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frog
Registered Member

Date Joined May 2003
Total Posts : 10

Posted 9/20/2003 8:34 PM (GMT -6)

Hi!

What do you make of the mystery of people resisting the gospel? Why is the resistance so different in different parts of the world?

Many answers I've read explains this in sociological terms but that feels unsatisfactory from a theological perspective.

Theology from the revivals in South America makes the point that people are blinded by the Devil and that it is the church's responsibility to liberate them so that they can see. That is done through spiritual warfare prayer. In their minds that explains the success on their continent.

What do you all think?

Frog

Triskal
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 198

Posted 9/21/2003 8:52 PM (GMT -6)

Good questions. This would be a nice topic to discuss at length. I believe one of the main problems with evangelism in America is that it's presented wrong. The first priority for most evangelists is to "change" people to fit a certain mold that they hold up in their mind as "Christ-like." This usually means explaining lists of rules that people are to follow in order to live a fulfilled spiritual life. I think most Americans detest rules to a certain extent. When they think of Christianity, they are reminded of those rules, therefore resist it.

Point the finger at whoever you want, but I believe most churches--regardless of denomination--paint this picture with broad strokes. Many of the churches I grew up in were very conservative baptist churches that had all the rules posted up for everyone to see. I can't remember how many times I was yelled at for wearing my hat in church as a kid. One time a pastor's wife told me that if I didn't take my hat off, God was going to come down and tear it off my head. Another time she told me that if I didn't close my eyes during prayer, Satan would poke them out with a stick. Give or take, I think those kind of experiences and memories are what keep people away from church and away from Christianity in general.

In His Grip,
- Matt -

"In Him we live and move and have our being" - Acts 17:28

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Edmund Burke

might-be-don
Registered Member

Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 830

Posted 9/22/2003 5:48 AM (GMT -6)

Very little good news in the message we bring, "your going to hell" .

How about some real good news, "God was in Christ reconciling Himself to the world".

peace, don

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