Simply Angie

Offended by Firemen? Lifeguards? Search and Rescue?

If someone tries to save you, do you resist and resent their efforts?

Angie Berg

Feb 10

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I had an interesting conversation recently with someone I love who hasn’t yet put their faith in the saving power of Jesus Christ. They had just come from a funeral service where a preacher had given the Gospel message as part of the service. My friend didn't appreciate that the minister was using the funeral to try to ‘save her soul,’ as she put it. She felt offended that he even thought her soul needed saving.

Because I was on the phone, I didn’t have to immediately react. I had time to compose my thoughts and pray for wisdom to respond in a way that would not alienate my dear friend, but would also express a different perspective.

We continued to chat about many things, and eventually the conversation came full circle, and we returned to the topic of the funeral and the preacher’s message. Of course, my friend knows that Don and I are Christians, and I knew that I had to ‘defend’ my faith, and also try to help her see things in a different light.

1 Corinthians 1:18
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;
but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

I wanted her to see that the pastor was not trying to condemn her or any of the other mourners. He was speaking from a heart of love and compassion, and with a desire to give hope for eternity. I gave her the following analogy.

I said that if I saw her house was on fire, I would cry out and warn her of the danger because I cared about her and wouldn’t want her to be caught up in the flames, unaware of the danger.

I assured her that the minister (another good friend) was not personally judging or trying to condemn her as a soul in need of saving, but rather acknowledging that we are ALL souls in danger and in need of saving.

1 Corinthians 1:21
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God,
it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Over the years, I’ve noticed how often people get offended if someone cares enough about them to share God’s love and simple plan of salvation with them. Isn’t that a strange reaction?

If a lifeguard saw me in danger of being pulled away by a rip in the ocean and called out to warn and protect me, would I respond in outrage that he had the audacity to presume I needed saving from drowning?

Instead of responding with a sense of gratitude, many people often feel condemned or judged by the person warning them of the eternal danger and peril that they are in. They don’t realize that the opposite is true. They were already condemned long ago. The messenger is trying to help them find freedom from the condemnation!

John 3:16-18
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Some years ago, Don was in one of our local sporting good shops and gave the owner a gospel tract after having a short conversation with him. A week or so later, he went back to follow up and asked him if he had a chance to read the paper. The man replied that he had read it. When Don asked him what he thought, he responded that he felt like it was a threat.

Of course, Don explained that the Gospel isn’t a threat, but a warning. Isn’t it sad when people can’t tell the difference? I think it might be the result of a severe lack of understanding of God and His Word, as well as the natural condition of man (lost in his sin).

The truth is, most Christians are not judging in the least when they share the Gospel message ~ the good news of eternal life in heaven available through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and offered freely to anyone willing to receive it. Instead, believers know that they have been freed from the debt of their own sin and only long to help rescue others. I know that’s how I feel.

I liken us to spiritual ‘first responders.’ It’s not an easy job. It can be exhausting, messy, heartbreaking, and often thankless. Sometimes the one you are trying to help turns on you and injures you in the process.

And yet, every single time someone is saved as the result of your efforts, the feeling is indescribable. You are filled with such joy that you had the opportunity to help rescue someone from the danger of eternal death. Our part is so small, as the main work was done by Christ Himself, but our part is still vital.

What kind of world would it be if there were no firemen, no paramedics, no search and rescue team, no lifeguards, no one willing to care enough about others to help them when they saw them in danger?

Are you a believer already, saved by God’s amazing grace? Embrace the role of rescuer. Grab your courage and share God’s amazing gift of forgiveness and salvation with others. We can’t save anyone. We can only throw out lifelines. But we should do what we can do.

Are you an unbeliever feeling offended when someone tries to talk to you about God, heaven, or eternity? Please don’t be. Look at the situation from a different angle. Someone cares enough about you to make the effort. Feel loved instead. Whether you decide to consider the Gospel and believe or not, you can experience warmth and gratitude in your heart, knowing that you are considered worth the effort.

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