Pirates, Plundering, & Proselytizing
Monday, August 19, 2024
“Your piety is worthless unless it leads you to wish that the same mercy that has been shown to you may bless the whole world.” – C.H. Spurgeon
During lunch last week, I turned on the TV to watch a program I’ve been wanting to see but I knew Deanna wouldn’t be interested in. Since I was working from home and our two dogs were napping, there was no one to object as I watched the first episode of a documentary series on pirates.
The opening segment was about Sir Frances Drake, who I never knew was a pirate but apparently, that’s how he got his start. Along with a relative, he captained a small fleet of ships from England to Panama, where they were hoping to steal a shipment of Spanish gold and silver. Unfortunately for Drake, the Spaniards got wind of their plan, and his uncle was captured while Drake fled like a coward.
When a fierce storm hit the Spanish vessels, Drake’s uncle was able to escape and make his way back to England where, as you can imagine, he confronted Drake for abandoning him. I guess the old adage is true after all: There is no honor amongst thieves.
My friend, you and I did absolutely nothing to deserve God’s love, mercy, grace, and salvation. If you are truly “born again,” the Bible makes it perfectly clear that your good works had nothing to do with it. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Since we didn’t earn our salvation, why are we so stingy about sharing it with others? It’s not like by sharing our faith we will have less of it ourselves. On the contrary, witnessing to unsaved people acts to solidify and multiply our faith, not diminish it in any way.
Let’s not be cowards like Sir Frances Drake, who abandoned someone in his time of need. Instead, let’s adopt the attitude and put into practice the words of D.T. Niles: “Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.”
“Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?... And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified…” John 4:29, 39a (NKJV)
(See also John 1:35-45 and 9:25)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
