Jordan Standridge wrote a thought-provoking blog at the Cripplegate discussing the dangers of simply asking people if they believe in Jesus.
He noted there are a number of people who profess a belief in Christ, but muddy those thoughts with false declarations independent of a truly soul-saving belief.
Is it enough to simply believe in God or Jesus?
James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote in James 2:19, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that — and shudder.”
It’s a pretty good assumption that demons aren’t going to wind up in heaven.
So, if we are going to have discussions with people about their faith, Jordan suggests asking these questions instead:
- Do you believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven?
- Do you believe you deserve hell?
- If you were to die today and God were to ask you, “Why should I let you into Heaven?” What would you say?
- How does someone get to Heaven?
“Many say that it is judgmental and wicked to question people’s faith, but there is nothing more loving that you can do for someone than be interested in the state of their soul,” Jordan explained.
“There is nothing more unloving than simply accepting a surface level answer to religious beliefs, if that person is actually not a Christian,” he added.
“We must, for the sake of actually loving the people God sovereignly places in our lives, get beyond basic questions and truly get to the bottom of what our loved ones (and strangers!) are trusting in for their salvation,” Jordan wrote. “Eternity is at stake, and that is something worth losing a relationship over.”
The full blog can be found at the Cripplegate.
