Coercion vs. Persuasion
Strange things rattle through a preacher’s mind from
time to time. Certainly, these thoughts do not just arise in the mind of
preachers but in the minds of any faithful Christians. Sometimes you
want to reach out and physically force others to be more dedicated and
loyal to their calling.
This is a weakness and fallacy much like Peter’s when he pulled out his
sword to fight for Jesus. Yet, Jesus made Peter aware that His mission
would not be completed by the bloodshed of anyone besides Himself (John
18:10,11). Later, Jesus would inform Pilate that His kingdom would not
come to earth in any physical sense, but in a spiritual one (John
18:36).
Yet, have you ever just imagined? Have you made up a list of things in
the back of your mind you wish you could do to coerce others into
submission to God’s will? Consider some exaggerated ways we might use
the physical to force the spiritual.
The first thing we might do is to completely change the building. We
could design a state of the art system for our pews. Since many worship
attendees sit on the back row, we could install a conveyor belt onto our
pews that would automatically move them to the front row after the pew
was full—much like a ski lift. Surely, this would force them to be more
interested.
In the process we could put an electric shock in all of the pews. More
so, an electric shock in each individual section of pews that someone
had the responsibility of controlling. It would be similar to an
electric fence for your horses or animals. This electric shock would be
sent through all of the pews every time a visitor walked into the back
door. Nobody would be allowed to sit down until they had properly
greeted and welcomed the visitor into the assembly. This electrical
impulse would also come in handy during sermons. If people decided to
talk, sleep, pass notes or sit (in rebellion) while all others were
standing, someone would be able to shock them so they straightened up
and paid attention.
Here is something else that might be a good idea. We could force people
as they came in the door to leave their pagers, cell phones, watches and
toys at the back door. Nobody could look at their watch and sigh because
the sermon was too long. Nobody would have their minds focused on the
vibrating wireless device distracting their concentration.
There are many other things that we could consider when it comes to our
hearing God’s Word preached and our focus on the prayers and songs. Yet,
let’s move to the belief part.
Would it not be nice if we could just force people to believe? We could
get a couple of the church’s strongest men to go from door to door on
Sundays and force people to sit in the back of an armored truck as we
drove them to services and required that they believe. It seems like
many zealous Jews, including Saul, already tried a form of this against
Christians and it did not work. Yet, it sure did scare some people real
good. Perhaps, this would be the key to changing our community. Then,
after we forced them to believe we could work on the repentance issue.
When it comes to repentance, are there not some people you wish you
could just walk up to during the invitation song and drag down the aisle
by the ear and sit them down on the front row? Have you ever felt like
this before? There has been a story or two about some parents who do
similar things. Yet, true repentance does not work this way.
What about confession? It just seems some folks would be ready to
confess their belief in Jesus Christ. They have had a good upbringing.
They are intelligent enough. They have heard sermon after sermon. Yet,
they sit through Sunday after Sunday with their souls in jeopardy. It
makes you want to sit behind them with a cattle prod and push them out
into the aisle, doesn’t it?
What about being baptized into Jesus Christ? Could we go from door to
door and offer people money to take a dip in the water for the remission
of their sins? Would it do any good if we took a fistful of their hair
and dunk them by force? Again, the answer is no.
Nor can we set up video cameras in people’s houses to make sure they are
living lives filled with good works. We cannot hire private detectives
to make sure they are visiting the sick and being kind to the poor and
down-trodden. Nor would it be feasible to force them to sign a checklist
ensuring that they have been praying, studying their Bible and living
godly lives each day.
Why does this method fail? The answer is quite simple. It was never the
intention of Christ for us to obey by compulsion or manipulation. True
submission cannot be bought. We cannot offer so many recreational
festivities that it makes us obedient. Christ has given us a means of
persuasion—and as free moral agents—we choose to be persuaded.
Jesus says in John 6, “No man can come to me, except the Father draw
him: and I will raise him up at the last day…It is the spirit that
quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you,
they are spirit, and they are life.” So, from this we see that
Jesus’ words must persuade us to be obedient to Christ. We also know
that the life and promise of Jesus is good news. In other words, it is
the “gospel.”
Paul writes in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that
believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
God chose preaching as the means of delivering this message that saves
others (1 Corinthians 1:21). This preaching convinces and convicts us of
our sin, yet we are the only ones who can choose to make the necessary
changes (2 Timothy 4:1-4).
Many preach the Word of God—yet it is up to you to hear it. No electric
shock can force you to do so. You must choose to have faith by the
hearing of God’s Word (Romans 10:17).
We could kidnap you and bring you to services so that you could be
forced to believe. Yet, the belief and confession that God requires has
nothing to do with any physical harm we could threaten. We cannot win
you by entertainment. You cannot be persuaded by force.
Yet, religious people often have the wrong idea. Jesus even realized
this happened to Him. He knew some people followed Him because they
wanted physical food. They were not “hungering and thirsting after
righteousness” and therefore, they were not filled (Matthew 5:6). He
says in John 6:26, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not
because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were
filled”.
Yet, isn’t this the method many use today to persuade others? Churches
build a gym. Churches have an ice cream social. Members delight in the
recreational facilities of denominations with their arcades, pinball
machines and video games. It forces us to the same observation Jesus
made. Do people only want Jesus or have they come to seek the sideshow?
Logic forces us to ask a follow-up question. By giving others a sideshow
to seek, are we distorting others view of the real kingdom of God?
According to Romans 14:17 our emphasis should be on the spiritual,
“for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness
and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
This same attitude turned the Lord’s Supper into a physical feast with
some at the church in Corinth. 1 Corinthians 11:21,22 says, “For in
eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry
and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink
in?....What shall I say then? Shall I praise you in this? I do not
praise you.” These believers needed to examine their attitude and
focus as they remembered the Lord’s death. We find the admonition and
consequences later in the chapter. “But let a man examine himself,
and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats
and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself,
not discerning the Lord’s body” (28,29).
We should maintain the best motives and intents in every act of
obedience. The injunction to “worship in spirit and in truth” is
as applicable today as it was with the Samaritan woman (John 4:24). Yet,
this is something we cannot be forced to do. It is something that will
require a change of heart. A voluntary change of the will must be
wrought within us as we are convinced of God’s will.
This heartfelt belief will force us to confess Jesus Christ as our Lord
and Savior. Romans 10:8-10, “…The word is near you, in your mouth and
in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that
if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart
that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the
heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation.”
It is a heartfelt belief that will force us to ask the question,
“What shall we do?” A person who truly believes will accept the
answer and obey it. This is what those gathered on Pentecost were
willing to do. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly
that God has made this same Jesus, whom you crucified both Lord and
Christ. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said
to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we
do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins: and you
shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:36-38).
It is a heartfelt, voluntary belief that leads us to believe, confess
our faith in Christ, turn from our sins and be baptized into Christ. It
is also a heartfelt belief that compels us to continue loving the Lord
throughout the rest of our lives. Jesus says, “You shall love the
Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your
mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like
it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments
hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40).
It will not be entertainment, physical force or any other means of
manipulation or compulsion that will bring people to true obedience to
Christ. The only thing that can bring about a real change is a heartfelt
belief in the words of the Holy Spirit and the desire to follow it. This
will keep us from sin (Galatians 5:16-25). The desire to follow Christ
in sacrifice and suffering will keep us obedient (Hebrews 5:8,9).
Let’s remember the real weapons of our warfare. “For though we walk
in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of
our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down
strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts
itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into
captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all
disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Corinthians
10:3-6).
Are you ready to voluntarily submit your heart, mind and thoughts to
Christ?