Are Christians responsible for all war, disease, and suffering?
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The following is a summary of actual conversations I have had with real people. I try to start with the Bible and ask a few questions. 1. Are you a Christian? Yes 2. Do you believe the Bible is God’s inspired word? Yes |
3. So according to 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and John 17:17
the Bible is true, trustworthy and reliable? Yes, that’s correct.
4. The Bible says in Revelation 1:7 and Luke 21:27 that Jesus will come again. Is this true? Yes.
5. The Bible says in 2 Thess 2:8 and 1 Thess 4:13-18 that when Jesus returns he will bring an end to all evil, disease, war, rape, murder and suffering. Is that true also? Yes
6. The Bible says in Matthew 24:14 and Revelation 14:6-7 that the gospel will go to every nation and people group before Jesus returns. Is this true? Yes that is true.
7. So according to the Bible we cannot expect Jesus to return until the gospel has gone to every people group? Yes.
4. The Bible says in Revelation 1:7 and Luke 21:27 that Jesus will come again. Is this true? Yes.
5. The Bible says in 2 Thess 2:8 and 1 Thess 4:13-18 that when Jesus returns he will bring an end to all evil, disease, war, rape, murder and suffering. Is that true also? Yes
6. The Bible says in Matthew 24:14 and Revelation 14:6-7 that the gospel will go to every nation and people group before Jesus returns. Is this true? Yes that is true.
7. So according to the Bible we cannot expect Jesus to return until the gospel has gone to every people group? Yes.
8. The Bible says that war, rape, and murder will
continue until Jesus returns but Jesus will not return until the gospel goes to
every people group. So basically evil, crime, and suffering must continue until
the gospel goes to every people group? Is that true? Yes that is correct.
9. Is it true that Jesus commanded his disciples in Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15-16 to take the gospel to every people group? Yes
10. Is a Christian a disciple of Jesus? So you are a disciple? Yes and Yes.
11. So you are also commanded to take the gospel to every people group? Yes that is true.
12. Hmm, people groups….According to JoshuaProject.net there are 16,629 people groups in the world. 6,982 of those groups have not yet been reached by the gospel. Of almost 7,000 can you name just three of those groups? Hmm…sorry I do not know that.
13. How can you take the gospel to a group you do not know about? hmm, I don’t know.
14. How can you pray for a lost people group if you do not even know their name? I don’t know.
15. Is it true that Jesus said in Matthew 9:37-38 that there are not enough disciples to take the gospel to the unreached people groups and Christians should be praying for more disciples? Yes that’s true.
9. Is it true that Jesus commanded his disciples in Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15-16 to take the gospel to every people group? Yes
10. Is a Christian a disciple of Jesus? So you are a disciple? Yes and Yes.
11. So you are also commanded to take the gospel to every people group? Yes that is true.
12. Hmm, people groups….According to JoshuaProject.net there are 16,629 people groups in the world. 6,982 of those groups have not yet been reached by the gospel. Of almost 7,000 can you name just three of those groups? Hmm…sorry I do not know that.
13. How can you take the gospel to a group you do not know about? hmm, I don’t know.
14. How can you pray for a lost people group if you do not even know their name? I don’t know.
15. Is it true that Jesus said in Matthew 9:37-38 that there are not enough disciples to take the gospel to the unreached people groups and Christians should be praying for more disciples? Yes that’s true.
16. When was the last time you prayed for God to
raise up workers for the unreached? Hmm, I don’t remember.
17. Do you personally know of any Christians working to take the gospel to the unreached? One visited my church a while ago.
18. The Bible says in 2 Thes 3:1 and Col 4:3-4 that missionaries cannot succeed without a praying church. Have you been praying consistently for any missionaries? No
19. What about your church? Do they have a prayer meeting to pray for the unreached or missionaries? Oh our church doesn’t have a prayer meeting. There are a few old lady prayer warriors to do that.
20. Have you ever considered going to be a missionary among an unreached people group? No, I can’t because (excuses)….
17. Do you personally know of any Christians working to take the gospel to the unreached? One visited my church a while ago.
18. The Bible says in 2 Thes 3:1 and Col 4:3-4 that missionaries cannot succeed without a praying church. Have you been praying consistently for any missionaries? No
19. What about your church? Do they have a prayer meeting to pray for the unreached or missionaries? Oh our church doesn’t have a prayer meeting. There are a few old lady prayer warriors to do that.
20. Have you ever considered going to be a missionary among an unreached people group? No, I can’t because (excuses)….
21. Well have you encouraged anyone else to go in
your place? No, I can’t because (excuses)…
22. Well if you will not go and you will not send anyone else to go have you at least given any money to support missionaries who have gone? Well I did give a little one time but I really can’t because (excuses)….
Let me see if I understand you. As a Christian you hate to see all the murder, rape, disease, crime, sickness, poverty, suffering, and war in the world. You pray that Jesus will make it all go away. Yet at the same time you hold the Bible as your standard of faith and it says that all this evil will continue until Jesus returns. The Bible also says that Jesus’ return will not happen until the unreached people groups are reached with the gospel. You admit that this work is given to you and that according to Ezekiel 33:1-9 it is a personal responsibility to hasten the return of Jesus and bring an end to suffering. Despite knowing all this:
22. Well if you will not go and you will not send anyone else to go have you at least given any money to support missionaries who have gone? Well I did give a little one time but I really can’t because (excuses)….
Let me see if I understand you. As a Christian you hate to see all the murder, rape, disease, crime, sickness, poverty, suffering, and war in the world. You pray that Jesus will make it all go away. Yet at the same time you hold the Bible as your standard of faith and it says that all this evil will continue until Jesus returns. The Bible also says that Jesus’ return will not happen until the unreached people groups are reached with the gospel. You admit that this work is given to you and that according to Ezekiel 33:1-9 it is a personal responsibility to hasten the return of Jesus and bring an end to suffering. Despite knowing all this:
You cannot even name three of almost 7,000 unreached people groups
You do not pray for the unreached
You do not pray for the very few missionaries that work among the unreached
You do not give financial support to the very few that do go as missionaries
You do not go yourself and
You do not encourage anyone else to go
Yet you insist on repeating that “Jesus will come soon” to end all sin and accept you into heaven. Help me now because I’m confused but doesn't your ignorance and inaction prolong the war, rape, suffering, and a world of pain?
(something more is needed to end this article, if you have suggestions please let me know via contact)
You do not pray for the unreached
You do not pray for the very few missionaries that work among the unreached
You do not give financial support to the very few that do go as missionaries
You do not go yourself and
You do not encourage anyone else to go
Yet you insist on repeating that “Jesus will come soon” to end all sin and accept you into heaven. Help me now because I’m confused but doesn't your ignorance and inaction prolong the war, rape, suffering, and a world of pain?
(something more is needed to end this article, if you have suggestions please let me know via contact)