Beating Up on the Lost
Gary Waddell - Victory Ministries Middle Tennessee   3/9/2019

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.   Luke 6:35

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. Pro 11:30

The title of this message sounds rather cruel when one thinks about the phrase “beating up on the lost” however, I have found this to be true over the years when it comes to ‘soul-winning’ and visitation.  I have found this also to be true even from the pulpit.  We are indeed supposed to preach the gospel and that includes the good news and the bad news or consequences, but we can do that with love and concern.  There are many hurting people sitting in pews in churches who are there to hear God’s word and to perhaps glean from the preaching of the cross (1 Cor 1:18).  One thing that all followers of Christ understand, is that we are to glorify God above all.

As a follower of Christ, we all have thought about things we wished we would have done differently as new believers, especially when witnessing for Christ. Maybe we were too pushy. Maybe we were too desperate in our attempts. Maybe we were frustrated because there wasn’t an “instant response” to our witnessing attempts. In many cases we were “Beating Up On The Lost” instead of gently drawing them to Christ. As for me, many years ago, I know sometimes I pushed too hard and drove some away. I wanted for people to have that wonderful relationship that I had enjoyed with the risen Savior. It wasn’t long before I started to understand the verse, “be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matt 10:16b). I had to make a self-examination and found out that I was acting hypocritical in many ways. When speaking to others over the years, I found out that many have made the same mistake as new believers. We all took seriously Mark 16:15 when Jesus said “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”.  But we all were clumsy in our witnessing efforts early on as young Christians and at times we were "in folk's faces" about it.  We were "beating up on the lost".

I found at times I was being hypocritical (without meaning to be) when conversing with someone who was without Christ, and that I was judging them in their actions. John 7:24 reads “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment”. Instead of judging a situation, I was being judgmental. “For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?” (1 Cor 5:12) 

Although it was heart-breaking, I did have to come to an understanding that not everyone who hears the word of God will receive Christ as their Savior (John 1:12).  But it is a joy for those who will listen to the simple gospel and surrender their lives to Christ.  Below are some verses that have reminded me how I should respond.  I have benefited from them over the years.  Perhaps you can glean some wisdom from these verses.

• Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16 (Keep yourself from this world)

• Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: Eph 4:31

• Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.  Eph 4:32

• For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 1 Cor 9:19

• To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 1 Cor 9:22

God says “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isa 55:11).

Just tell ‘em about Jesus. Plant seeds in kindness. We must trust God to take care of the rest. As a servant of God we must display the traits of our Savior. We have liberty through Christ but we must not be arrogant about it, especially toward those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. Let us show humility, love and compassion toward others.

Respect or honor all men. Even though some are ‘un-lovely’ we must show love and kindness to the best of our ability. Those who are not ‘followers of Jesus’ are watching our ‘every move’ and we are under this world’s microscope when it comes to our actions. This is because the world hates our Lord Jesus and are ‘right in their own eyes’ (Pro 12:15).

Remember: “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col 3:2).

If you have made some of the same mistakes I have made, just confess and continue on. Do not give up. It is imperative that we, as Followers of Jesus, spread the gospel of Christ in this lost and sinful world. Without “beating up on the lost,” know that people need to hear about a loving and forgiving Savior who paid the ultimate cost for our sins if we choose to receive Him (John 1:12). The world needs Jesus.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.   Rom 1:16

Thanks for “Taking 5" – Gary Waddell – Victory Ministries Middle Tennessee
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