The Pulpit: Answers for the unbeliever

Why won’t people listen to me when I try to share the Gospel? I have found that all their excuses can be lumped into the following: “there are many ways to God,” “I do not believe in God,” or, “I have always believed in God.” Then there's the common, “how can a loving God condemn someone to hell?” and, “why does God allow evil and pain to take place?” All of these raise valid concern in an unbeliever's mind and I will attempt to answer these with both practical answers and biblical references. First, let us address the comment, “there are many ways to God.” I often agree with this statement and then clarify what I mean. I will say there are many ways to God, because at some point everyone will stand before Him for judgment. But, John 14:6 says “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.” In this verse, we see that God is referred to as Father; this shows the loving aspect of God. He has given us the chance to be one of His children through accepting the work of Christ on the cross. John 1:12-13 says, “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. You see, thinking there are many ways to God.” and believing in the one true way to the Father are completely different things. Second, let us tackle the comment, “I don’t believe in God.” I sometimes will say you can stand out in the middle of the road and say I don’t believe in big trucks, but if one hits you, that doesn’t change the fact that it really existed. Or, if you say I don’t believe in gravity and jump out of a plane without a parachute, it won’t change the fact that you will be picked up in pieces? See, God doesn’t exist because we believe in Him or not, He has always existed as shown in Revelation 1:8: “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.” Next, let us deal with the person who says, “I have always believed in God.” Often times, I say that this is awesome; it should not be a stretch for you to believe in His son, Jesus Christ and what He has done for you. I will even go as far as giving them James 2:19-20 that says: “you say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?” Third, let us talk about the question, “how can a loving God condemn someone to hell?” I will often times just say, off the cuff, that it is not God that condemns people to hell, we take care of that all by ourselves. Then, I will share John 3:16-18 which says: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.” Fourth, let us deal with the question: “why does God allow evil and pain to take place?” I will instantly say that it is not God's fault that evil or hurt takes place. I will often times try and take them all the way back to the garden and walk through what sin has done to the world, explaining that it is not a matter of allowing bad things to happen, but sin causing bad things to happen. Make sense? Now, to attempt to provide some comfort and assurance to people who have made a decision to follow Jesus Christ, I refer to the parable of the farmer and the seeds: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.” Matthew 13:4-7 I believe that after a decision to follow Christ, our sin nature automatically tries to make us believe that we really didn’t do what we thought. People will always doubt if you make Salvation out to be something it was not intended to be. I first want people to realize that Jesus simply says to follow Him first; He knows that you still have hang ups and you're not perfect. He will change you from the inside out; just give Him time to work. I am also quick to share stories of the disciples; Peter mostly. Even Paul had struggles after he got saved. The most important thing I believe you can tell somebody is that Salvation is a one and done; you can’t lose it and couldn’t give it back if you wanted to. Whom Jesus saves, He seals, and holds in His hands where nothing can ever remove you. You might have times that you need to check your salvation; this is good. It means the Holy Spirit is working in you to remove some impurities. Just stop and pray for guidance and trust in the finished work of the cross. If none of the above seems to comfort them at all, I sometimes ask if they are sure they got saved or were they just following the crowd at the time. I then share my story of just following the crowd in third grade and show how dangerous that really is. People, it is okay to pray with somebody again so that they know for sure they are saved. You would want somebody to do that for you.