The Cost is To High

It is 4:37am on Monday morning. I woke up at 4am and have been chewing on this particular topic. I wish to make a bold disclaimer before I begin expounding on today's topic. If you have read my first posting you will see that I clearly pointed out that I am not infallible and that I welcomed debate. I ask that you use scripture to define your position. With that I also must say emphatically I believe the church is God's chosen instrument to take the Gospel to the world and the last thing I want to do is DIVIDE. I hope that you see my heart in this and know that I am not some legalistic person who splits hairs. Those of you who take the time to read this and know me at all, know that I can be intense and unyielding on certain issues. That is why I ask that you never believe what I say without checking it out for yourselves, however, where I am unyielding I stand and will defend that position until you can prove differently in scripture.



Relationalship evangelism goes something like this. You need to get to know people, you need to love them, and just be their friend. You need to not condemn them, but rather just hang out with them in hopes that you may get an opportunity to tell them Jesus loves them. My argument is that while this "sounds" nice it is in itself condemning and here is why.

1. Let's get to know the people.

I think this is a great idea but let me ask you this question. If, in your discourse of days, weeks, months, or maybe even years of becoming friends with this person, should they perhaps die where would they spend eternity? Answer truthfully.
A. Heaven
B. Hell


2. Do not condemn then

I will agree that WE should not condemn them but we should tell them that God requires men everywhere to repent. How can they do that unless we tell them? Again if I take my time so as not to offend him and he dies where will he go? Again answer truthfully.
A. Heaven
B. Hell


3. Just hang out and be their friend

Again I ask that you take what I will say in the context I will hope to wrap it in because I am NOT saying to be cruel, unloving, or downright insensitive but with love speak the truth.
We are told to be in the world, but not of the world. If I am trying to befriend someone, am I so rock solid in my personal walk that I will not be lead into temptation by "hanging" out with them? Again I believe in going out to the lost, the poor, destitute, the hookers, the homeless, the prison bound, those who are orphans and widows. We need to however be very cautious that we don't use this type of evangelism as an occasion of the flesh, thus blaspheming God right in front of their very eyes. Again I ask this question. While hanging out with the guy or gal that have been hoping would see my pious life and see that I am better off than him/her and they were to die and I was never bold in my proclaiming faith and they die where would they go?
A. Heaven
B. Hell

Relationalship evamgelism is a plauge on the church in my opinion. These people need the truth of Christ, the sinfulness of their hearts revealed, and then let them be. God will convert them not me. I am to simply proclaim the Gospel and God does the rest. To you the reader that may sound cold, harsh and unloving but ask yourself this. Would you rather have someone like you or hate you because of the Gospel. If you read the New Testament you will see that the message is offensive to the world. It is a stumbling block. If we try to dumb down the message we will reap it's rewards. I will leave you with some verses that I think go well and please let me know your thoughts.



1Co 1:18 For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.
1Co 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought.
1Co 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
1Co 1:21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe.
1Co 1:22 Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom:
1Co 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumblingblock, and unto Gentiles foolishness;
1Co 1:24 but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
1Co 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1Co 1:26 For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27 but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;
1Co 1:28 and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, yea and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are:
1Co 1:29 that no flesh should glory before God.
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31 that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.



1Co 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
1Co 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1Co 2:5 that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
1Co 2:6 We speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought:
1Co 2:7 but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, even the wisdom that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory:
1Co 2:8 which none of the rulers of this world hath known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory:
1Co 2:9 but as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, And which entered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10 But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1Co 2:11 For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:12 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words.
1Co 2:14 Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.
1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, and he himself is judged of no man.
1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.



1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.
1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He that taketh the wise in their craftiness:
1Co 3:20 and again, The Lord knoweth the reasonings of the wise that they are vain.
1Co 3:21 Wherefore let no one glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22 whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
1Co 3:23 and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.


Phi 1:12 Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel;
Phi 1:13 so that my bonds became manifest in Christ throughout the whole praetorian guard, and to all the rest;
Phi 1:14 and that most of the brethren in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.




Act 4:1
And as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,
Act 4:2 being sore troubled because they taught the people, and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
Act 4:3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in ward unto the morrow: for it was now eventide.
Act 4:4 But many of them that heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
Act 4:5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem;
Act 4:6 and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest.
Act 4:7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, By what power, or in what name, have ye done this?
Act 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders,
Act 4:9 if we this day are examined concerning a good deed done to an impotent man, by what means this man is made whole;
Act 4:10 be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even in him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Act 4:11 He is the stone which was set at nought of you the builders, which was made the head of the corner.
Act 4:12 And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved.
Act 4:13 Now when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Act 4:14 And seeing the man that was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
Act 4:15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
Act 4:16 saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been wrought through them, is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
Act 4:17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
Act 4:18 And they called them, and charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
Act 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye:
Act 4:20 for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard.
Act 4:21 And they, when they had further threatened them, let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people; for all men glorified God for that which was done.
Act 4:22 For the man was more than forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was wrought.
Act 4:23 And being let go, they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said unto them.
Act 4:24 And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, O Lord, thou that didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:
Act 4:25 who by the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David thy servant, didst say, Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples imagine vain things?
Act 4:26 The kings of the earth set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together, Against the Lord, and against his Anointed:
Act 4:27 for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28 to do whatsoever thy hand and thy council foreordained to come to pass.
Act 4:29 And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness,
Act 4:30 while thy stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus.
Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.


Act 28:30 And he abode two whole years in his own hired dwelling, and received all that went in unto him,
Act 28:31 preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, none forbidding him.


2Co 3:12 Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech,

Eph 6:18 with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,
Eph 6:19 and on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
Eph 6:20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.


Friends, the days are short. Today 140,000 people will die. Could it be your co-worker? How's the relationship going? So now I have one final question for those of you who think I may be harsh and unloving. Which way is more unloving to you?
A. Being their friend and hoping that I will get an opportunity to witness after I have built a relationship?
B. Speaking the truth in love today to this person, giving them the whole counsel of God, including hell?

I encourage you not to listen to me but to read the Word and see what it says.


2Co 6:2 (for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation)

I will leave you a quote from William Booth the founder of the salvation army.
"Can we rush to fast in saving souls? Ask those who are in hell"

May God bless your day.

Jeff