My post about John Stackhouse reminded me of a passage from his book Humble Apologetics that has stuck with me for several years. It comes at the end of a chapter on conversion. In the chapter, he deals with our role as evangelists/apologists in the conversion process and how we can best approach/treat people who don’t share our faith convictions.
Here is how he finishes:
We can conclude, then, with some questions that Christians shouldn’t ask, and a question we should always ask instead.
“Is he saved?” I don’t know, and I cannot know until “the roll is called up yonder.” The actual condition of another person’s heart is mysterious, even to the individual. So from the outside I certainly cannot presume to know, and therefore I do not need to try to know. The whole agenda of some Christians to figure out “who is in and who is out” is therefore mistaken.
“What can I do to convert him?” Nothing. God’s Spirit alone can truly convert. Again, God does not call us to do what we cannot do. So we need not, and must not, try to convert anyone, including through what we might pride ourselves on as being impressive apologetics.
“Does he need to hear the gospel?” Of course he does. We all do, again and again, until we see Christ face to face. That’s one of the reasons Christians take the Lord’s Supper regularly: to hear in it the gospel once again, the gospel of everlasting forgiveness and empowerment to overcome evil and enjoy the good. If we therefore have any opportunity to tell the gospel to another, we should tell it. No one outgrows it.
The good question to ask instead is simply this: “How shall I treat him? How shall I treat her? And the answer is just as simple: with love. Until all of our neighbors are fully mature in Christ, there is something left for serious Christians to do, and when we have the opportunity to assist the neighbor somehow, then we should take it. I daresay that will keep us all plenty busy until the Lord Jesus returns.
I especially love his answer to the question about needing to hear the gospel. We never outgrow the need to hear the gospel.
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
Thanks for the excerpt. “Treating people with love” and allowing love to guide your life never fails. It may be hard to do at times, but I am amazed at how love seems to be the answer to so many questions we have in regards to our faith. I guess that is why out of faith, hope and love…the greatest is love!
I’ve bookmarked Stackhouse’s blog. He has some great things to say.
I’m still stuck in a few areas with this, though. My initial observations are:
1. Do people ever go from being lost to being saved?
2. Theoretically, when does that happen?
3. Is it a better question to say, “How can I participate in a person’s conversion?” instead of, “how do I convert someone”? It is true God’s Spirit is the convertor, but He has clearly sent us somehow to participate in a ministry of reconciliation.
4. Something doesn’t scan in that I can’t know who to go to. It sure seemed there were different messages to different folks.
Thanks for pointing me to Stackhouse. The wrong question/right question motif is a growing trend, huh? I like the way Reggie McNeal employs it in his book, The Present Future.
I think those are pretty good words. They definitely swing you to think with different perspective. But asking the question “Is he saved?” can’t be discounted so easily. Certainly, in the lives of my children I want to know that they are saved. I know my kids pretty well. Or my wife is maybe an even better example. I may not “know”, but I got a good idea. Further, if I know someone denies Christ, then likewise I got a pretty good idea. But this question only truly matters so that I can love them, which is the last question. The answer of loving doesn’t change but love in practice is different depending on the condition of the heart. I agree that we all need to hear and rehear the gospel message. It’s presentation is different when you are talking to different audiences. Take Peter in Acts 2 vs. Paul in Romans.
Ahh… this is very refreshing! I get tired of all those other questions constantly being asked because like John Stackhouse, I have no answer.
I agree with the futility of individuals conducting court on others’ coming to know Christ experiences, but Scritpure is very clear that those choosing to follow Christ were very confident and joyful on the day they made that decision and others also rejoiced in their decisions so it was pretty clear to them as well.
My hope in Christ is in no way “hope so,” but know so (Romans 8:1).
Peace.
Wade,
This post conjures up many thoughts and reactions. I will react to one statement specifically: “What can I do to convert him?” I don’t agree with Stackhouse’s simplistic response (but I do like his blog). That question has a lot of problems, however, I don’t feel the problem is the fact that I would be participating in the “conversion” process (or “salvation” or “rescuing”). Stackhouse is going to extremes to say that humans don’t have a role in the conversion process. I agree that it is the work of the Holy Spirit, however, one way the HS works is through using you and I. We actually do participate in the change process. To share the good news of Jesus’ Kingdom with someone and patiently walk with them is to co-labor with the Spirit. So for me, I think the question quoted above is a good one, if we are actually asking God, “What can I do?” It therefore becomes a question of submission, not of method or technique. Blessings and be a blessing.
-Russ
Russ–In all fairness to Stackhouse, you really need to read the whole chapter on conversion before you critique his summary. I doubt you’ll call his answer simplistic after that. Remember, the title of the book is “Humble Apologetics” and its written to equip Christians to explain/defend the Christian faith. Seems like he wouldn’t have even bothered writing the book if he meant for his answer to be taken to simplistic extremes.
Based on what I know of you and your style of ministry, I think you’d really like the book.
Rock on
Wade,
But isn’t it fun to jump on a quote out of context and criticize it? I’ll give this book a read and get a broader perspective on what Stackhouse is saying. I could use a good apologetics book about now. I didn’t know I had a style of ministry… let me know what it is next time I see you.