VALLEY OF DECISION

Find out what kind of Christian you are, based on the parable of the sower, and then decide what kind you want to be.

1. FESTIVAL CHRISTIANS 

These are like seed dropped by a sower on the roadside. They can be seen in abundance at Christmas and Easter times. They are like frogs that appear in abundance in the rainy season, make a lot of croaking noise singing Christmas carols, which are of no help since they are about reindeers and snow, whereas we live here under the hot sun. Other Christmas carols are lullabies, trying to put baby Yeshua to sleep. 

Our culture is normally lubricated with alcohol but during festivities, it is drenched. Christmas is now synonymous with excessive drinking, debauchery, slaughter on the highways, consumerism, gluttony and other criminal activities. In fact, a teetotal Christian feels positively disenfranchised and out of place during the festivities. Unfortunately, like the seeds on the roadside, which were eaten by the birds, they will also be devoured one day by vultures (Matt. 13:18-19). It is time we transformed all the festive seasons for missional purposes, just as Pentecost was used by the Holy Spirit to baptize 3,000 souls and to flock them in house Ekklesias.

2. WEEKLY CHRISTIANS

These are like the seed scattered on stony ground. They come to church in their best clothes to “feel good.” Many of them sing with gusto and even take part in church activities. It is amazing how many meetings, seminars and conferences “Regular Christians” attend, taking down copious notes and standing up to be prayed for and blessed in every revival meeting, without ever stepping out to bless those of other faith communities. They regularly pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth,” but then the rest of the week, they do nothing to bring the Kingdom wherever God has placed them. 

They live in their comfort zones, and when persecution comes, they rationalize and compromise (Matt. 13:20-21). Time should certainly not be wasted in traveling a long distance to a church, but rather spent in reaching one’s neighbors who are our primary responsibility. In the story of the Good Samaritan, Yeshua rejected the temple going-priest and Levite (Luke 10:31-37). Attending worship services is optional but saving souls and making them disciples is mandatory.

3. CHARISMATIC CHRISTIANS

These are like the seed sown among bushes. They pray for the sick, and they are healed. They bind the strongman and cast him out, but they do not baptize and disciple his captives into the kingdom, hence no lasting fruit accrues in their account. The Lord has clearly said, “He who gathers is with Me, but he who scatters is against Me” (Matt. 13:22; 12:28-30). There are many who will on that day claim, “Did we not cast out demons in your name; but He will simply say sorry, but I do not know you, depart from Me.” When we disregard the injunction about gathering the harvest and equipping them before scattering them, we do so at great peril to ourselves (Matt.7:20-23).

4. GREAT COMMISSION CHRISTIANS

These are the seed sown in good soil. They multiply their spiritual gifts and resources, producing a harvest of souls, some thirty-fold, sixty-fold, and even a hundred-fold harvest. More importantly, they equip and send their disciples out to reap an even bigger harvest (Matt. 13:23). The Lord is preparing a huge army of the Great Commissioners to disciple all nations, tongues and tribes, before the Apocalypse takes place. 

YOU HAVE AT LEAST THREE OPTIONS

1. Let Things Continue as they are

“Que sera, sera; what will be, will be.” This will not last long as young people are leaving the church in droves. Many enterprises that thought that the Japanese and Chinese could not compete with them are now wiped out. Even if things look fine now, your church is of no use to the Lord, unless new souls are being added. The mega shift out from the institutional church into organic Ekklesias is already underway. It is in your interest to join the bandwagon.

2. Dance to Two Tunes Simultaneously

When in the church on Sunday, behave religious; out in the world during the weekdays, behave worldly. Pass the weekly worship test with loud hallelujahs but fail the Monday test by suffering from dyslexia when it comes to sharing your faith. Whilst this will keep the Devil happy, anyone who has his feet in two boats will eventually fall, not into water but into fire. Sadly, many Christians fail the Saturday night alcohol test. Paul made the best use of Saturday night (first day of the Jewish week) while in Troas, breaking bread, teaching, and interacting all night, stopping only to apply CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation) on a young man Eutychus who got bored with Paul’s long sermon, dozed off and fell from the window of a three-story building (2Pet. 3:10-11; Acts 20:7-12).

3. Make A Paradigm Shift

Recognize that you are a two-legged, walking-talking temple of the living God, whose business is to catch two-legged fish every day, so that on the day of reckoning you will have lots of fish in your account. Whatever sentimental bonding you may have with a particular church, gently say goodbye and make a quiet exit. Whatever the cost, it is better to make a paradigm shift now in your personal and corporate life, for this will bring eternal consequences (Rev. 18:8, Phil. 4:17).

CHOSEN TO CHANGE THE WORLD

“You were chosen before the foundation of the world for good works, which God prepared beforehand for you to do” (Eph. 1:4; 2:10). When the call comes, all you must like Isaiah say, “Yes, Lord, here I am, send me” (Isa. 6:8). Being Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise, your personal goal is to be a blessing to your oikos (extended Household) (John15:16; Gal.3:29; Gen.12:3).

CONFFRONTATIONAL METHOD

Try Ray Comfort’s confrontational method (YouTube). Ask them, “Have you ever told lies?” The answer normally would be ‘yes’. Then ask, “Have you stolen anything?” The answer normally would be ‘yes’. Then you ask them, “Have ever looked at a woman with lust?” The answer normally would be ‘yes’. Then you say your punch line; so, you are a self-confessed lying thief and a fornicator. So, when you stand before the judgement seat what will the judgement be? Heaven or hell? Ask him which one. If he turns out to be an atheist and says he does not believe in God or the judgment. Then ask him, about the building that you are sitting and talking. You think this building came on its own or was there an intelligent being who built it. If there is car standing nearby, ask him if it just happened or an engineer designed it? He will have to agree that a designer built it. 

If he says he believes in the big bang theory, then tell him that all explosions prove destructive, never creative. Now ask him if this wonderful creation, could have just happened or you agree that there must be a super intelligent being who created it? Do not wait for an answer but be generous and offer him a solution. Tell him that the loving God sent Yeshua as a sinless Lamb to pay for the penalty of your sins. All you must do is to repent and acknowledge Him as your saviour. Do not exult thinking that you have won a debate. The objective is not to win a debate but to win a soul. So, invite him for further fellowship and discipling, lest all your efforts go waste.

“Preach the Word, be instant in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with patience and teaching. (2 Tim. 4:2)

Copyright © 2023 Dr.Victor Choudhrie

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