Popular Preacher

I watched recently as a very popular pastor was asked if Jews should become Christians. He was very uncomfortable with the question, and answered, “We don’t believe the same, but they are certainly not less than Christians.” It was a missed opportunity. He could have said that Christianity has its roots in Judaism; that Jesus was Jewish, and that the first Christians were Jewish. What a pity he didn’t say that God provided salvation through the Jews by sending Jesus to suffer and die for the sin of the world, and the offer of forgiveness of sins--of everlasting life is open to Jews, Arabs, the Chinese, Indians, and the Russians; that the Scriptures say that through Jesus Christ salvation is universal--“whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” I don’t think the man was ashamed of the gospel. It seems that he was unprepared. That can happen to the best of us. That’s why the Bible tells us to be prepared to give a reason for the hope that’s in us.