Controversial (and popular) preacher Mark Driscoll is in another, well controversy! While others (including me) have criticized him for his “potty” mouth in the past, he is one of us Reformed Theology guys and well sought after in speaking circles. So, it is created a stir when the following headline screamed forth from the Christian Post last week after Mark made a video (link here to story): Mark Driscoll: ‘Most Christians Stink at Evangelism’
So, “Is Mark Driscoll, the well known pastor/author/national conference speaker, correct? The answer is a resounding YES! The truth is Jesus gave us the Acts 1:8 challenge, just before He ascended into heaven and said: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth”.
Let’s look at what Jesus said for a second:
– “You shall have power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you”…the qualifier “when” specifically implies that ONLY when the Spirit of God confirms a person’s salvation by abiding in him/her, that the Power of God is placed inside EACH believer for the advancement of the Kingdom with “Dunamis” or dynamic power. This is the word from which we get “dynamite”!
– “You shall be My witnesses” ….the word for witness is the same word from which we get the English word Martyr! Witnesses in the original Greek is “martyres”. Jesus is not saying we are all going to be killed or imprisoned for our Faith in Christ, as our brothers and sisters are in islamic countries or China. What He is implying though, is we do have to die to ourselves and walk the Walk that He did, so others will want to follow Him.
– “…in Jerusalem, in all Judea….to the remotest part (or the ends) of the earth” This is the one Christians are having some big trouble with – so they ignore it! That’s it! The church and its pewsitters simply ignore theActs 1:8 challenge! Here the LORD, right before He goes back Home to Heaven, lays out the Evangelism Strategy for us before He returns for the Second and Last time.
