No Scripture Citations Needed
No scripture citations in this article. No scripture citations needed. The scripture references we could cite are all well known by Christians. Like the farmer who refused to buy a book on farming because he already knew how, just wasn't doing it; so are we. I speak of what we fondly call "personal work." We could call it concern for the lost or enumerate it among the works His disciples are expected to perform. There is no argument in the brotherhood regarding how to label it. Furthermore, most everyone will agree that telling others about the Gospel is required of a saint. It's not because of a lack of unanimity among us or because of uncertainty as to its necessity. Why don't we, then, tell others of Christ?
Is it because the plan of salvation is too complicated, too complex for us to grasp and thereby be qualified to expound to others? Hardly, else we would be hypocrites due to our steadfastly maintaining that there is a simplicity inherent in His message that even the unwise of this world can understand.
Is it because our hours are so filled with the pursuits of this life that we "just don't have time" to speak to others in a spiritual vein? Really, now, how much time does it take to say: "We're having a gospel meeting at the church building; I'd like you to come:" Can we spare a few seconds? How many times have we said "amen!" when the preacher stated that "anyone too busy to serve the Lord is just too busy?" It's been proven too many times that we can do what we want to do. The graveyard bears mute testimony to the fact that many things which we consider all-important can be left undone.
Is it because opportunities are not presented to us? No. Very seldom does a day go by that some person in a lost condition doesn't make some comment in reference to things religious or to God (even if in a very general way such as "Mother Nature") that we could capitalize on. Couldn't we make it possible for a conversation on matters Divine to proceed from his remarking on the beauty of the day, even? Couldn't we make our own opportunities by leading the thoughts of others from the general to the specific? For example, couldn't we ourselves remark on the beauty of the day and then, using that thought as a starting point, go on into a discussion of heavenly subjects? We need not lack for opportunities, they are abundant. At the same time we must create opportunities in addition to taking advantage of those that occur naturally.
Is it because people are just not interested in life after death, not concerned about salvation? We know this isn't so. Millions are interested but theirs is a smoldering interest; we have the power to provide the spark that will cause that interest to burst into flame. But there first must be a will; we can't if we won't. Maybe we're the ones who are not interested.
Is it because we are afraid of being repudiated, ridiculed, scorned? The early followers were subjected to all of these unpleasantries plus having their lives and limbs placed in jeopardy. Yet they continued to preach and to teach and to convert. We stand condemned today and without excuse on account of our lethargy and inactivity in a society that not only permits but encourages and admires religious activity and zeal.
Brethren, when every point and question having to bear on this problem is thoroughly analyzed, we are left with the reason why we don't seek to save others. It is because we don't believe that those without Christ will be lost for eternity, without God, in a place of endless punishment; we don't believe that they will be consigned to Hell for rejecting the Son of man, If we did believe it, we'd suffer repudiation and derision; we would make our own opportunities; we would find time; we would drop all of the worn-out excuses that the Lord must have gotten tired of a long time ago. Our waking moments would be filled with concern for the plight and destiny of those who know not God.
No scripture citation in this article. No scripture citation needed. We show in our lives and in our actions that we don't believe it, anyway.
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