His Query Stops Some Boardwalkers

(ED. NOTE: One night a week in summer on Wildwood’s Boardwalk, a Court House resident and member of First United Methodist Church of Court House, stands with a sign bearing a question about the hereafter. He explains responses to the query “Are you going to heaven? Take the test now!”)
By DOUG GRIFFIN
WILDWOOD — People who stop at the sign can be divided into at least four identifiable groups.
First would be those who confess Christ as Savior and Lord of their lives, but are curious about the test. We encourage them to hear and answer the first two questions.
Using the same technique we would with any other visitor. We get their first name, age, and religious background information. Then we ask the same first two questions we would ask any one:
1 Are you at a point in your spiritual life where you know for sure you have eternal life?
2. (Using the person’s first name, say Joe.) Joe, if you were standing in front of God right now and He looked you in the eye saying “Joe why should I let you in MY heaven?”; what would be your answer?
Assuming the answers were as expected and reveal they have accepted Jesus as their Lord and savior, we tell them the test is over. They passed. Others in this first group stop to wish us well and pray for us. Always welcome.
Group two are not sure what they are, but have some kind of Christian background.
These are usually a little tentative. The majority is between 15 and 22 years of age. Their approach is usually about the same as most who stop other than the first group.
The opening line will be something like:
What’s this about a test?
Am I going to heaven?
How do you take the test?
How much does this cost?
Our reply is the same for each case except the one about cost. The answer is that the cost is time and could be 15 minutes or more, it will be up to them.
To the others the answer is why not take the test and find out. You can stop at any time you wish.
The answer to the first two questions from this group is normally work related. They do good deeds or are basically good people. Our response is to work through the gospel starting with a story about Nicodemus.
The purpose is to show them they are lost, but can be found by accepting Christ, allowing His Holy Spirit to change their lifestyle from within.
Salvation cannot be earned, it is the gift of God through the shed Blood of Christ. It is our intent to be sure they know that asking Christ into their life is a starting point not an end. They need to connect to other born again believers (those who have accepted Jesus) to be nurtured.
A third group is made up of those who want to harass us.
Normally they have friends who are watching to see how they make us out to be fools. Their statements about where they are usually surface at the second question or right after the story of Nicodemus.
The point they make is they can’t believe in all this stuff written by men or there is no God. Our response, which at times reverses their stand, is that there are no coincidences only God’s instances. We are only on the boardwalk one evening a week from 7 p.m. to l0 p.m., and they just happened to stop at our sign. Why? Could God be trying to get their attention?
After a brief conversation with give and take, assuming they have not agreed to hear the rest of the Gospel, we say goodbye to them with a tract called “What If” that asks them what if they are wrong and there is a God.
A fourth group would be made up of people who have other belief systems. Normally they will be Muslims or Jews.
One would wonder why they would stop at the sign. May be that God is trying to reach them too. As soon as it is known what the religious background is a disclaimer is given.
The fact that we are Christian and will be talking from that point of view is brought out. The people are asked if they are OK with that before continuing the conversation.
Our approach is to talk about Jesus, who He is and how we know that He is more than a prophet.
In each of these cases the Old Testament scripture is used to start and if we get far enough the New Covenant is brought in to play.
Isaiah Chapter 53 is especially useful with Jewish seekers. Muslims seem to be moved by hearing about Abraham and then the love of Christ.
Some who are Jewish have come to realize that Jesus is in fact the Messiah, the Son of God and in fact God (John 1:1). He is the only way to heaven (John14:6).
Many a Muslim has left us with a lot to consider when their own scripture says that Jesus is the Messiah and a prophet of God, which means every word Jesus said about Himself, and God must be true. He said, “Before Abraham was, I AM.”