Tricking Unbelievers into the Kingdom

Is it okay to trick someone into believing God or receiving salvation?

This question arose in my spirit during a time of journaling and meditation and the answer that I would give is definitively, NO. When there is a since of trickery involved in the ministry of salvation, then God is not involved in that process. As Christians we need to be mindful of our heart motivations when it comes to evangelizing to the world. Many believers have fallen victim to perverse forms of the Gospel and begin to spread, what Paul termed, “another gospel” (Gal. 1:6-12).

In order for Christ’s salvation to be brought to unbelievers there is no need for trickery or manipulation of any sort. These terms do not resemble the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22); and our holy God operates in nothing outside of His fruits. However, there are Christians who use scare tactics, dooms day messages, and domineering stances to hustle people into the Kingdom of God. This need not be so! I am a firm believer that the pure unadulterated word of God will do the work that it was intended to accomplish. No additions needed. The word alone is sharper than any two edge sword and will pierce and cut the hearts, emotions, motives, thoughts, and relationships it needs to.

Therefore, as people of God we need to be mindful of the phrases that we include God’s name in. When we say things like “God ‘set you up’ for salvation today”, it comes off as if God is a hustler of sorts. Instead just advise unbelievers that this is their appointed time for salvation, as was reserved from the beginning of time. Just think of Esther’s story and how she was elevated to a position of power because God had prepared and anointed her “for a time such as this” (Esther 4:13-14). Accordingly, God will make it clear to unbelievers when it is there time to receive salvation from Christ. It is then their decision as to whether they are going to be accepting of His gift. And, all believers are to do is receive those, in love, who have decided to join the family and continue praying for proper direction (and mercy) for those who have wavered from God’s beckoning call.

We must keep our own feelings and emotions out of the way because our “pushiness”, so to speak, has the detrimental potential of pushing the lost away permanently. And by all means, we will be held accountable for all the lost sheep that we lead further away from the flock because of twisted, manipulatively aggressive, scare tactics. God is love and everything that He’s does is in decency and in order. So our evangelism cannot lack love, decency and order without negating God’s participation. Thus, it’s imperative that we be sensitive to the spiritual realm; detecting and keeping our personal motives in check when it comes to handling one of God’s fragile souls.

Nikki D