Call-ins Radio Broadcast Thursday 08/05/2021

Call-In Classic Christianity Radio – Bob George P658 (08-05-21)

Sharing the Gospel With Loved Ones

As believers, we have a great desire for our loved ones to hear the gospel, receive the message and believe so they can experience all that God wants for them. If a mother is dying then you at least want to know if you will see your mother again in heaven with you, since the amount time remaining for her to even grow in Christ is limited or impossible. Bob and Amy George had the privilege to lead Amy’s dad to Christ a few weeks before he had to go back to Russia, under unbelievable obstacles and circumstances. That is so wonderful to hear and read about in Amy’s book, Goodbye is Not Forever. And, in Bob’s book, Classic Christianity, Bob shares about how his dad came to know Jesus also. God’s grace is Amazing Grace!

A caller calls in to ask for help in how to reach his dad with the truth of the gospel. Listen as Bob George provides some suggestions to help open up the conversation. He provides a personal example from his own life when trying to reach his own mother. It is good to know that his mother finally was willing to listen, heard the message concerning Jesus, and was born again.

When reaching a parent who thinks they are saved, because of the denomination they are in they think they are saved, and because they are your parent, their perspective toward what you are trying to say is perceived as you’re not appreciating all they have done for you and taught you or as an insult that my child should question me. Parents might say something like “We taught you and raised you, and yet you are coming to me as if I did not do anything for you.” There is this attitude they have when their own adult son or daughter tries to communicate truth. They feel that you are telling them they were bad parents. So it is good to show your appreciation of your parents in trying to bridge a conversation to the gospel. This is what Bob communicated to his own mother.

“I sat down with mom and said, ‘Let me tell you something. If I could have picked all the mom’s in this world and I had my choice of all of them, I would have picked you. You have been a phenomenal mother to me. You have been a good mother to me. And I thank God for all you have done for me all my life. It is because of this love I have for you. I know you have love for me. It is impossible to me to comprehend and understand why you refuse to listen to what has been the most meaningful experience in my life. It is impossible for me why you will not listen to something I am saying to you. I am not lying to you. That is the most important thing that ever happened to me. My mom looked at me with her big blue eyes and said, ‘You are right. Tell me what you want to tell me.’”

Another caller called in for advise on the topic of modesty with her little girls. A young pastor was out of line in legalism, which was making it difficult for her, as a new believer, to know what to do. The pastor had been giving instructions to mothers of girls going on a youth camp on how long their daughter’s skirt should be or to not wear sleeveless shirts. Bob said the topic of modesty should really be left up to the mother to teach her daughters, as scripture tells us older women are to teach younger women (1 Timothy 5:1-2, Titus 2:3-5). Another passage of scripture on this is this passage in Colossians. People think rules and regulations are what are useful in restraining sensual indulgence, but this passage tells us otherwise.

Colossians 2:20-23
²⁰ Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: ²¹ “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Other callers simply call in for clarification on understanding a certain passage of scripture. We ourselves might not know the answer, but we try to sort through understanding the passage together from what the Lord has taught us through the years. And if we do not know the answer, we just say “I do not know, but let me get back with you as I study this a little more”. But one thing we do know, as a born again child of God, we have the mind of Christ and we have this promise from God that He will guide us into all truth.