He didn’t know God cared about him as a person; he just seemed to care whether he was a good person or a bad person. Kinda like Santa.
He didn’t know God cared about him as a person; he just seemed to care whether he was a good person or a bad person. Kinda like Santa.
Very good. I think one mistake we sometimes make is to blame this on the churches. Sometimes it is the churches’ fault, but as often as not, the message is there and clearly stated, but the people don’t have “ears to hear” until the moment the Spirit enlightens them. It’s like the sower and the seed. Sometimes it germinates, sometimes not. Why here and not there can be a mystery.
I know a couple guys who grew up in the same church I did, at the same time. I heard it; they didn’t.
Yes, I’ve wondered about a church’s overall culture in cases like that. How has the gospel and God’s grace been described and shown outside the pulpit by regular members? That’s probably where most people get it or lose it.