Jesus Would Never Say That

Jesus Would Never Say That

Ministry Update May 26, 2019

We had another blessed time witnessing downtown Friday night. Scotty McCreery was performing at the Gilloz Theatre and the weather was perfect, especially after all the recent storms. So there was good foot traffic and we had the usual mix of mockers and encouragers. But while I was bringing a message about condemnation and Jesus saying those who don’t believe will be damned a guy stopped to talk to Pastor Joshua and told him Jesus would never say that.

Jesus would never say that. We’ve heard phrases like this many times while out street witnessing. It would be funny if it weren’t so serious, but people frequently say “My God would never send anyone to Hell” or “Jesus loves everyone” or similar things like this. But sadly, they say this to us when we are quoting Scripture! These are the exact verses that I quoted Friday night: And he said unto them, Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned (Mark 16:15-16). Now I ask you, did Jesus say he that believes not shall be damned?

Those Who Believe Not Are Damned

That’s exactly how I read Mark 16:16. Pastor Joshua tried to tell the guy that Jesus did say this. Maybe the guy mistook what I was saying and maybe he thought I was saying Jesus said a curse word. Obviously, Jesus never cussed (He never sinned at all). But I merely repeated what Jesus said. Those who do not believe are damned. They are damned to eternal punishment. This truth is what compels us to share the Gospel with this lost and dying world. Sadly, when Pastor Joshua tried to talk to the man, he responded by saying something like: we could talk all night and not agree. We are not going to agree on who Jesus is to me.

Well young man, if who Jesus is to you is different from the Jesus in the Bible then you are correct, we are not going to agree with you. Jesus never went against Scripture. He didn’t come to abolish the Law; no, He came to fulfill it. Sadly, the young man walked away. Pastor Joshua started off with the first message of the night. While he did so, Kelly talked to a man sitting on a scooter that was near him. The man professed to be a Christian, but his words didn’t quite match up to a biblical Christian.

Wanting To Vomit

I was across the street handing out New Testaments when a couple refused one. The guy wasn’t a very good walk by mocker because I couldn’t quite hear what he said. But he mumbled something about wanting to vomit. How much do you have to hate God to say that you want to vomit merely because someone tries to hand you a New Testament? I wonder if he would have reacted the same way to a Muslim or a Buddhist? I dare say he probably wouldn’t.

While Conner preached, a couple of women walked by me. They thought handing out New Testaments was a good thing, but they weren’t too sure about how effective Conner preaching in the open would do. This always cracks me up when people say this. Didn’t Jesus say go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature? How can you say when someone is doing exactly what Jesus said to do, that somehow it’s wrong? Right after this, there was a guy in a station wagon that drove slowly by and kept giving a thumbs up while Conner preached.

Kelly Prayed With Flood Victims

About this same time, a family was about to get into their vehicle. A boy had already jumped in, but I offered New Testaments to a dad and his daughter. They both graciously took them, so I handed them another one for the boy too, which they took. Later they drove by and said thank you. During this time, Kelly prayed with Wynona and Micha, who are here in Springfield because they are flood victims from Miami, OK. Wynona walked past us later on and she thanked Kelly again for praying for them.

It turned out that Kelly, Pastor Joshua and Conner all talked to Kevin, the guy on the scooter. Conner finished talking to him and Kevin said that he didn’t believe in corporate worship. Conner explained that we are to gather with other believers. He invited Kevin to join him and Pastor Joshua at church this Sunday.

Three Mockers And One Encourager

While Kelly was preaching, three young women that were getting ready for the concert at the Gillioz Theatre and they were taking pictures of each other in front of the Sky Eleven apartment building across the street from us. At some point, they stopped doing that and started mocking Kelly. In fact, one of them even started recording him. Kelly brought their mocking into his message. After that a woman in a red blouse wearing a backpack listened to part of Kelly’s message. Then she walked up to him and quoted Romans 6:23. Kelly told her that he hopes she believes that verse to which she replied that she did.

Bicyclist and Skateboarder

After we finished with the messages, three of us were still standing around talking. A young woman rode by on a bicycle going pretty fast. I thought there’s no way she’s going to take a New Testament. She had a basket on her bicycle so for a split second I thought I think I can toss one in the basket. But instead, I held my arm out and to my surprise she screeched her brakes, stopped and took it. She thanked me. Kelly said I hope you are going to read that tonight. She replied that she was going to and then she said something about giving it to her mother. She thanked us as she rode off.

Shortly after that a guy rode by on a skateboard. He was listening to music and not paying attention to us, but I held out a New Testament anyway. I didn’t think he’d stop, but to my surprise he did. He looked at it and asked what is it. I told him a New Testament. He took it so before put the ear buds back in his ears, I asked him if he died tonight, would he go to Heaven or Hell? He said Heaven. So I asked him how you get there and he said we’ll know when we die. I told him we have to repent and trust Jesus, to which he replied, “I go to church.” I told him church won’t save you, please read the Bible. He shook his head yes and took off.

Complete Silence

My wife and I witnessed at Planned Parenthood during the lunch hour on Wednesday. One car honked in support of is, but other than that, there was complete silence. There were six cars at Planned Parenthood. I read Genesis 1 and 2 and brought a message about how God is the giver and sustainer of life. God breathes life into us. Killing little babies in the womb is an abomination to the Lord and it is the greatest sin of our nation. One woman went in and two came out while we were there. I pleaded with them to not kill the baby if they were there for an abortion. I also pleaded with them to go to the Pregnancy Care Center and get an ultrasound; to see and hear the little baby. But not a single woman would stop and talk. None of them said a word.

(These updates are given to encourage Christians to share the Gospel with others)