Ray Comfort shares with us the explosive growth of the Christian church in the world particularly over the past two decades. He also points to research showing the growth of those who claim to be Christians here in America. Then he highlights the inconsistency with the commands of Christ. There are those who claim to be Christian who: practice genocide among other tribes, who have abortions performed, who divorce and remarry at the same rates as non-Christians, who lie, cheat and steal regularly. Of those who claim to come to Christ, many do not change their behavior or attitudes.
What is the cause of this inconsistency? One underlying factor is the method of evangelism. “We are so entrenched in traditional evangelism that we don’t equate real life with the message we preach.” When the “gospel” is presented simply as God has a better option for your life, most come looking only for the benefits that they can derive. They don’t come repenting with a deep sorrow. Therefore, their experience is short-lived. The call from Christ was to “suffer” not to find it easy. If the “abundant life” that Jesus promised is not necessarily a “happy” life, why will people respond to the gospel?
The author points out the necessity of presenting the law in beginning a gospel message. The Apostle Paul describes the law as our “schoolmaster.” The law then awakens our conscience to our sinfulness. Then the grace of God is truly good news, because we learn there is a remedy for our sinfulness.
The real message of the gospel is not that trusting in Christ will keep us from hell. The real message is that Christ’s atoning work can transform our heart and make us righteous. Only the grace of God can do this!
Evangelism needs to take a different approach. We are not to be concerned with the number of converts as we are with the quality. Analysis of most crusades or evangelistic campaigns shows that 95% of those who “make decisions” do not follow through on their decision; Ray Comfort calls them “false conversions.”
Comfort shares with us that “virtually every revival has been birthed out of a great awakening of those who thought they were saved, but were not. He instructs us that “the cross should be raised at the center of the marketplace as well as on the steeple of the church.”
If you have an interest in seeing a mighty move of God, this book will definitely help you in your understanding of what you need to do.
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