BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS

Résumé du livre

I have always been challenged about the need to be ready to share the Gospel, but I am not an evangelist, although like Paul told Timothy, do the work of an evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5), so I feel the need to at least be ready:

15But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. ALWAYS BE PREPARED to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

1 Peter 3:15, emphases added.

I am commissioned—as a Christian—to be responsible in sharing the Gospel.

God spoke to Ezekiel and enunciated the principal of the responsibility of those appointed to be “watchmen” for others:

17“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR BLOOD. 19But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.

Ezekiel 3:17-19, emphasis added.

Whilst the passage relates to Ezekiel’s responsibility to Israel, the principle is inescapable as it relates to my call to intervene on behalf of others who are dying—going to a Christless eternity.

It is the last phrase of the quote that haunts me: I will hold you accountable for their blood. I confess that I don’t know exactly what that means, but you don’t have to be very smart to realise that there is a serious accountability. Whatever it is, I don’t want to have Blood on My Hands.

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