A friend likes the EE evangelistic method. As we discussed that method, I said I liked the opening question, but that I follow it up with a modified version.
The opening question is, “Have you come to the point in your religious experience where you are sure you have everlasting life?”
I don’t use the EE method. But if I ask the first EE question and receive an affirmative answer, I then ask: “If you were to die in twenty years and you hadn’t been to church in years and you died as an alcoholic, would you go to heaven?”
My friend said, “That bothers me because if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature.” He referred to 2 Cor 5:17. I will do a separate blog on that passage.
I didn’t explain 2 Cor 5:17. I said, “Even if Paul meant that the new birth means there are some good works in the life of all believers, he wasn’t saying that God guarantees perseverance.” My friend accepted that, and we moved on.
But I thought his concern warranted more thought.
His concern was that my modified EE question might inadvertently discourage people from following Christ in discipleship and encourage them to indulge their flesh.
I like the modified question because a person may believe that if he died tonight, he’d make it to heaven because he is doing well today. But that same person might not be sure about making it to heaven if he later fell away from the Lord.
Zane Hodges once discussed this issue with a pastor friend who likes the EE question. They wrote letters back and forth. We’ll call the pastor, Bob. Zane wrote:
In your words to your putative [yes, Zane used that word!] convert (“Do you know for certain that if you were to die tonight…etc.”), clearly tonight is pivotal. You are an intelligent guy, Bob. So I don’t have to tell you that there is a vast, chasm-wide difference between saying these two things:
- You are safe for now.
- You are safe forever.
He went on to say that Jesus does not promise security for now. He promises security forever.
But does this modified form of the question somehow discourage following Christ?
I don’t believe it does. However, it is possible to address my friend’s concern with the person we are evangelizing. The modified question ensures that the person understands that everlasting life is irrevocable. It is permanent. It might be good to follow up with these questions: Why would a person who knew he was saved forever choose to follow Christ and obey Him? Why not just go out and live like the devil?
Even unbelievers realize that alcoholism, drug addiction, sex addiction, and licentious living are bad for them and their families. Instead of explaining all that to them, why not just ask them? See what they say.
In addition, unbelievers can understand the power of gratitude. We might explain that knowing we’re eternally secure motivates us to serve Christ wholeheartedly out of love and gratitude (2 Cor 5:14; 1 John 4:19).
We might even mention the blessing and cursing motif. God blesses His children when they obey Him, and He disciplines His children when they rebel against Him. He will even give them eternal rewards after this life is over.i Eternal security is no license to rebellion.
Do you tell people that Jesus saves forever, or Jesus saves?
Keep grace in focus.
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i My friend Bob Bryant likes to talk about the Judgment Seat of Christ when he evangelizes. He finds it helpful for people to recognize that we reap what we sow even though we are eternally secure.
