by Br. John McGlone Oct 23, 2024
I want to quote Brother Ron McCrae who has been preaching for decades on the streets and is the Director of the Street Preachers Fellowship, “There is a greater cause, the Gospel, than the individual {fill in the blank} ministry, ….
I know and have preached with many Baptists, Oneness, MGT, KJVO, Pentecostals, Antinomians, etc. Now, after a time or two some of them have not walked with me anymore in this labor. In fact, many of them will not even return my calls or texts anymore. Go figure, what’s love got to do with it. However, some have continued to work with me, and I with them, in open air ministry that the Gospel may be preached.
It is important to remember each individual Christian has differing: experiences, understanding/doctrines, practices, maturity in faith, etc I would estimate 90% of professing Christian local church members do not understand the labor we do in the highways and hedges.
Shall we surrender these brothers and sisters to the devil’s errors regarding witnessing, preaching, and evangelism in general?
How many ‘churches’ do you know actually have an active office of Evangelist, but definitely have Pastors, Elders, Teachers, Prophets, and some Apostles?
I have visited dozens of local churches to find somewhere that I would be able to submit myself to godly authority in the church govt. In 2003, I was called to be an evangelist who would teach the members how to biblically witness according to the methodologies outlined in the Bible. It was with this calling I was seeking leadership who would allow the idea of open air preaching and witnessing to be taught. The church I have finally found has met with me regularly and allowed discussion regarding these matters. Unfortunately, within 18 months I was told I was not welcome to come back after discovering a long time member there did not believe in eternal hell as Jesus taught in the Bible and asking the elders to conduct a Matt 18 with this heretic. He is still a member there, I am shunned…again. Have you ever been threatened with trespass and arrest while standing in front of a local church you’ve been a part of for an extended season? I forgive them as I am called by our Lord and Savior to do so, amen.
Amos 3:3
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
Jesus Christ told us that the world will know us by our love. This love He described clearly in the NT doesn’t look like the love the world desires ie loveislove, God accepts us the way we are that is why jesus died they will say.
No the true love that Jesus taught and exampled is sacrificial, patient, kind, instructs, is just and impartial, reproves, rebukes, exhorts, corrects, upbraids, and is full of His glory. That would be with both the body of Christ and the lost wicked sinners out there. Do I need to quote 1 Cor 13:1-13? Though God loves mercy above justice, that will not be demonstrated to those who have blasphemed the Holy Ghost by rejecting the Gospel on Judgment day.
As God demonstrates His love and patience with sinners until they die, we need to remember this example. Will we be intimate with everyone spiritually? Nay. Will we have fellowship with everyone? Nay. Will we be in ministry with everyone? Nay. But, can we pray and fast for them? Yea. Can we be cordial to them, Can we preach the Gospel with them? That would have to be led of the Holy Ghost as He directs each of us.
DIFFERENCES THAT NEEDLESSLY DIVIDE:
- Bible translation convictions
- Holiday convictions
- Fashion convictions
- Preaching method convictions
- Food convictions and many others….
I would like to share a story of a dear brother that got cancer. He successfully overcame that by extreme dieting, he thought. However, what if he was saved by prayers of the saints, or by both the diet and the prayers of the saints? Because of his healing he was convinced everyone should follow this strict diet which did not allow any food that had eyes, ears, or a mouth like we have. What is the problem/s with this type of diet? Is it sin? Is it true? Well a simple test would be, “Did Jesus eat anything with eyes, ears or a mouth? I immediately thought of fish, or lambs, or other kosher meat like beef. Truth and reason always exposes lies. Did he intend to harm the fellowship of the saints, nay, he was trying to do what was best for us according to his limited experience and understanding of how God works.
These are but a few of many ideas that needlessly divide the preaching community. Should we allow discussion of them, of course! Every believer in Christ and the Gospel must do so by faith. But, that faith leads each individual to experiences and understandings that don’t line up with the next believer. And unfortunately, this will lead to unnecessary divisions that I believe are error.
How is it possible that God could save someone: 1. at a Van Halen concert? 2. At a Benny Hinn event? 3. While looking at stars while camping? 4. On the dirty streets of New Orleans? 5. At an Amazon factory a year after initial witness? 6. At a university campus when a student explains 6 mos ago they hated what was preached but now they were following Jesus? 7. An unbeliever by themselves in the early morning after mocking and listening to a tv preacher for 8 months?
In each of those real instances of conversions, seeds were planted and watered over the course of time, and God granted the increase. When and why does this happen? The when is established when the person humbled themselves and cried out to Jesus Christ and His Gospel and were converted by the Holy Ghost. Thus the new birth is realized by the new believer. The why is a change in heart and mind that came from above as we responded properly to His calling, and regarded the precious love of Jesus demonstrated on that bloody cross with a circumcised or broken heart.
Some spiritually fatal ideas are to establish a ministry of bringing unbelievers to a Van Halen concert or Benny Hinn meeting to get saved….why? What does have to happen to a person before they are converted? ASK THE LISTENERS…The mockers and those not listening will not get the Gospel…at least at that time anyway.
James 4:19-20
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
How does Rom 14 apply for believers interacting spiritually?
Romans 14:1…10…23,24,
“Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.”
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
22Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
23And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
When the Bible says faith what does it mean? Who is that trust extended?
Romans 16:17-18 – Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Judaizers gonna Judaize…
Because the doctrine spoken of here is the Gospel generally and to the Gentiles specifically outlined in Chapter 15.
2 Pet 3:15-16
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
1 Tim 4:9-16
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
These things command and teach.
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation[CONDUCT], in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Mark 9:38-41
And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
What motivates someone to offer help to us while we are preaching/ministering? Would it be belief in the Word of God we’re proclaiming?
Luke 9:49-50 same event is recorded.
And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
50And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
What are my conclusions?
1. If a person is for Jesus and our labor for Him be careful how you judge them.
2. The Doctrine of faith/belief in God/Jesus as Savior is salvational.
3. We must agree and define what are doubtful disputations or we won’t walk together.
4. We must unite under the banner of the true love of God which commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves despite our: differences, experiences, ignorances, and even convictions for what is sin to us.
