In the previous post, I talked about the importance of serving others in order to build a bridge for sharing the gospel. In this post, I want to talk about what it means to “see” people.
In 1 Corinthians 9:19-22 Paul wrote: “…I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized--whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ--but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view…” (1 Cor. 9:19-22 The Message*)
Paul had empathy for people. He saw them first and foremost as sinners in need of a savior. Yet he also recognized the fact that every person was an individual with differing perspectives, lifestyles and experiences. He thought of them first and how he might enter into their world in order to reach them with the gospel.
Recently I was in a conference for evangelists in Portland, OR where Donald Miller was speaking. I know some people get their pants in a bunch about Donald -- one of my friends thinks he ought to be roasted at the stake like a heretic of old -- but I really believe he has something to say to us about reaching this generation if we will stop stereotyping him.
He talked about the going into a local convenience store one day to buy something – for the life of me, I don’t remember what. He began to talk to the man behind the counter who was from another country – or rather; he begins listening to this man pour out his life story. When he paused to hear this guy, he came to the startling revelation that “other people exist.”
Don’t tune out yet…Donald explained that so many times we view life as a movie about us. Our eyes are the camera, our ears, the microphones. We are the stars. Everybody else is the supporting cast. Pathetic!
Paul was saying that life was not about him, but it was about other people and getting them to Jesus at all costs. Religious people, irreligious people…Moral and Immoral…The defeated and demoralized…they all need Jesus.
The world hasn’t changed much in two thousand years. People still need Jesus. The key for us is to really see them with the eyes of Christ. God knows, I don’t always like the way they look or how they live. But, I must love them because Jesus loves me and he loves them too.
I walked into a local coffee shop the other day. The guy behind the counter had lots of body piercing including those big round quarter sized hoops inserted into both of his earlobes. They reminded me of the pictures of natives I saw in National Geographic Magazines as a child. I am almost sure he had lots of dark tattoos to go along with his fancy ear wear.
In an instant of seeing him, I could already feel my holier-than-thou conservative suit-wearing Baptistness creeping up to judge him. I felt equally repulsed by the teenage kids who came in the shop and plopped down in the chairs in front of me spewing out the f-words and so forth. Jesus had to do a little work on my heart right then; He reminded me that He died for them too. Ouch!
Jesus met people where they were. He was a friend to tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers, the unclean and the unwanted. He didn’t take on their way of life by any stretch of the imagination. He did however take their sin in his own body on the tree. He didn’t meet them in church either. He met them in the day to day places of life.
In the book, Why Christians Sin by J.K. Johnston we read that “Christ met unbelievers where they were. He realized what many Christians today still don't seem to understand. Cultivators have to get out in the field. According to one count, the gospels record 132 contacts that Jesus had with people. Six were in the Temple, four in the synagogues and 122 were out with the people in the mainstream of life.” (J.K. Johnston, Why Christians Sin, Discovery House, 1992, p. 142.)
Do you see people when you walk around your little world? Or, are you the star of the show?
*I chose to use the Message paraphrase instead of a traditional translation because of the clarity of this passage.
Showing posts with label Servanthood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Servanthood. Show all posts
Monday, March 5, 2007
3 Commandments of FriendFluence - Pt. 1
In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Paul writes what some have called the "evangelist's manifesto" It reads like this:
"Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized--whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ--but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!" 1 Cor. 9:19-23 - The Message*
This passage reveals the heart of Paul and his way of approaching the task of evangelism - or sharing the good news with people. He was passionate about telling others the good news and went to any length to introduce people to Jesus Christ.
As we look at this passage, I believe there are three very important things we can learn from Paul when it comes to influencing people for Christ. 1) We must SERVE people 2) We must "SEE" people and 3) we must SHARE with people in order to influence them toward faith in Jesus Christ. Keep in mind, this influence is not a mere human act leading to their salvation but rather, through the work of the Holy Spirit, a supernatural influence in partnership with God, the author of salvation.
In this post, I will focus on what it means to serve people and how important that is in leading others to faith in Jesus.
To serve others is to put their needs and interests before your own. It doesn't mean that you think any less of yourself by doing so; it means that you simply don't think of yourself at all. Paul said he voluntarily became a servant to everyone so he might lead them to faith in Christ.
This statement reveals an attitude of humility which is often not found in the hearts of many modern Christians. So many people want to be served - have their own needs met - instead of serving others. I have often heard people say, "I didn't get anything out of that sermon." They complain if the pastor or one of the church staff members fails to meet their expectations. They see themselves as the ones to be ministered to, rather than the ones to do the ministry. This is an attitude that is inherited from our culture and not from Christ our example.
A genuine demonstration of servanthood speaks volumes to our self-centered culture. First of all, it is so rare to see someone with a servant spirit, that it is novel and thus attractive. Second, people have so many needs - most of which are ultimately spiritual - that are unmet by the drivel offered by the world. Meeting these needs can be a bridge to sharing Jesus with people.
The question we must ask is "are we serving others?" What are we doing to meet the felt or perceived needs of the people in our circle of influence? God has entrusted us to share the gospel with them. Serving others leads to saving them.
For the believer, a servant attitude is something that has to be developed. Here is an acronym that describes what it means to serve.
S - Self must decrease
E - Elevate others
R - Resist pride
V - Value people
E - Enter into the lives of others
A missionary was conversing with a native one time. This native said, "you built a bridge of love between my heart and your heart and Jesus walked over." What a powerful statement! This missionary served the needs of the native and the result was salvation.
In way of application, what do you need to do to develop this essential servant attitude? What must change in order to make that happen? What are some of the ways you can serve the people in your circle of influence?
In my next post, we will talk about seeing people...
*I chose to use the Message paraphrase instead of a traditional translation because of the clarity of this passage.
"Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized--whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ--but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!" 1 Cor. 9:19-23 - The Message*
This passage reveals the heart of Paul and his way of approaching the task of evangelism - or sharing the good news with people. He was passionate about telling others the good news and went to any length to introduce people to Jesus Christ.
As we look at this passage, I believe there are three very important things we can learn from Paul when it comes to influencing people for Christ. 1) We must SERVE people 2) We must "SEE" people and 3) we must SHARE with people in order to influence them toward faith in Jesus Christ. Keep in mind, this influence is not a mere human act leading to their salvation but rather, through the work of the Holy Spirit, a supernatural influence in partnership with God, the author of salvation.
In this post, I will focus on what it means to serve people and how important that is in leading others to faith in Jesus.
To serve others is to put their needs and interests before your own. It doesn't mean that you think any less of yourself by doing so; it means that you simply don't think of yourself at all. Paul said he voluntarily became a servant to everyone so he might lead them to faith in Christ.
This statement reveals an attitude of humility which is often not found in the hearts of many modern Christians. So many people want to be served - have their own needs met - instead of serving others. I have often heard people say, "I didn't get anything out of that sermon." They complain if the pastor or one of the church staff members fails to meet their expectations. They see themselves as the ones to be ministered to, rather than the ones to do the ministry. This is an attitude that is inherited from our culture and not from Christ our example.
A genuine demonstration of servanthood speaks volumes to our self-centered culture. First of all, it is so rare to see someone with a servant spirit, that it is novel and thus attractive. Second, people have so many needs - most of which are ultimately spiritual - that are unmet by the drivel offered by the world. Meeting these needs can be a bridge to sharing Jesus with people.
The question we must ask is "are we serving others?" What are we doing to meet the felt or perceived needs of the people in our circle of influence? God has entrusted us to share the gospel with them. Serving others leads to saving them.
For the believer, a servant attitude is something that has to be developed. Here is an acronym that describes what it means to serve.
S - Self must decrease
E - Elevate others
R - Resist pride
V - Value people
E - Enter into the lives of others
A missionary was conversing with a native one time. This native said, "you built a bridge of love between my heart and your heart and Jesus walked over." What a powerful statement! This missionary served the needs of the native and the result was salvation.
In way of application, what do you need to do to develop this essential servant attitude? What must change in order to make that happen? What are some of the ways you can serve the people in your circle of influence?
In my next post, we will talk about seeing people...
*I chose to use the Message paraphrase instead of a traditional translation because of the clarity of this passage.
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