“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God …”
(1 Pet 3:18, NKJV)
The contemporary postmodern church places a particular emphasis on the individual as seeker of truth. All elements are geared towards being seeker sensitive, attracting modern secular individuals without intimidating them in any way – church buildings are conveniently situated close to highways, without any overt Christian symbols, the approach is anonymous and sociable, devoid of rituals or any manner of confrontation. Only encouraging sections of reader-friendly paraphrases of the Bible are used, comforting, non-threatening music, light meditation, no theological concepts that might possibly be misunderstood, no emphasis on sin or being lost (which might make people uncomfortable) – truly a drivethrough McChurch.
It is of course true that we must be innovative in our thinking about these things (wise as serpents, innocent as doves – Matt 10:16), formulating a strategy to engage the Christless generation, but I suspect that all our accommodating gimmicks of spiritual overcompensation sometimes bring about the ministering of a different gospel (2 Cor 11:4). In the CEV-translation the verse above reads as follows – “Christ died once for our sins. An innocent person died for those who are guilty. Christ did this to bring you to God …” If you have no realization of your inherent guilt as human being, your ingrained brokenness and decay, admitting that “I have sinned against heaven and in your sight”, you cannot approach God. Christianity is not a feel good attraction; it asks that you lay down your life.
No man can lay claim to Christ’s righteousness and acquittal without a deep realization of his own lost state. Without it conversion remains an academic concept. In Ezek 16:63 God makes it clear – “that you may remember and be ashamed, and never open your mouth anymore because of your shame, when I provide you an atonement for all you have done.”
According to Scripture there is only one thing that draws people to Christ. But first it should be remembered that only the Holy Spirit can convince of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8). No gimmicks, no enticement, no dressing up of the gospel into something easier to sell – only the Holy Spirit.
Then, as Jesus himself states in John 12:32 – “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” And verse 33 – “This He said, signifying by what death He would die.” It is only Christ’s crucifixion that draws people to him. Compare this to John 3:14-15, from which the famous “For God so loved the world …” follows – “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” But central to this realization of Christ is the realization that his death took place ON ACCOUNT OF your sin. Zech 12:10 says that the Spirit of grace and supplication must be poured out so that “they shall look unto me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.”
- Sela: Ask of God John 16:8 and Zech 10:12. Accept it.
- Read: 2 Chr 33; Job 32; Isa 13
- Memorise: Job 32:8
