A Drunk DriverThe joviality now increases in the relating of a story of a lady who was driving about as if drunk. "She was stopped by police, and she got out of the car. And the policeman said, 'Madam, I have reason to believe that you're completely drunk.' She said, 'Yes. You're right! [even more laughter and applause] So he said, 'Well, I need to breathalyse you.' So he got out his little bag and as she started to blow into it she just fell to the ground laughing, [more laughter] At which point the policeman fell too! [Even more intensity of laughter and hilarity! With applause] And the power of God fell on him as he and she were rolling on the freeway [laughter] under the power of God. And he said, 'Lady I don't know what you've got, but I need it. He came to church the next week [hilarious laughter and applause, 7 sec.] and he found Jesus. He got saved." We all rejoice in true conversion, but one would have to question such claims of conversion, and ask, 'On what basis?' There are too many superficial conversions —psychological conversions, which seem so real and convincing to the person themselves, but which are not based on the true exposition of the Gospel of Grace, not on the supreme atoning work of Christ at Calvary. We have lived in days of 'easy conversion', and we are reaping the consequences in a devastating and tragic way. There is much man-centred evangelism, proclaiming that if you want all your problems solved, come to Jesus—He will make you feel better. Such evangelism fails to produce (1) a deep reverence for the God of the Bible, (2) a true conviction of sin and utter worthlessness before a holy God, (3) a deep sense repentance and humility, (4) a real spirit of worship, i.e. reverence and respect for God, and (5) a proper love and concern for the church. Because it is man-centred, it fails to make man God-centred in his thoughts and God-fearing in his heart. The God-centred message of the Gospel is essentially the proclamation of a God who is sovereign in mercy and judgement, sovereign in creation and redemption—the mighty Lord on whom man depends for all good, both in nature and grace. It is a message that centres wholly on God and His way with man. The subject of a man-centred message is man and the things God does for him, or the help God gives him. God-centred conversion is not a mere decision, but God laying hold of man in a sovereign way, so that He sees the love of God as something that he does not deserve. These people are treating God as a convenience, who will do for them, whatever they wish, whenever they wish, regardless of who He is.
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Copyright © 2002 Homerton Baptist Church. |
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