Hemant Mehta did something unique not long back… he “sold” his soul on E-bay! You can find out more about this unusual experiment by reading this article. Bottom line, for $10.00 he would attend church for one hour. The winning bid was $504.00 by former pastor Jim Henderson (The money went to an atheist organization).
Together they selected 12 of churches for Hemant to attend incognito. If you’d like to read Hemant’s chronicle of his experience go to this web site.
Now I’d love to tell you that Hemant became a believer, but he did not. In fact, after the experiment he admits that he is no closer to becoming a believer but he does have a better understanding of Christians and their faith. Then consider that until Hemant’s life ends, there’s always the possibility of him converting to Christianity.
Jim Henderson was willing to move outside the box to expose an unbeliever to the Gospel. He was willing to take a chance…. give up a few dollars… and risk a little for the possibility of an athiest hearing the message of Jesus Christ and the way of salvation. I like that!
To get the Gospel to those who have not heard… who are antagonistic toward the faith… who don’t believe as we do will involve both risk and sacrafice. For some it may mean giving up their life so that the lost gain eternal life. If you saw the movie The End Of The Spear, you know what I’m talking about.
What are we willing to do as individuals… and as a church… to present the Gospel to those who have not heard? Are we willing to “become all things to all men” (1 Corinthians 9:22) so that some might believe? Is our affirmation of Paul’s words more than just intellectual?
Are we willing to “sacrafice” good parking places… preferred seating in worship… more than 1 hour in church on Sunday… our favorite room location for Sunday School… time, money, and/or comfort so that a person becomes part of the Family of God?
What if it meant one, or all, of our children losing their life as a missionary in a Muslim country versus a longer life “safe” life in America. What if it meant us losing our life so that people (Or A person) trusts in Christ as their savior?
Hmmm…
Consider what it is recorded that Jesus said in Mark 10:29-30, “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields — and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.” NIV
Let’s follow Jim Henderson’s example and move outside the box for God’s glory so that the lost will hear the Gospel and God will be glorified!