4.12.2005 | Why share the gospel?

For those of us who might be called tulipheads, the question of the great commission sneaks in. Well, if you're really a Calvinist, it won't matter, will it, if you preach the Gospel to the unbelievers. Why even bother? A person is either saved by God's free grace, or not. Nothing we can do about it, is there?

This is, on the surface, an impossible question. On the surface. After all, one might think, if we're considering limited atonement, then the person you're preaching the Gospel to is either saved already, or won't be. Who am I, or you, to attempt to sway God's predestined choice of the elect?

My answer is that this is the wrong question. We are not attempting to change God's mind; that's impossible. God doesn't "change His mind" the way we mortals do. He reveals tiny, tiny portions of His infinite mind to us; we may preceive that He's changed His mind, but that's just on us. Not Him.

The real question is, "is my preaching the good news to unbelievers part of God's plan?" So, at the risk of oversimplification, my answer to this is "yes, oh very yes." I will assume that God wants me to spread the word about the Word as best I'm able. I must assume that this is part of who we are, and those to whom Christ has been revealed as savior are obligated to share Him.

Could I be wrong? Of course. The worst that happens? I'll really annoy some folks who, for God's reasons, just simply can not tune in to the messsage. The best that could happen? I might, just might, be helping to fulfill God's plan for His elect.

| technorati tag | Christianity|