Come to Jesus meeting

When over the course of time did the phrase "come to Jesus" become synonymous with a difficult encounter with another?

As I understand the Gospel there were two types of people who literally came to Jesus: those who sough him out and were grateful and the Powers that be who were afraid of Jesus.

Maybe one of the reasons we Christians have lost our way in the culture is we have too many people afraid to encounter Jesus because of what we have said about him.

Perhaps if we really want people to join in the Christian way of life, we should begin with how we talk about Jesus. Perhaps we should begin to share with people not who Jesus is, but why you and I seek him out?

When we tell people about Jesus, right away it gives people the opportunity to say yes or no right away without actually encountering Jesus. When we tell people about Jesus they can reject or accept him not based upon Jesus but based upon if that person likes or dislikes the messenger.

Rather if we invited people to come and see Jesus, it would be much harder to discount him.

Perhaps this is why Jesus himself did not say much about himself but just invited people to come and follow him.

Maybe we Christians need to stop telling people who Jesus is and what he is about and invite people to see for themselves.

What would happen if we turned conversion over to Jesus and we just focused on evangelism and invite people to follow Jesus?

Jim Wallis - The Call to Conversion

The betrayal of the biblical call to conversion has occurred across the theological spectrum. The gospel must be preached in the context. We live in one of the most self-centered cultures in history. Our economic system is the social rationalization of personal selfishness. Self-fulfillment and individual advancement have become our chief goals. The leading question of the times is, "How can I be happy and satisfied?" Not surprisingly, our self-centered culture has produced a self-centered religion. Preoccupation with self dominates the spirit of the age and shapes the character of religion. Modern evangelism has played right along with this central theme. The most common question in evangelism today is, "What can Jesus do for me?"

The gospel message has been molded to suit an increasingly narcissistic culture. Conversion is proclaimed as the road to self-realization. Whether through evangelical piety or liberal therapy, the role of religion is presented as a way to help us uncover out human potential - our potential for personal, social and business success, that is. We are told Jesus is here to help us to do better that which we are already doing. Jesus doesn't change our lives, he improves them. Conversion is just for ourselves, not the world. We ask how Jesus can fulfill our lives, not how we might serve the kingdom.

Italics were added as this is the line I deeply resonated with.

I do not know about you, but I desire a Jesus that changes my life. I desire a Jesus who calls me to turn everything I know upside down. I desire a Jesus to disrupt the status quo. I desire a Jesus to lead the world to an uncomfortable place, so we might discover the Kingdom.

I desire a Jesus whom I can work for and work with.