gospel

Putting Pragmatism to Death in Evangelism

/ Richard Bargas / 2 Comments

Simon answered and said, “Master, we labored all night and caught nothing, but at Your word, I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish. And their nets began to break;  (Luke 5:5–6, LSB)

Whenever I have heard a lesson or sermon on this passage in Luke 5:1-11, the emphasis always seems to be on verse 10 and Jesus’ words, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men”  (Luke 5:10, LSB). The application is often about how we need to be witnesses for Christ, engaged in “man-fishing.” I’d agree that this passage marks a turn of focus for Jesus’ disciples from part-time disciples to full time Gospel witnesses.

For a second, I’d like to look at this passage from a slightly different angle and emphasis. Jesus is teaching along the lakeside and sits in a boat to teach. He asks for Simon to push out into deeper water and to cast his nets.

At the end of this section is when we read about Jesus’ transition to the change of vocation, “catching men.” In reflection, how often are we as Christians like Peter in our thinking regarding evangelism (catching men)? We have made all our efforts and yet have been unsuccessful.

I enjoy fishing for fish. This summer, one of my daughters caught 40 fish over a span of about 4 days—outfishing her dad. It was a “proud papa” moment. But the whole modern fishing industry knows that not every fisherman is successful when he throws his line into the water. The possibilities on the shelves offering success (for a price) are endless: stronger fishing line that is more flexible and less visible; more realistic lures and baits that entice fish to bite; stronger, more sensitive poles; reels whose action is as smooth as butter! With all that the modern fisherman can spend in his local sporting goods store, he could have bought a very nice grilled fish dinner for his whole family—for a week! The disciples had far fewer options for their net fishing, but they depended upon their own human experience and ability as the tools that kept food on the table and a roof over their heads.

Unfortunately, the modern day fishing industry isn’t the only place that the gullible fisherman is being sold things he doesn’t need. In the Church, there are a lot of people “selling” all sorts of techniques and tools that are sure to bring in the “big one” with the gospel. Tracts, booklets, videos, coins, prayer cloths, anointing oils, emotional appeals, comic books, and more all claim to be the missing thing in the man-fishing tacklebox. Let’s get back to Jesus there on the shore with his fishermen…

Peter reluctantly obeys. After all, what did Jesus know? He was a carpenter and they had experience on their side. Out of respect for their Master, the fishermen listened. It would be embarrassing, but they had warned Him. He would see that they knew better. But they didn’t. The nets and boats fill with fish to the point of sinking. Peter is astonished and gives glory to God, as they are all filled with fear (vv. 8-10).

The Lord might use our evangelism training classes, our tracts, our Bible studies, or our Gospel magic trick, just as He used the nets to grab those fish. But He doesn’t need the nets, or the fishermen. He chooses to use these means, and we are grateful that He has chosen to use us as His fishers of men. But here is our lesson. It’s not just that we must be fishers of men. It is that the results of our catch are not for us to boast in. And when we fail to catch? We have not failed. We are called to be fishers, not catchers. In our supposed failure, we will be tempted to change our methods, or worse, our message. Instead we need to remember the critical role that God plays in evangelism—He brings the people to Himself.

When Jesus intervenes, and we bear much fruit, how foolish we are to think it was the way we cast our nets, or the depth of the water, or whether it was day or night, or whatever. The amazing harvest is not due to anything we did, but because the Master has commanded and we obeyed. And when we feel reluctant to fish for men in unfavorable conditions, we betray our thinking that it is the conditions that make for the harvest and our success or failure.

More than anything, the Lord honors our efforts when we follow Him in obedience. Whether we have a small pocket New Testament and nothing else, or we have an elaborate ministry program—God can use it. But when we see the results, we must take care not to take credit and if we are faithful, we cannot think we have somehow failed. The Lord drew the fish into the nets, and He is the One who draws the soul to Himself.

Human Heart and Unbelief: A Biblical Perspective

/ Richard Bargas / Leave a comment

“Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done. Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Sanhedrin together, and were saying, ‘What are we doing? For this man is doing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.’”  (John 11:45–48, LSB)

It is amazing how deep the human capacity is for unbelief and skepticism. In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus tells the parable of the rich man who is cast into hell. The man begs for permission to allow Lazarus to rise from the dead to go and warn his brothers that hell is not only real but that they are heading toward joining him. The rich man believes that if only a dead man will warn them, then their hard hearts will melt and they will believe. In Jesus’ parable, Abraham tells the rich man that these five brothers have the Scriptures and that this testimony from God should be enough. The rich man disagrees. After all, he too had the Scriptures, and he ended up in hell! No, a man raised from the dead was needed. Something so miraculous, so irrefutable that they had to believe and repent. He had one shot at getting through to his brothers, and he knew he needed a BIG sign to get their attention.

After Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead (not the fictional man by the same name), we read in John 11:45-48 the response of those that were eyewitnesses. Many believed in Him, Jesus (v. 45). But notice where the emphasis moves after the mention of those who believed; some went to the unbelieving religious leaders and told them what Jesus had done. Since this group is set apart from those who believed, we shouldn’t be confused about what they were doing. They weren’t reporting the miracle as a good thing, but as a concern.

And the Pharisees, how did they take it? They didn’t deny that Jesus was doing sings that pointed people to God, and that they were irrefutable. They were past the phase where they considered Jesus a huckster and fraud. No, Jesus was demonstrating unmistakable power, most likely from God Himself. His power not only confirmed that He had been sent by God, but it further undergirded His own claim to be God.

This led them to a greater fear than the fear of God. They feared losing their positions of power and prominence. They feared that if word spread, the believers would grow to the point that everyone would believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah. But their fears were unfounded. Everyone wouldn’t believe, and their own resistance in the face of proof was evidence of the stubborn hearts of men. A man had been raised from the dead and it was very clear that Jesus did this by His own power. Yet, those who reported didn’t believe in Him, and neither did the majority of the religious leaders.

There are some people who say they are agnostic in their beliefs, denying God because they think evidence is lacking. But will there ever be enough evidence for these doubters? The proof of God is all around them and even beats within their chests. God sent His Son, and His Son died on the cross as the Savior of the world. “But…I need more proof.” The problem isn’t that proof doesn’t exist. The problem is the human heart, laden with sin, doesn’t want to believe. There is no neutral ground. God has shown Himself in so many ways, but still the human heart wants to suppress that knowledge:

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, both His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened.  (Romans 1:18–21, LSB)

The people that watched Lazarus come out of that tomb believed in God, but they couldn’t believe in Jesus. The Pharisees believed in God, but they rejected Jesus. The agnostic doesn’t deny God exists, he just doesn’t have enough proof to believe. But that’s not an honest assessment, as much as the agnostic wants it to sound humble and honest. The evidence is “clearly seen” and so all people, are without excuse.

What’s the solution? Seek God. Go to Him in humble prayer and ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Pick up a Bible and read it. It is God’s Word to you. Begin in the New Testament, maybe in John, the Gospel I am writing from this morning. Then as you read, let the God who came to save the world speak to you through His Word.  

Sometimes Faith Seems Too Simple

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“And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean. But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in wrath. Then his servants approached and spoke to him and said, “My father, had the prophet spoken with you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy and he was clean.  (2 Kings 5:10–14, LSB)

O how we love our religious rituals. The more complex and complicated, the better.

The scene was simple. Naaman wanted to be healed of his leprosy and he had heard that there was a man of God in Israel who could do what no one else could do. So, piling up all the things you think you need, a letter of introduction, lavish gifts to help grease the wheels of the prophet and to motivate a positive response, and a long, arduous trek through arid lands to show that he was serious about being healed. When Namaan finally arrived, he must have been filled with expectation and hope.

But when the man of God didn’t even come out of his house, instead sending his servant with a message, the sick man was disappointed. Then there was the instructions—go and bathe in the Jordan river, washing seven times. In case you don’t know it, the Jordan is brown, not crystal clear. Now, Namaan grew angry. After all, he was an important man back home. Couldn’t the prophet at least come out and speak to him? And bathe in a dirty river? What about the rituals, the odd dances, potions, sparks, incantations, beads, smoke, chants…but nothing? Just take a bath in this muddy river?

Namaan almost left in disgust. We do love our rituals.

But rituals don’t heal. Neither do clear or muddy rivers. And for that matter, neither do prophets or servants of prophets. Only God has the power to heal. And God works on faith.

When his servants saw his anger and frustration, they knew they would soon be heading back home, and Namaan would still be leprous. So, they tried to reason with their master. “If the prophet had come out and made you swing a chicken over your head and then drink water upside down while you sang “Ave Maria,” would you have done it?” “Well, yes of course,” reasoned the soldier. Now that would be a proper ritual!

“Then, since we have come all this way, why wouldn’t you do the simple thing, trust the man of God, and simply wash as he asked in the Jordan river.”

You know, for some people, faith is too simple. Just trusting that Jesus died in your place for the forgiveness of sins is too easy. We need to do something. Self-flagellation or penance of some sort must be necessary. One hundred “Hail Mary’s” or skip chocolate for a month. I mean, I’ve been bad, but not as bad as that guy, we reason. But just believe? Just trust? It’s too easy! Just place my faith in the finished death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus? There’s got to be more. After all, there’s no such thing as a free lunch!

It’s true. The forgiveness of all our sins, which is more complicated than cleansing from leprosy, did cost more. It cost the life of the Son of God, who willingly gave it because of love, by dying on the cross. There’s nothing more you can do other than receiving this free gift.

When Namaan went into the muddy waters of the Jordan, he came out with skin as soft as a baby’s bottom. And when we come to Christ by faith alone in what he has done, trusting in Him, not our own works, our heart will emerge white as snow. It’s that simple.

Serving the Gospel Through Proper Research

/ Richard Bargas / 2 Comments

“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as those, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, handed them down to us, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in orderly sequence, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty about the things you have been taught.” (Luke 1:1–4, LSB)

In the era in which we live today, clicks and reactions are treasured much more highly than research and truth. This is somewhat understandable for news media outlets that have simply become another moneymaking commodity that is trying hard to overcome the seismic changes that have occurred over the last few decades in how people consume news and media. Although this shift has brought troubling results, my concerns for the Christian Church are in mind.

Whether it is the latest conspiracy theory regarding eschatological predictions, the backstory of a fallen pastor’s sordid sinful life, the latest tell-all blog post or book that reveals the dirty underbelly of evangelicalism, or the bashing of theological beliefs we disagree with using long disproven claims that only garner support from our tribe; all of these have the same root of using half-truths, distortion, innuendos, and sometimes outright lies and deception in the supposed pursuit of what is true, good, and beautiful.

This reality we face as Christians stands in stark contrast to the opening words of Luke’s Gospel. Luke begins his two-volume work by clearly stating that the words that follow were thoroughlyvetted to strengthen the faith of Theophilus and the Church and researched and combat the antagonism and unbelief of those who did not accept their testimony.

The research standards and resources that were present at the time that Luke compiled his account have changed, but ironically, with our expanded ability to do research and our vaunted claims to be more “scientific,” we often fail miserably to meet not only our own modern standards but the ancient standards as well.

Isn’t it interesting that the “throwaway” culture we live in has promoted a throwaway mentality about what we write and what we read/view? We scroll through news articles, comments, posts, and tweets, giving little attention to them because those who wrote them often gave little thought to writing them. And yet, we have all learned that the internet is “forever.” What we wrote on MySpace circa 2005 or on Facebook in 2015 (10 years ago, now!) can be resurrected and returned to haunt us! Those “hot takes” regarding whatever flitted across our minds can be embarrassing and maybe even condemning.

As we enter a new year, I pray that we all think more about what we post, tweet, blog, and record—especially if you claim to be a Christian. And let us always remember that we don’t need to speak to every event or controversy that occurs this year. May our focus on Christ be stronger and our commitment to Him be firmer this year, knowing that it is to Christ alone that we must all one day give an account—including for every word we have written, spoken, and posted.

Happy New Year!

Justified by Faith in Jesus Christ Alone

/ Richard Bargas / Leave a comment

“But God, being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:4–10, LSB)

In yesterday’s post, I contrasted the works-based religions of the world with the biblical gospel that says that Jesus Christ paid the full payment for sins on the cross and that this salvation is offered to sinful mankind by grace alone (sola gratia), and not based upon our merits. And since even our good works are tainted by our sin, we cannot hope to somehow earn salvation through our own righteousness. Paul called this whole predicament “dead in our trespasses and sins.”

Since we are dead in our sins and incapable of doing the good that God demands, God must act. In verses 4-7, Paul wrote that our salvation is given by the grace of God from beginning to end:

1. God is rich in mercy toward us. This is grace because we are sinners who don’t deserve God’s forgiveness!

2. God shows his great love to us by sending Christ to take our punishment for us. This too is grace since we are rebels against God, and we don’t want his love at first.

3. God shows us his great power by making us alive–first spiritually, and then one day he will resurrect us from the dead.

4. Finally, God demonstrates his massive generosity by seating us with Jesus Christ as royal children of the King. What grace! Remember that only a few short verses ago we were described as sons of disobedience, and then in verses 6-7 we are described as being seated with our King.

Verses 8-9 further drive this truth home. They say, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9, LSB). Faith in Jesus Christ alone is how we are saved. That message and the fact that it is offered to us is all of grace. Humanity did not deserve for God to send his son to earth to save us. We did not deserve Christ as our substitute on the bloody cross. We were not worthy, nor were we lovely and deserving. It was while we were yet sinners that Christ died for us. Salvation is God’s gracious gift. It is unearned and undeserved.

It is only after the Apostle Paul has laid out the gracious offer of the gospel that he introduces good works. Grace leads us to respond: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10, LSB).

In this verse, even good works are attributed to the Lord. He created them for us that we should walk in them. Even our good works are not truly our own. We must live in gratitude, but never with an attitude that we are gaining the favor of God by our works. We must be sure that our good works are meant to bring glory to our great God and Savior

What are the practical implications for the doctrine of Grace Alone?

  1. We must ensure that our gospel witness does not downplay the reality of sin in a person’s life.
  2. We must make sure that our gospel witness highlights the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
  3. We must make sure that our gospel witness clarifies that good works are the fruit of salvation and not the root of salvation.
  4. We must ensure that our own experience of the gospel leads us to worship and praise.