Reaching vs. Teaching

Reaching vs. Teaching
John 6:44 - 'For people can¹t come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them from the dead.' NLT

There is a big difference between reaching people for Christ and teaching people about Christ. We hear all the time about people that are doing things to reach the lost. Many Gospel artists use this word to describe why they cross their music over and promote themselves.

Many youth pastors and leaders I meet as I travel across the country use all kinds of things to try to reach the lost youth. But have you ever noticed that, whenever we use methods to reach the lost, they are never really successful? Have you noticed that when we make up things, plans, schemes, etc. to reach the lost, it never really works? Jesus said that God draws the sinner and we teach them. The bible never said reach the lost, but it said to go ye therefore and "teach" all nations. Where did reach come from?

God's Spirit draws the sinner man unto repentance and unless we are flowing in that, we will only play on their emotions but they won't change. Music cannot do it alone! Music cannot win a soul to Christ unless the sinner is drawn by the Spirit. Kirk Franklin even told me that his attempt to reach the Hip Hop Culture by merging Gospel and Hip Hop artists was unsuccessful! Christian parties, games, cultures, that try to be like the world, does not draw the world. It only promotes the world! Only God can draw the world. His word, his power, his Kingdom is what attracts the sinner, not us being like the sinner.

I know we always hear Paul quoted, "I become all things to all men, that I may reach them" but that's not what he said. In 1 Corinthians, chapter 9, Paul was talking about money! Getting paid for his work. And he stated that even though he deserved to be compensated, he would do it for free if he had to. He then stated that because he was a Jew, he would be as a Jew and obey the law when he ministered to them. And because he was called to preach to the gentiles, he would not share his Jewish customs with them, but he would still observe them.

And if they were in trouble, he would share their burdens and help them out of trouble to win them for Christ's sake. This does not mean if they were on crack he would use some crack to make them feel comfortable. Or if they were a gangster, he would become a Gospel Gangster and preach to them in gang signs! Or if they were a prostitute, he would reach them by preaching in his underwear! God forbid. We are never to become like the world to reach the world. We must be the answer for the world.

They are the way they are because of sin and we have to show them change and how to follow God. We must teach the sinner the way. The way is Jesus Christ. Not some plot to show them how you can still do everything you are doing as a sinner, but claim Christ with it! Wake up people. We don't reach the lost, but we teach the lost. Reaching is not what Jesus taught. Reaching is not what Paul taught. God's Spirit does the drawing, and then we are to minister the Word of God to them. If God's word alone can't win them, then they will not be won!

Suggested Reading: I Corinthians 9, Matt. 28:19, Matt. 11:1