Musk.
Ray Comfort looked into the last part of the interview where the Babylon Bee boys tried to evangelise Elon Musk. It was shocking to witness. It was such a terrible wasted opportunity, not to mention a very careless presentation of the Gospel.
Ray’s book, “God Has A Wonderful Plan for Your Life (The Myth of the Modern Message)” has on its cover a horrifying depiction of the stoning of Stephen, a faithful follower of Christ. Not quite the “wonderful plan” most people would think of!
I am yet to read the book but I expect it to be expanding on Ray’s message in the video linked above, that Christians need to avoid the modern and popular methods of evangelism. These are the unbiblical traditions of asking Jesus into your heart, or asking someone if they want to accept Christ as their Saviour, or praying the Sinner’s Prayer. Sometimes this is concluded by filling in a card with the date of your new birth.
Ray explained that these modern traditions have filled the church with false converts and bitter backsliders. “There’s no greater disservice we can do to another human being than to lead them to a false profession of faith,” Ray added, “I know because I once did that.”
Prior to my regeneration, I’ve never engaged in evangelistic work but I was the recipient of evangelism of this sort that Ray talked about.
So, in my teens, I became a half-hearted participant of Christian movements in university for a short while. I was there for the friendship, and it honestly didn’t make sense why I needed salvation at all; salvation from what?
I suppose the worse thing about experiencing that sort of evangelism was that I got convinced that this born again thing was just some routine practice by well-meaning folks, some sad attempt at making me feel guilty over nothing or a means of gaining heavenly points by Christian hypocrites. Today, I feel badly about all that.
However, I do remember that what had an impact on me was the demeanor of a few Christians I met in Taiwan and Manila later in my life. It was the way they conducted themselves, their sober speech, quiet kindness, honesty and patience. Somehow that made such an imprint in my memory.
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16
Please take the time to watch the video linked above. It truly was sad the way Babylon Bee tried to present the Gospel. It was a sad disregard to Elon Musk and to people genuinely asking questions that only the Bible can answer. It was a terrifying disregard to God by whose grace sinners are saved.
Ray’s book is free online at www.freewonderfulbook.com
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
I Peter 3:15
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2