A sincere desire among Christians to flee from sin, forgiveness of fallen brothers and a spirit of unity are essential to reaching the world for Christ, said a Texas pastor who spoke at the Alabama Baptist State Evangelism Conference.
John Bisagno, former pastor of First Baptist Church in Houston, said the Bible also speaks of redemption for those who have fallen. Bisagno made his observations during the conference, held Jan. 29-30 at the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham.
The Bible says temptation can be avoided if Christians are sincere in praying to be led from it, Bisagno said.
“God will answer that prayer if you genuinely will pray it with all your heart,” he said, quickly adding that Christians should also strive to help fallen brothers and sisters.
“We are the only army in the world that shoots its own wounded when men fall and far too seldom help them to stand again,” said Bisagno. “Some of the greatest ministries I know are by men that have had a glorious second chance.”
Bisagno said “temptation is everywhere,” adding it is difficult for ministers to endure. He shared that the Assembly of God includes a division of pastoral reclamation for dealing with ministers who have stumbled.
“Maybe Alabama Baptists should be the first convention in our denomination to start such a ministry to help reclaim the fallen,” Bisagno said. “Even when we fail, He says, ‘tonight can be the first day of the rest of your life.’
“There’s always the next opportunity for those who will come to the cleansing of the blood of Christ, through the Word of God and be whole and clean again,” Bisagno said.
The church must also be united, as commanded in the Bible, Bisagno said.
“Please, can somebody get across to us that our unity effects world evangelism,” he said.
Regardless of where Christians minister or what they say, Bisagno argued the Bible says the authenticity of their messages is either validated or destroyed by whether they are unified. He said we live in a world where most people do not go to church, do not read the Bible and turn off most Christian television.
“If somewhere they can see some unity, something is going to happen, that will mysteriously and powerfully attract people,” he said. “If churches are to reach people, there has to be believers who are not arguing theology, debating budgets and criticizing staff members.” (TAB)
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