Spring is here, and with it comes baseball season. With three grandsons who are excellent athletes and all play on different teams throughout the summer, and now Roman playing his first year of High School baseball, there are sure to be many exciting baseball games.
Tracy and I are also Minnesota Twins fans, and we try to get to a couple games at Target Field each year. We live in a rural township about 45 minutes (depending on traffic) from downtown Minneapolis. We typically avoid the inner city unless necessary. A Twins game a couple times a year is not really necessary, but it’s getting close, lol!
One particular Twins game often stands out in my mind. It was a few years ago, and to be honest I don’t even remember who the Twins were playing that day, or if they even won the game. I don’t remember any big plays, home runs, or even if we had decent stadium seats. Why? Let me explain.
On the day of this particular Twins game, we had decided to drive the short distance into Coon Rapids and take the Northstar Commuter Rail, which at that time connected North Minneapolis (Target Field Station) to the northwestern suburbs. It was a very convenient drop off right near one of the entry gates to the game. We arrived early to enjoy the pre-game warmups etc. In fact, our arrival was just prior to the gates opening. There were fans donning their favorite Twins jersey’s flocking towards the stadium gate from all directions. The excitement was building and it’s always a very amped-up fun environment, especially if you like the game of baseball. For me, I’ve been a Twins fan since I was a boy growing up in North Dakota. However, I was never fortunate enough to attend an actual game in person until several years after Tracy and I were married.
I suspect there were many young kids and families who perhaps were coming to their first Twins game that day. It’s always fun to see the fun smiling faces and hear the excitement in the air as everyone is gathering together into an amazing stadium to watch their favorite Major League Baseball (MLB) team. But on this particular day, as we stepped off the light-rail train, amongst all the hustle and bustle and excited voices of fellow fans heading towards the stadium gate, there was someone who caught my attention. In fact, he was catching everyone’s attention. As you may know, there are often a lot of “street people” around stadium events like this. Some are shouting out “tickets for sale!” Others panhandling baseball collectables, a man playing drums on plastic buckets, etc. But there was one man who was dominating all other distractors. This guy was shouting from a megaphone and had huge signs attached to the front and back of his body which extended from his shoulders to knees. His written message was the same as the words he was shouting.
What was he shouting and what did his signs say? “Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways for ye shall die and live in everlasting torment…repent now…turn from your wicked ways while there is still time…God’s judgement is coming…repent now…repent!” His message did not change, he repeated it continually over and over again.
Everyone coming from all directions was clearly and intentionally avoiding even coming near to this guy. He was obviously being effective in changing the atmosphere. You could see the scowling faces, the whispering, the quick steps to change direction and get as far away from him as possible.
Now I know there are some who may be thinking right now something like, “Good for this guy, somebody has got to be bold to speak out. He is doing all that he can to keep people from the eternal fires of Hell. But I gotta tell you, this whole scene left a huge rock in my gut. I could not shake it. I did not enjoy the game; in fact, I don’t remember a single thing from the actual game. But I do remember—very well—the scene that I experienced coming into the stadium that day.
Why did it bother me so much…even to this very day? I see this man as being clearly out of context to what the Bible teaches as a reflection of Jesus. In fact, when I sat down in the stadium, I wrote down a note in my phone to remind myself what his sign read. I should have taken a picture of him, but I remembered this man had taken the time to write (in big letters) KJV at the bottom of his signs, which explained the King James language that he was “trying to quote.” But he also had made it look like his message was an actual quote taken from scripture—which it was not.
Regardless of his misquote, the man clearly was not representing Jesus in the way that Jesus taught. In fact, I would go as far to say that he was NOT representing Jesus at all, but rather was being used by the enemy to turn people away from Jesus. This is what bothers me more than anything. Shouting “turn or burn” to people on a street corner only makes you and Christianity look like everything to run away from (as people were on that day). It only shows another fanatical rule following religion.
Perhaps right now some of you are thinking, “You are way off the mark…it’s reality and people need to hear the truth…somebody has to speak it out, otherwise people will never know. Besides, even Jesus even got angry once as he flipped over tables in the Temple. We have to tell people the hard truth about sin, hell, and eternal damnation.”
I would agree that Jesus talked about hell…actually more than anyone else in the Bible. He spoke very clearly of sin and took holiness seriously. However, this was not His message or approach in ministering to people. To religious leaders of the day, yes; but not when he was ministering to others. People were drawn to Him by His sincere love and compassion.
Read through the gospels. Take head to the letters in red (if you have such a Bible). Jesus tells us very clearly how we are to live our lives and to represent Him to a lost and dying world. Jesus, very overwhelmingly ministered by showing love. Love was the message he wanted to convey. Oh, I know and have heard it many times…” You can’t just love people…you have to level out the love by telling the whole truth.” Can I tell you, that nothing is more truthful than the love of God. Nothing is more powerful. In fact, God Himself describes himself and wants us to know that HE IS LOVE. We don’t have to even out the message every time we speak of God’s love or His grace for that matter. Some people are so afraid to talk about God’s grace without thinking they need to level it out somehow. Don’t diminish Gods love. Sure, some people do take grace for granted. But that should never inhibit us from accurately re-presenting Jesus as Gods gift of love to mankind.
Everywhere Jesus went he displayed love. He healed, he delivered, he cared and showed compassion. Yes, he also said “Go and sin no more,” but first he healed. Even until His last breath when He cried, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” Jesus displayed love. People were attracted to Jesus because of His love and compassion. He wasn’t running around with a bull horn calling people evil and trying to scare them out of hell and into heaven.
Ponder this passage of scripture for a moment:
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, avoid quarreling, be gentle, and show perfect courtesy. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, and slaves to various passions. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us according to his mercy, by the washing of regeneration through the Holy Spirit, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs to eternal life. Insist on these things, so that those who believe may devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. Avoid foolish controversies, for they are unprofitable. Titus 3:1-9 ESV
Jesus said: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
“But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you”. Luke 6:27-28
When asked for the most important law, Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’”. Matt 22:37-39
The message I am writing today isn’t meant to criticize or to try to find fault in any particular individual or Christian denomination. Gods’ judgment is real, Hell is real, and eternal separation from God is something nobody in their right mind would want to experience. There are times in certain conversations where the reality of facing eternal separation from God may be appropriate. After all, when we say someone “got saved,” eternal separation from God is what they are saved from.
However, if this is the primary means of “ministering” to people and representing Jesus to them, we’ve got it all wrong. Fear-based motivation (avoiding hell) will not change people’s hearts. Most of those who respond are merely looking for fire insurance. Others have developed an incorrect image of God as being one who demands submission rather than a loving relationship.
On the other hand, it’s a glorious thing whenever someone turns their heart and life over to God because they understand Gods love for them and are willing to put their trust in Him. I have literally witnessed people running to the alter—in tears—because they were gripped with the loving presence of God. This stands in sharp contrast to the presence felt in front of the Twins Stadium that day where people were running away from the dude with the megaphone. It’s no wonder why so many people get the wrong impression of Christianity.
The message of the gospel as found in the Bible (particularly first-hand accounts of the life of Jesus as found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John) is one of love, grace, and forgiveness. That is the message of the cross. No, it does not advocate sin or ignore Hell; it teaches us to be image bearers of Jesus who demonstrated love, grace, and forgiveness to a lost and dying world. Lets work together to re-present Jesus today.
Blessed by the Best,
Mark
See You in the River 