November 6, 2012

Ephesians 2:4-5  ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 

"Even when we were dead in transgressions" God made us alive through His grace.

I often get worked up at the religious sign-holders on the square in Springfield.  So often their signboards, while theologically correct, preach a message of judgement, wrath and condemnation.  "The party ends in hell."  "If you marry a divorced woman, you are an adulterer."  Usually I just say a quick prayer and walk away.  But one particular sign caused me to engage in a conversation with a sign holder.

"You must change to come to Jesus."  While I made a feeble attempt to debate the gentleman on his message, I could not bring specific scripture to mind to refute his p.o.v.  (He on the other hand was replete with memorized verses to support his stance.)  I wish Ephesians 2:5 had been committed to my memory on that particular evening.

"Even when we were dead. . ."  After having spent a year working at a funeral home, I can state unequivocally that dead people are not capable of changing themselves.  Asking an unsaved person to change in order to come to Christ is like asking a corpse to roll over.  Ain't gonna happen.  To ask an unbeliever to make any changes in order to receive salvation is not only unBiblical, but foolhardy.  Dead men stay dead.  Only the grace of God can breathe life into the spiritually dead.

On a side note. . .

Today is Election Day.  By tomorrow hopefully, Thanksgiving probably, we will know who will head the Executive Branch of the United States of America for the next four years.  It would be interesting to know how many millions of dollars and thousands of hours "evangelical Christians" have spend over these past few months in support of a specific candidate or ballot issue.  Doorbells rung.  Yard signs posted.  Checks written.

I can't help but wonder how much greater the benefit if the doorbells rung, signs posted and checks written were rung, posted or written to directly further the cause of Christ.  What if Romney bumper stickers were replaced with "Mercy + Grace = Salvation"?  What changes might take place if the hundreds of doorhangers distributed touted Christ's love rather than the benefits of Claire McCaskill?  Yes, Christians need to speak out in the public forum and be informed voters, but the danger comes when the passion for a President overshadows the enthusiasm for evangelism.