A CALL TO ACTION!
by Martin Gehlen Johnson
Years ago, I was highly critical of some of the so-called “Jesus people” who would run up and down the
streets and hand out small pieces of paper with Bible passages on them. I felt that this wasn’t only an
undignified way to spread God’s Word – as many of the passages landed up crumpled in the street; but I also felt that such action was silly, irrelevant, and a complete waste of time. At the time, I was one of the many “soldiers” of Christ who felt perfectly comfortable being on a self-imposed lifetime of “R & R” (that’s militar-eeze for Rest and Relaxation). After all, my pastor was well trained and well paid to spread the Gospel. Let him do it. I had other things to do.
One day while I was complaining about the “Jesus people’s” method of witnessing, a friend of mine cut me off short. He related how an acquaintance of his had been brought to Christ by such a small Bible tract that was handed to him by one of these self-styled evangelists. This fellow was at a very low point in his life. If the Bible tract had come one day earlier, it probably would not of had any meaning for this individual. If it come an hour or two later, he may not have been alive to have received it! The Bible tract was just the right message coming at just the right time to just the right person! Coincidence? No way!
So, like mustard seeds, most of these tracts fell on barren ground; but some did take root! Therefore, I was wrong in criticizing these people. They were at least doing something whereas I calmly sat back doing nothing. My friend’s relating of this incident helped me to realize just how smug and arrogant I had become. It forced me to get off my seat and to start speaking and writing about Jesus. In this way, I too owe a debt of gratitude to those simple, unpretentious people with their small pieces of paper filled with such powerful, life-giving Words!
Therefore, we should not hesitate to bear witness to the Good News that Jesus Christ has died for our sins! Some of us may feel inadequately trained or too introverted to be effective; but God has given each and every one of us a gift, a talent that we can use to help spread the Gospel message. It is up to each one of us individually to find that talent and to make full use of it to the glory of God! There are many, many ways in which we can all contribute. Our fellow Christians want and need the help of each and every one of us! We are all soldiers in Christ’s army. Please, don’t spend the rest of your life on “R & R”!
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Copyright 1994 Martin Gehlen Johnson
(Other publication by the author: PILATE’S QUESTION)