The following post is from RAY ORTLUND. Regardless how you think about the phrase "accept Jesus", the point Ortland makes is crucial. Between easy-believism, easy "invitations," sloppy presentations of what is supposedly the gospel (little if any mention of our depravity, little mention of sin, void of repentance) ; it is vital to think carefully about the point Ortland makes:
You and I are not integrated, unified, whole persons. Our hearts are multi-divided. There is a board room in every heart. Big table. Leather chairs. Coffee. Bottled water. Whiteboard. A committee sits around the table. There is the social self, the private self, the work self, the sexual self, the recreational self, the religious self, and others. The committee is arguing and debating and voting. Constantly agitated and upset. Rarely can they come to a unanimous, wholehearted decision. We tell ourselves we’re this way because we’re so busy with so many responsibilities. The truth is, we’re just divided, unfocused, hesitant, unfree.
That kind of person can “accept Jesus” in either of two ways.
One way is to invite him onto the committee. Give him a vote too. But then he becomes just one more complication.
The other way to “accept Jesus” is to say to him, “My life isn’t working. Please come in and fire my committee, every last one of them. I hand myself over to you. Please run my whole life for me.” That is not complication; that is salvation.
“Accepting Jesus” is not just adding Jesus. It is also subtracting the idols.
1 comment:
That's a cute explanation.
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