. . . But He’s Not Saved!
“Regi . . . but he’s not saved!” Every now and again, I hear these words from a mentor with a guy in his group who seems a little different. He doesn’t use the same evangelical language. He doesn’t have a “. . . then God” moment he can describe. He may not have found Jesus as he sat crying on a curb, blowing snot bubbles and weeping as the cop got ready to take him to jail, but that doesn’t mean he’s not saved. You don’t know and can’t know. Get this . . . no one knows who’s saved and who’s not! We can use churchy language and talk about ‘crossing the line of faith’ and inspecting the fruit, but truth is, only God knows who is saved and who isn’t. While I’d say it’s a pretty safe bet, in reality, only God knows if Billy Graham or Charles Stanley or Louie Giglio are saved. (Don’t email me.)
Radical Mentoring is about making disciple-makers, not converts. When Jesus picked His disciples, He didn’t say “believe in me” . . . He said, “follow me.” It’s a different call than the one He made to the masses. So is the call to be mentored in a Radical Mentoring group. Every man who gets in has to fill out an application that includes his faith story. We (the church or individual mentor) are instructed to pick professing Christians. Not super Christians, not evangelical Christians, not believe-just-like-me Christians. Professing Christians.
Over the seventeen groups I’ve led, there have been four guys who found over the course of the year they weren’t true believers. It was my pleasure to answer their questions and help them become Christians. But it was their idea! Their felt need. I didn’t compel them, guilt them, question them, shame them or anything like that. I utterly lived my life and followed the RM process. Ultimately, they decided they wanted more and that to have more meant they needed to follow Jesus, not just say they believed in Him. That led them to a new kind of faith that changed their lives forever.
So, what’s the point here? Love your mentees. If they profess their faith in Jesus, accept their testimony. Then invest in them. Build trust. Show them what “life to the full” looks like. You already shared your faith when you told your faith story. Now share your life. Remember the words of Jesus . . . “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:44). Let God draw them and make sure nothing in your life repels them. And “be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
Scripture: But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15)
Mentor Tip: Through your role as mentor, you’re uniquely positioned to speak into the lives of your men. Remember, the most powerful messages you can deliver to your mentees are God’s Word (prayerfully applied) and your own story. “Being prepared to give an answer” may mean fielding the question and meeting with your guy one-on-one after you’ve had time to research the Scriptures and pray about what God has shown you through your experience. Resist the temptation to be the ‘Bible Answer Man’ or the deal-closer trying to extract the sinner’s prayer.
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Responses (1)
Regi —
When I start a Mentoring Group, I find out on the first night if the guys are saved or not. It’s very helpful to know that information, as the Group moves forward.