 All or Nothing
The word try can be used in at least a couple of different ways. In the verb form, which is the proper English usage of the word, the various definitions deal with testing the outcome, extent, purpose, or endurance of the thing, person or concept. It can also mean to attempt to do or accomplish something. However, in the slang usage of rural America this verb has taken on a noun function. When functioning as a noun the word means to give maximum effort. For example, an athlete may be said to have a lot of “try” meaning that he or she does the best that they can. The term conveys a descriptive nature that goes beyond the simple action of a verb. But just as words can have proper use and a more casual functional use, words can also be misused or misapplied. There is one specific way that the word “try” gets applied in a religious or theological way that I personally find very unhelpful, even at times misleading. This is when well meaning believers urge lost people to “just try Jesus”. The problem with this kind of language is that a person cannot have a trial run with salvation. In our modern society we are well accustomed to a 7 day free trial offer. But Jesus is clear that He is not offering a partial or temporal hope but rather an eternal hope. The Danger of Apostasy Considering the admonition given in Hebrews 6:4-6. Many people believe that this text upholds the idea that a truly converted person can lose the salvation they once had in Christ. I would disagree. It seems clear to me that the author is using the hypothetical example of apostasy among genuine Christians to display the wickedness of rejecting Christ as Savior, Lord, and King. But even if this passage did teach that a true Christian can reject Jesus and forfeit his regenerated heart, then certainly everyone should be able to agree that that person is now beyond hope of salvation. This text should show that the idea of simply “trying Jesus” is a dangerous concept. The Danger of Discount Discipleship The Lord Jesus Himself also taught that those who hear the gospel ought to count the cost of following Christ (Luke 14:25-33). Of course, justification and reconciliation with God is a free gift of God’s grace through the means of faith, but the necessary consequences of coming to Christ will cost the believer absolutely everything. The life that is given whole to Christ is a life of self denial and cross bearing for the sake of knowing and following Christ (Matthew 16:24-26). The Danger of Delinquent Devotion The Apostle Paul also told the Romans that believers are to present themselves to Christ as a living sacrifice which is holy and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1). He also told the Galatians that the Christians life is fully bound up in the life of Christ (Galatians 2:19-21). Paul uses many more expressions like these. All of them are meant to emphasize the point that the only way to truly know Christ is surrender ourselves totally to Him in repentance from dead works to serve the living and true God as well as trusting ourselves fully mind, body and soul to Christ forever (Hebrews 6:1-3)! As evangelistic Bible believing Christians we must not simply offer a trial citizenship in the kingdom of God, but rather we must call sinners to repent of their rebellion and submit themselves by faith to the Lordship of Jesus Christ our King (Philippians 3:20-21)! Maybe there is a way to salvage the term “try” in relation to Christianity and theology but we will have to save that for next week! To be continued…
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