The Gospel Doesn’t Need Our “Tricks”

The church has fallen into times of presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ in ways that have attempted to “trick” people into believing it…or at least making it look like they believe it.  The temptation to produce “numbers” of salvations during Bible schools, revival meetings, mission trips, etc…have led to some pretty shady ways of presenting the gospel and calling for decisions.  Just think about this popular phrase you might hear at the end of some church services:  “With every head bowed and every eye closed, no one looking around, if you want to receive Jesus Christ as Savior look up at me…no one else will see you”.  What do words like that communicate?  Do they communicate that you should be ashamed of believing in Jesus or that your belief is just between you, Jesus and the preacher?  Unfortunately other tricks like giving out prizes or candy or bibles as incentives to children who come forward during an invitation to receive Christ have been used. Why do we think we need to do that? Don’t do that.  The gospel of Christ doesn’t need our tricks.  When we do things like that we end up with “numbers” but do we end up with the gospel truly converting souls?  I doubt it.  Look at what Paul writes in verses 3-5: “³ For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.  ⁴ But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. ⁵ For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness.”   When Paul presented the gospel to the Thessalonians he didn’t use any tricks. He didn’t use flattering words. He just presented the gospel and encouraged people to believe.  Let’s just follow Paul’s example.  Present the truth of the gospel of Christ, without gimmicks, and let the Holy Spirit do the work.