As a father who raised two adventurous boys, and lived through their teen
years to tell about it, I learned a secret, which really isn’t a secret if
someone told me, and now I’m telling you. So simple you may have overlooked it,
and even applicable today in non-child raising applications. Ready? One word
answers. That’s it. “Can I go?” “No.” Not, “you cannot go because we don’t
have the money,” or “no you cannot go because you’re grounded,” just no. A
simple one word answer. Which today may save a lot of stress between
relationships, if applied properly. For example, have you ever noticed how
people avoid one word answers to yes or no questions? See, instead of saying
yes, or no, you began to cite an example. Did you just do that? Yes or
no....not well could you repeat the question, or that I didn’t understand the
answer. You just proved a point...either way.
But the converse to the rule is when asking a question for a detailed
answer. “Is that a new bike, where did you buy it?” Answer, “yes.” Why do we
get confused when it comes time to answer? Are we trying to hide something, or
are we just not comfortable, since we hear lies so many times anymore? Yes or
no answer. With possibility of choosing either or or. My kids still found ways
to argue even with one word answers, “but why?” is not a yes or no. Simple
solution, if you engage in an argument, you already lost. They got you, and in
terms of beliefs, wrong doctrine, sin, or false doctrine will wear you down long
before you can change them. Many Christmas parties ago a man and his family
came and he started in some doctrinal issues. He picked on a weaker one, they
somehow know, and frustrated him and his belief. When I was asked to comment, I
confronted him, telling him all he wanted to do was start and argument, and he
was not welcome any more. Harsh words, but no argument. Funny, how his wife
the told him “see I told you not to do that, it always causes trouble.” And
gone he was...
In 2 John we read a short letter warning a church about false teachers, and
how they invade and cause problems within the body. He advises “don’t even say
God bless you,” or let them into your house. If you say God bless you, you
acknowledge their god, who isn’t the only true God of the Bible. And they are
coached in how to twist scripture for their own use. So no engagement, no
argument. Get it? That’s a yes or no answer. For example...
Some ladies used to make things for the elderly in nursing homes, a true
ministry, and gave them away. Meeting each week, they fellowshipped, made the
items, and were blessed. Until one time some Mormon women arrived, wanting to
participate. The pastor thought it a chance to evangelize them, but they all
agreed to not share or talk about doctrines. Seems the evil had arrived and
taken over. Soon the group was mostly Mormon women, who had infiltrated the
Christian setting, and the women started to leave. The Mormons had been
successful, the pastor wrong, and the free items then were sold to the needy
instead of given freely. Net result, no more ministry, and when tried again,
the church reminded them of how it failed last time. The church failed,
scripture didn’t, and evil won out. Seems old John knew of what he was talking
about.
So God made it easy to become a Christian. Do you acknowledge Jesus as
deity? Do you believe he died for your sins? Will you repent and acknowledge
him as your savior? And when true to the spirit, you are saved. Notice all
questions require a yes or no answer. No diatribe or theological discourse.
God tells you “let your yes be yes and no be no.” He mad the gospel simple so
we can get, free so we can afford it. Not multiple choice.
So are you sure you are going to heaven? No time to philosophize now.
Either you are saved or you aren’t, no maybes in heaven, those who didn’t
decide did so by not saying yes. Only God gives us the right to say no, and to
say yes. Based on love and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Maybe an interview on
TBN years ago explains it best. A man radically saved from cancer was being
interviewed. He was being pressed to tell if TBN influenced his miracle, what
scripture, what teacher, what show saved him? His answer was simple, “all I
know is Jesus.” By his answer he admitted he knew it all. For no man or
teacher can do what Jesus does, heal and save. Finally after many attempts at
getting another answer, they moved on. Was this show selling Jesus or
themselves? Only in the spirit do you know, the answer is them first, then
Jesus. But those who truly know Jesus and not entangled in religion get it. Do
you?
Or you can be like I did once. Below the test page was a line that said
“do not write below this line?” So I asked why? And I am still waiting for an
answer. Still don’t know Jesus? Here’s your chance. You have just heard the
gospel, do you see him as God? A simple yes or no will do....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com