Sharing the Gospel with those who have lost...

[mrssoprano]

How can you tactfully share the gospel with someone who has lost a loved one to hell?  You cannot give them the hope that they will see that loved one again some day.  In a way it would almost seem to be a punch in the face to tell them that their loved is burning in a Christ-less Hell, and yet they have the chance to be saved.

[Nathan England]

Obviously you can not just jump in their face and say, 'You Know! So and So is BURNING in HELL Now! Because *he* didn't know Jesus Christ!'

Boy, what better way to shut someone down forever!
While the person is no doubt not going to understand what has happened, it is more than likely they are going to be thinking, 'Why has God done this to me? Why did God take them away from me?'

I believe for this reason explicity Job is part of the bible. Typically, regardless of the circumstances, anytime something happens to someone, their first reaction is to blame God! The book of Job teaches us that we are to accept the good with the bad, but even in the worst of circumstances, we are to love God.


And said, Naked came I out of my mother' womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
(Job 1:21, KJV)

What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?
(Job 2:10, KJV)


I would suggest, instead of condemning their loved one to hell, ask if the deceased knew Jesus. Ask about a church life. Ask if the bereaved knows Jesus. Give the benefit of the doubt here, encourage the bereaved to put their faith and trust in Christ. If they start asking criminalizing questions about the deceased, don't lie or apologize for what the bible says, but answer them truthfully.

If they say something about the deceased not believing, or hating God, or anything contrary to what a saved person might do, don't jump out and say, see! he's a goner! But offer encouragement. The greatest thing you could wish to accomplish to a greiving person is to envite them to church and pray with them for support and encouragement in their time of need.

If that person puts their faith and trust where it belongs, they will have to accept the facts about the deceased persons life.

But to add my own question to this one, how do you explain to someone that all things are done for the Glory of God? Even in the death of someone else, God will get Glory for it? Should you tell someone that God didn't do this, but allowed it because the person was not right with God and possibly because God wanted this experience to draw the other person to Him?

Though it can be sad, a believer is going to understand the fact that the person is where he is because of choices he made in his life. What unsaved people don't realize is that they are condemned already, not saved already. Most people think they are already going to heaven, unless they do something really bad. It is important that people know it is the other way around, and it is not God's fault for it, but sins! All this is because of sin.

[Pastor Garrisi]

Col 4:5  Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
Col 4:6  Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Mat 10:16  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

This may seem like a difficult situation but I believe God gives wisdom in every situation. There are several things we need to take into account when dealing with this.
1. The bible, as always, gives instruction in every situation and it behooves us to consult it more then our feelings. In Colossians it says that our speech should be always with grace meaning it does not always give the hearer exactly what he or she deserves. It gives them what they need to hear.
 
2. It also says seasoned with salt, which if you study salt you'll find it has three purposes. It irritates , it heals ,and it preserves. We must keep, I believe , these things in mind when dealing with a person who has lost a loved one. Too often we feel it is more important to irritate because we are right and it is the truth and forget grace, healing and preservation.
 
3. The bible talks about the believer putting away lying and speaking truth with his neighbor.(Eph 4:25) We should never lie to the bereaved nor any one for that matter.( We are christians, remember) I think most people can tell when your not sincere and all you'll do is prove to them that you care more for yourself and how you can avoid an uncomfortable situation. Remember, it is God who truly knows the heart and how can you be sure the deceased did not put his or her faith in Christ before they died.It can and has happened, with the exception of a baby of course.

 Psa 44:21  Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
4. The bible talks about there being a time to mourn.(Ecc. 3:4) God gives a time for everyone to mourn and we should respect that and learn to offer comfort as the bible provides. Of all books, the bible is the absolute source of comfort and if we can't find it in there it is because we don't read it enough.

5. Throughout the bible the principle theme is taught "Its not all about you"
its about pleasing the Lord. Many times people will try to avoid the bereaved one in order to avoid an uncomfortable situation for themselves.  I personally have lost a precious loved one and have had close friends, who did not know the Lord, lose close members of their family to death. The one thing I have learned is the bereaved don't always want to be avoided or see someone pretend like it never happened. Whats wrong with sharing in a few tears?(this is a tough one with us men)It maybe, that by caring you can turn tears of sorrow into tears of joy.  
 
Psa 126:5  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

6. The Lord must be glorified in all things. Whatever the situation point them to Christ. All things do work together for good and nothing surprises God.  God does have a reason for what he does and does not allow. We may not always have the why to life's trials but we that are saved should know the Who as the true provider of perfect peace.

  1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

  I do not have a patented answer or encourageing word to an unsaved person who has lost a loved one, because there is no patented response. You must rely on the Holy Spirit for leading in this area. He will always give you the right response but, it requires a close walk with him.

Trust the Lord he will never fail you