With yesterday's subject, I thought it only fitting to share one "method" of speaking to someone about Christ. For some reason it makes me think of the 1995 movie version of "Sense and Sensibility" when Colonel Brandon (played brilliantly by Alan Rickman) meets Elinor and Marriane on the road and excitedly says, "I've come to issue an invitation!" Oddly Brandon is very much like Christ as he desperately longs for Marriane's acceptance, knowing she is distracted by her infatuation with another... Anyway, I love Ps. J John's explanation of the his invitation analogy in this article: http://www.citynews.sg/2012/02/canon-j-john-what-have-you-done-with-jesus-invitation/. Here's the best part in case you don't want to read the whole article:
What is Christianity?
"Think of it like an invitation. We appreciate an invitation even when we can’t go, because it’s nice to know that someone thought of inviting us," said Canon J. John in his introduction to a message on salvation.
You’re Invited…
John said the three things most people want to know about an invitation are firstly, who is it from? Secondly, who is it for? And thirdly, what is it about?
Drawing from the famous piece of Scripture, John 3:16, the speaker told the congregation that the invitation is from God, delivered to all of mankind through Jesus Christ.
"When I say, you’ve been invited by Jesus Christ, most people would simply nod nonchalantly. But if I say the Queen of England is inviting you to tea at Raffles Hotel, I’m sure you would try to slip that bit of information into any conversation you are having.
"But I tell you, there will come a day where every queen, every king and prime minister who had ever held office will bow before Jesus Christ and say to Him ‘You are King’, because He is the King of Kings. Your invitation is coming from Him today!"
In Matthew 11:28, Jesus gave an invitation to all who are weary to come to Him. John paraphrased it for today’s people: "Come to Me if you are burned out, stressed out, sick and tired or sick and tired of being sick and tired!"
At a lecture he once gave, a student challenged John with this: "Isn’t Christianity just a crutch?" John replied, "Yes, it is—because we are all broken."
... John asked what everyone in the room had done with their invitation from Jesus—had they RSVP’d? "If you accept, you become the invitation. You become the Bible to people—are you good news or bad news?" he challenged.
Though I would recommend reading the whole thing, it's pretty great. :)
Oh, and P.S. It's my sister's 30th birthday today! Happy Birthday Rach!!
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