On a mission from God (part 1) Responsibility

I have been reading a book called “The post-evangelical”. Scattered throughout the text of the book is running commentary from a number of other people responding to what the author is asserting. It is brilliant in demonstrating how a post modern society would take in information.

When the author was talking about truth and whether it is relative or absolute, one of the commentators who has not looked very agreeable to the concepts put out by the author, made this statement.

"I wonder if post-evangelicals are willing to concede that not everyone is called to wallow in the ambiguities of provisional truth. Evangelicals hold some truths with deep certainty and believe this certainty-faith- may even be a gift of God. Post-evangelicals may lack certainty as a divine reminder that the kingdom of heaven has not yet arrived and that our lives and theology are provisional until Christ comes again. But we need evangelicals to speak God's truth confidently in order to buoy up many people who would otherwise lead listless lives." Dave Tomlinson "The post evangelical" Zondervan Grand Rapids, MI. 2003 p.93 comment by Mark Galli

What struck me about that statement more than others he made was the implication that others were responsible to make sure your life didn’t blow. It is the responsibility of the “faithful” to prop up the “listless and give them a reason to live?

I know the Bible talks about being your brother’s keeper, but where is the responsibility of the person? Dr. Phil in his book “Life strategies” makes the point that we do what works. I read a blog of a friend of mine who has finally decided that the life of drinking and partying hasn’t satisfied her, so she is making her way back to God.

Why be concerned about someone being listless. If it is working for them, they are not going to make great “converts”. When they get tired of their life and want something different they will go looking for something better.

In the faith practice I grew up in, we were made to feel guilty about not going out and “saving the lost”. But what if the lost don't want to be saved? What then? I have experienced in some evangelical circles that I'm not trying hard enough.

Maybe we don't need to try at all, but simply tell our story of what God has done in my life and where my life is and let them decide what they want.