11/13/13 Vidal 20
What
does repentance look like? As seen in
this video clip, a young man named Vidal had some good questions for me about
what it means to be “born again”, but were they questions that came from simple
curiosity or were they from that deep yearning for a right relationship with
God that is repentance? Was his main
goal happiness or righteousness? I
honestly don’t know, but he definitely was not “cut to the heart” like the
people Peter preached to in Acts 2. I
happened upon Vidal at a McDonalds and asked to interview him for a video
project I’m working on. He remembered me
from a sidewalk conversation last summer, and my initial interview questions
naturally led to another gospel conversation.
Vidal tries to keep an open mind about God and religion, so we talked
about the gospel on a “what if it is all true” basis. I used some of the Ten Commandments to show
him his need for forgiveness. The video
clip skips past all that about a half hour to our discussion about his need to
receive that forgiveness. In the end,
should I have pressed Vidal to pray for salvation? I didn’t think so, because I really saw no
signs of repentance. I didn’t want to help create yet another false convert,
blissfully comfortable in his mistaken beliefs about righteousness. As a Christian wanting to biblically and
effectively share my faith, I thank anyone who would take the time to watch all
or at least part of the video, and I value your thoughtful and biblically-based
advice and constructive criticism…
Acts
2 When the people heard this, they were
cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what
shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and
be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness
of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Titus
3 But when the kindness and love of
God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had
done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and
renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus
Christ our Savior
John
3 You should not be surprised at my
saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear
its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it
is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
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