“Oh, so now you’re butt-hurt?!!”
So I had a conversation with a 23-year-old man
So I had a conversation with a 23-year-old man last night. It started with me asking him, “So, are you ready for Christmas?” He said that Christmas was his grandmother’s thing, not his. Door open, so I went through it. (LOL!)
I asked him to list some epic moments throughout human history. He went blank. I helped him and suggested things like the invention of the wheel, the automobile, air-conditioning, landing on the moon, WWII, the atom bomb, and the invention of the internet. He said yes, that all these events were very significant. I told him, “I agree. All these events are significant, but they all pale in comparison to the birth of Christ.” I mean, seriously, God All Mighty, Creator of the universe, stepping out of eternity and entering our physical realm! And, born in a manger, in the form of an infant, to be a sacrifice for the sins of the world! This is ultimate epic! I asked him if anything else could compare? He said no, but that he still chooses not to believe in God.
I continued, “You don’t realize why you need Jesus, do you?” Blank face. I asked, “Have you ever sinned?” Yes, everyone sins. I asked, “Have you ever lied? Ever stolen something? Disobeyed your parents? Lusted after a woman? Hated someone? Ignored the Sabbath day? Used the Lord’s name in vain?” He said yes to all these. I explained to him, “Then, by your own admission, you’re a liar, a thief, disobedient to your parents, committed adultery, committed murder, disrespected the Holy day, and are a blasphemer. Welcome to the sinner’s club, because I’m guilty of all these too, and more. The difference between you and me now though is this: My sins are forgiven and paid for because I humbled myself before the Lord, asked for His forgiveness, repented of my sins, and received Jesus as my savior.” He got angry, but I didn’t care about his attitude.
I told him, “Oh, so now you’re butt-hurt?!!” (Yes, I did literally ask this.) “Your problem is that you refuse to see and acknowledge the wickedness of your ways. You’re in danger of busting hell wide open, and here you are rejecting the love of God and the only thing that can save you from your wretched ways!”
I proceeded. “Listen. If I didn’t care about you, I wouldn’t spend five seconds with you, putting up with your attitude. But I do care.” I asked him, “You wanna know the reason God sent his son Jesus into the world?!! What was God thinking? What is He after?!!” The young man was listening, but no answer. I said, “He’s after you! God loves you this much, despite your sins, and here you are rejecting His love!”
I told him, “What I’m sharing with you is true whether you believe it or not, know it or not, and like it or not. We’ve all sinned, and all of our sins must be paid for. Jesus was God’s gift to you for the payment of your sins, and here you are, vehemently, albeit ignorantly, rejecting God’s gift of love.” I asked him, “Why are you rejecting God? Or better yet, why do you hate God?” This caught him off guard, and he began immediately defending himself by saying that he doesn’t hate God, but about halfway through his response he stopped, changed direction and said, “You know, I do hate God…” Unfortunately, just as he was about to explain, we were interrupted and couldn’t carry on.
After the class, I did speak to him briefly and privately. I gave him my business card and told him to call me anytime. I told him no hard feelings, that I genuinely loved him, and that whether he realizes it or not, I am probably his biggest fan on island. It was apparent that he was still butt-hurt, so I asked, “You’re not going to call me, are you?” He said, “Probably not.” I left him with, “Regardless, you have my number, so just remember that in your darkest hour you can always call me.”
In closing, I can imagine many of your thoughts out there about how unloving, brutal, insensitive, and mean I am… and, how I’m doing more damage than good… and I’m turning people off. (Literally, just moments ago, I received another criticism about this on FB. LOL!) Just know this: if anyone I talk to gets “turned off” and ends up in hell, you will never hear God say, “You’re here in hell because Nick turned you off!” It will be because of their sins!
I’ve had this conversation with critics so many times that I’ve learned to quickly ask them two questions:
1. Do you even know the gospel? (Cricket-cricket)
2. When’s the last time you shared the gospel with someone? (More crickets)
Not once has a critic of mine ever shared the gospel, let alone knew it. These same people who accuse me of being unloving, don’t love people enough to even know, or share, the gospel. (I suspect my efforts and passion for souls intimidates and convicts some folks.)
The reality is lost people are already turned off. And in this day and age of increasing godlessness, the only solution is the gospel, which bears the love of God, demonstrated by the gift of His son, through the power of the Holy Ghost, and His written word.
Don’t be like most Christians today (young and old) who are focused more on NOT offending or provoking people, than simply sharing God’s truths and man’s fallen state — the gospel. They falsely believe their silence and non-offensiveness is love, but the truth is the vast majority of these Christians are too ignorant and afraid to talk to people about Christ. And then, they often try to mask their ignorance and fear with “I’ll just let my light shine,” and “Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.” Balderdash and poppycock! (Lol!)
[Read “Sometimes Silence is Golden. Other Times It’s Just Plain Yellow”](https://atomic-temporary-106732217.wpcomstaging.com/2018/02/06/sometimes-silence-is-golden-other-times-its-just-plain-yellow/)
[Watch “How to Share the Gospel”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtaO8IYmDHQ&t=3s)
(Private message me if you’d genuinely like to discuss.)
My challenge to you: Saints, stop being afraid and start declaring the truths and love of God! And, Christmas time is the perfect time to introduce folks to the real reason for Jesus (our fallen, lost, wicked state) and God’s love.
In closing, we need your help. Being full-time missionaries in Japan is physically and spiritually demanding, and financially expensive. We’re genuinely about The Father’s Business, but we simply cannot fulfill these ministries without financial support. Please consider partnering with us through financial gifts and offerings. Donations can be made online at CinA.