Our tendency is to use human ingenuity to “help” God save those we love. We even go so far as to try and soften the blow by modifying the Word of Truth. This has the opposite effect, proving harmful to the very person we are trying to evangelize.
The very best thing we can ever do for an unbeliever is to give them the unadulterated Truth; for, according to the Word of Truth, itself, it is Truth that cuts to the chase (Hebrews 4:12) and sets a person free (John 8:32).
“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’
But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’
But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’
But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’
But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
- Luke 16:19-31
Jesus told this story so that we could understand that even a resurrected person’s testimony would pale in comparison to the power of the Word of God in evangelism! Always remember that it’s not the person who delivers the message, it’s the content of the message being sent that counts. Our affections for those we love often tend to cloud our judgment.
Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:8
A person who rejects the Word of God is acting quite naturally.
But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
- 1 Corinthians 2:9-14
Ultimately, God is the one who saves. No matter how hard we may try to evangelize someone, if it’s not God’s will to save them because they reject His salvific plan, they won’t be saved. So, we need to throw out our bag of tricks, so to speak. We need to stop trying to “help” God by making His Word more palatable to unbelievers. The truth will always be offensive to the human flesh – if it isn’t, you are either presenting it wrongly or your audience is purposely not hearing you.
The Bible is full of warnings against both adding to and subtracting from the Word of God.
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
- Revelation 22:17-21
You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.
- Deuteronomy 4:2
“When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.’
You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the LORD hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods. Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.”
You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the LORD hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods. Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.”
- Deuteronomy 12:29-32
Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
- Proverbs 30:5-6
There’s a very good reason that the Lord has given us as to why we should neither add to nor subtract from His Word. Obviously, since He has commanded it, we ought to obey. But, in the context of this blog, the primary reason is that the Word has the power to change a person. The Bible never says that a person will repent as a result of hearing a falsehood, or even the pleading of a loved one. A person repents when stricken to the core by truth! In fact, if you really love someone, the greatest gift you could ever give them is God’s Word. How they receive it is between them and the Lord – it’s out of your hands at that point (as it should be).
“Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the LORD all the words that I command you to speak to them;
do not hold back a word. It may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may relent of the disaster that I intend to do to them because of their evil deeds.
You shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you, and to listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently, though you have not listened, then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.’”
- Jeremiah 26:2-6
Do your loved ones a big favor and don’t allow your affections for them to thwart God’s. It is critical that you give unbelievers the truth, starting with the fact that they are born depraved and in need of a Savior, regardless of how “good” of a person they consider themselves to be. If they reject you, do not be discouraged. In that moment, they have already decided to reject the sovereign God of the Universe. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s true and we all need to orient to the truth, not just those we wish to evangelize.
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins
