Okay, super sleuth: We’ve been trying to tackle important evangelism questions related to loss. You’ve helped us dig deeper into what spiritual trends after natural disasters and terrorist acts mean. Such large-scale loss often triggers more questions than answers.
But what about individual loss that occurs on a day-to-day basis? The death of a loved one after battling cancer? A job loss? Or you watch as fire wreaks havoc on your home, minimizing it to a pile of ashes and brokenness.
When people go through these types of loss, are they more open to evangelism in the aftermath? Does the scale of the loss impact the spiritual change in the heart of the seeker?
Week #4: In Matthew 9, the writer describes the loss of two people: the ruler whose daughter had died and the woman who suffered from incessant bleeding. Both individuals came to Jesus as a result of their hardships, and because of their faith, Jesus reached out to each of them and healed them in unique ways. But were they changed in the long run?
Many people face individual loss just like the ruler and the woman in Matthew 9. Just as we see in this passage, and probably in situations around you, individual hardships often cause people to seek out Jesus when they have not previously done so. Many pastors or Christians want the gospel message given at funerals because they know the healing Christ can provide to a broken or hurting heart, as evidenced by how Jesus responded to the faith of these seekers and, in turn, provided healing.
But while news of Jesus’ healings spread throughout the region, we cannot get an accurate account from this passage alone as to whether these two people continued to follow Christ.
What do you think? Have you witnessed individuals’ lives being changed when they come to Christ after personal loss? Do they seek Jesus out of genuine desire or as acts of desperation? And, if the Church is to follow Jesus’ example, how can we effectively provide spiritual healing through evangelism?
Get involved in this tangled missions mystery and be part of the conversation.
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_05094ats.shtml
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1 comments:
Sometimes it appears that Christians come to a person at a time of loss with the attitude "I can get them while they are down and vulnerable.": A hell fire sermon at a friend's father's funeral service made him and several siblings so angry that they sneaked out the door and fled. So far as I know none ever came to the Lord. I've observed many times when the church stepped in at horrid times but seldom any long time commitments resulted. After losing a baby, a missionary came in to see me and more or lest screamed "All things work together for good." I knew that, but quick Bible verses in an easy, pat answer way were repulsive and counter productive. I've noticed people in hospitals and nursing homes cringe when people came to them with a service or a tract and throw such away as soon as possible (to the displeasure pf clean up help). I've also seen people reach out in their pain to those who had previously witnessed to them and shown mercy to others. Whether a person is up or down, he should always be approached in a loving way and pointed to Christ gently but assuredly then followed with day to day compassion and whatever help is needed. Geunine love over time gives the Spirit time to bring healing and help. That lasts.
People aren't likely to respond positively when someone reaches DOWN to help them. Miracles happen when people reach across and help another, feeling the pain and loss WITH them.
BETTY
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