The minister is supposed to train the saints to make disciples. Getting people "saved" is a small portion. The charade of getting people "saved" is not fulfilling the great commission. Paul spent more time mentoring than evangelizing.
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A religious spirit allows people to tolerate hatred and anger under the guise of passion and holiness. Bill Johnson
Legalism has no pity on people. Legalism makes my opinion your burden, makes opinion your boundary, makes my opinion your obligation-Lucado
Some get spiritual because they see the light. Others because they feel the heat.Ray Wylie Hubbard
Definition of legalism- Damned if you do. Damned if you don't. TV
I have really enjoyed the responses..thanks so much for the input. I know i tend to be very hard on myself anyway...just my nature, it is so easy for me to look in the mirror and pick out every flaw and failed attempt - not throwing a pitty party, just saying that my desire is to be the absolute best I possibly can be...and I have soooo far to go, that at times it seems a hill to high for me to climb.
I believe we should work...and yes with the motivation of love and out of relationship to Christ and humanity, but nevertheless, work. Having said that, I can't help but think that there is a fine line between that and the fear based works mentality that I have been entrenched in for so many years that leaves me with the mentality that I will never do enough, or be enough to ever hope to be saved.
Although inviting someone to church isn't a bad idea. Studies show that less than 2% of church members invite anyone to church within a given year. Studies also show a high percentage of people would say yes to an invitation to church especially if a family member or friend. You can't save a soul, but inviting them to come and experience heartfelt worship, to hear the preaching of the Word and to be treated with love and acceptance by the Body of Christ certainly could be used of God to draw people to salvation.
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When a newspaper posed the question, "What's Wrong with the World?" G. K. Chesterton reputedly wrote a brief letter in response: "Dear Sirs: I am. Sincerely Yours, G. K. Chesterton." That is the attitude of someone who has grasped the message of Jesus.
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