On the way down to Florida, I noticed a billboard that said simply,
“A fool says in his heart that there is no God.” Psalm 14:1.
When I first saw that I said, “Well that is nice someone is standing on their conviction and willing to put it out there for all to see.” Then I saw a second identical sign and I noticed that no one took credit for the sign. Then I saw a third and a fourth sign just like the first. And I began to wonder to what purpose is someone or some group putting that message out on billboards? It wasn’t to attract anyone to a particular church because no one took credit. Then I thought how would an atheist or agnostic react to that message? I know what my first reaction is when someone calls me a fool. I get angry. Of course being a Christian, the Spirit generally corrects that feeling and I get over it. But a person without God doesn’t have the Spirit guiding them. I am positive that those billboards have never caused an unbeliever to say, “You know that is right I need to change my ways!” Now maybe someone that is searching but that person is not saying in their heart “There is no God.” But I even doubt that has had a lot of effect. The reason I am writing this is that it makes me wonder how often our haughty attitude to those we think are sinners or not believers actually drives them further away from God.
Paul writes to the Corinthians in his second letter to that church,
that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:19) Which means that God has assigned us the task of representing him to those who do not know him? He continues in the next verse: We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
An ambassador is someone who reaches out to a group of people on behalf of a group or an individual to put forth a good impression on their behalf. Which means we are supposed to represent God and Christ to those who do not know him. So what kind of God do you represent? An angry God who is just itching to condemn people and send them to hell? Or do you represent a God who gave his Son that anyone who seeks him might find acceptance. A God who died for your sins even though you did not deserve it. I do not know about you but I believe that God is the latter because I believe that is what the Bible teaches and the God I have experienced in my life. Yes Psalm 14 is correct. It is right theology. But it is not good evangelism or witnessing.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
