When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
This is my blogchalk:
United States, Missouri, St Louis, English, Dutch, Paul, Male, 31-35, Science Fiction, Java Programming.
Part 2
Why do I object to the phrase "saving souls"? Simply, it puts the focus on the wrong thing. Jesus called us to be "disciple makers" not "soul winners". Counting professions of faith is a finite and singular exercise. It demands of us nothing more than to preach the gospel and then ignore the converts.
In short, a focus on "soul winning" alone causes the fruit of our endeavours to wither on the vine. Believers who sit week after week hearing the same messages wont grow and mature.
Healthy churches focus on Jesus saving lives. Saving a life requires, at it's very outset, faith in the saving work of Jesus Himself. He came that we might live life to the utmost, in relationship with Him. We are called to disciple new believers and to teach them how to walk with God and be fruitful themselves.
Instead of focussing on the moment of salvation, we should focus our efforts on a lifetime of service in the body of Christ here on Earth. Saving "souls" dehumanizes the process, and demeans the individual, reducing them to nothing more than a statistic. Saving lives recognizes the individual's worth to God - as expressed by the cost paid by Jesus Himself - and tries to be a good steward of the lives entrusted to our care.
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