Being ignored and rejected is no fun. So, it takes a lot of courage to do ‘Street Evangelism.’ I have met those with that special personality that ‘enjoys’ it; one that I am yet to be endowed with.
Imagine yourself, if you can, evangelising with your team on a busy street in a large city. To attract attention, you each have made signs asking different questions. Your sign says, in big bold painted letters: “DO YOU HAVE FAITH?”
What kinds of conversations might you expect from your sign? Would passers-by naturally connect the “Faith” you are asking them about with Jesus? I would think, probably not.
“Faith,” even away from multicultural environments, has become a generic word. Just as “Love” is used to include a wide variety of thoughts and emotions, so also “Faith” has been used to include an equal array of beliefs and practices.
The Bible rejects this kind of inclusiveness. The God of the Bible calls all atheists, agnostics, and everyone dedicated to a belief system outside of Jesus, to faith in Christ – Exclusively!
The scripture says: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb.11:6).
This, of course, is just another way of communicating Jesus’ core message: “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn.11:25-26).
Eternal life is in the Son of God. It is the reward given to those who seek Him. “He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. (1Jn.5:12).
That is why “without faith it is impossible to please God.”
John Staiger
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