levels of openness and varying responses when sharing the Go
Sat, 07/12/2008 - 09:53
Among the disconcerting aspects of witnessing is the range of responses to the Gospel. There will be those who are closed to the Gospel. Others will be indifferent to the claims of Christ. Some will be spiritually stagnant, they will have heard the message without allowing it to impact their lives. And still others will be open to the claims of Christ. This is the understanding we receive from Jesus' parable of the sower Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23, Mark 4:3-9, 13-20, Luke 8:5-8, 11-15. The parable illustrates and explains four types of seed. Some fell on the road, some on rocky soil, some among thorns and some on good soil. We see how the seed of the Gospel can have varying levels of openness in different types of people.
In my own experience, there are generally 2 types of responses to the Gospel among people in the sex industry....some are either very hostile, hating all forms of religion, while others are open to it. Much of this has to do with their own past experiences.
I do know that many sex industry workers were raised in the church, myself included. When I had reached the end of my rope, I basically turned to God, because I knew from past experience that he is good, loving, gracious, and forgiving. That's what I had been taught, and what I had personally experienced. I also knew that if I didn't experience some sort of radical change in my life, that I probably wouldn't live much longer. I definitely couldn't live with myself the way that I was....I absolutely loathed myself, but even so, I desperately wanted to be loved.
The people in the sex industry are in desperate need of healing....every single one of them. This is the thing that they all have in common, and the beautiful thing is, this is exactly what the Lord offers. Some are more receptive to it than others, and some are downright hostile.
Ministering to people in the sex industry is so much different than ministering to people outside of it. A few months ago, I was involved in an evangelism ministry at my church, where we'd go door to door and share the Gospel. When asked if they thought that they would go to Heaven when they died, most of the people that I encountered basically felt that they would get into Heaven, even without Christ, because they lived moral and decent lives.
This is a far cry from the people that I encounter in the sex industry. When I was making porn, I knew that I would not go to Heaven if I were to die, just because I was completely aware of my sinful condition. Even when I wasn't in the industry, but I was still so far away from God that I couldn't even see straight, I still knew that. I just didn't care, because I was so miserable that I figured Hell couldn't be much worse. There was also a small part of me that held out hope that God would be merciful to me if I died.
I really think that, more than anything, people in the industry [u]need[/u] the message to be one of hope. We need to present the Gospel in such a manner that they see that it is a message of love and grace......one that can meet their deepest and most desperate needs. The message should primarily be one of love and healing.
For those who think that they are "doing okay," the Gospel message needs to be one of conviction....[i]piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart[/i]. They bascially need to be confronted with the truth of their own sinful nature, and that they will not enter Heaven because they are separated from God.
Most people in the sex industry already [b]know[/b] they are separated from God, but just don't care. We need to confront them with the fact that God loves them, and wants to heal them and love on them.
This was so good, I agree with you 100% Beloved Branch!
Yes, I agree. It is right on.