This week I’ve shared a post each day about a different book I read this summer. Today’s book: “Larger than Life – The Humor and Humanity of Dr. W. A. Criswell” by Lanny and Brenda Elmore.
Dr. Criswell was Pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas for 50 years and Lanny served on his staff for 27 years as missions pastor. The book is a collection of stories and personal reflections of a Pastor who was preaching legend among Pastors of my generation and earlier.
Dr. Criswell exercised daily at the YMCA. On one occasion he was taking a shower, when a man walked over to him and said, “I’ve been listening to you preach. I find your sermons really interesting. I’m struggling about what to do.”
Dr. Criswell touched the man’s arm and said, “Son, let’s just kneel down and pray right now.”
The man refused. Two naked men kneeling on the floor would be odd…what would people think?
Dr. Criswell said, “But son, if you’re ready to give your heart to Christ, don’t wait. Do it now.”
The man replied, “No, Dr. Criswell. I don’t think I’m ready to do that right now.”
Dr. Criswell said, “Well, bless you, son. Any time you are ready, I’ll gladly talk to you.”
The man left but felt guilty. He kept thinking, “All Dr. Criswell wanted to do was win me to Christ. He wasn’t embarrassed about that shower or anything. All his mind was on was seeing someone saved.”
The man added, “All I could think about was what other people would think. I was more concerned about that than about my relationship with God.”
For weeks afterward, this man struggled with this spiritual decision. Finally, he admitted to God that he had been too embarrassed that day to give his heart of Jesus…but now he was ready…and he was saved.
When I read that story, I thought to myself: “They could have dried off and gotten dressed, then talked and prayed.” But then it hit me – the real issue is that W. A. Criswell had such a strong focus on winning someone to Christ that circumstances did not make him hesitant or intimidated. I can’t say that is always true of me.
Sometimes I feel more like the lost man in this story – too concerned about what other people might think. The result is that I witness less than I could…or should.
I pray God makes me more aware of His presence in my life and His command to witness while also making me less aware of what others might think about me when I’m obeying Jesus. I pray the same for you.
Pastor Steve Hogg
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