Push vs. Pull

From time to time, we hear the phrase "push versus pull."  It used to show up a lot around conference tables in corporate America because it is an old marketing term.  The idea was that a company making 'widgets' for example, could expect a certain level of product pushed down the assembly line because the customer was pulling a certain amount of demand.  If widgets were popular that year, then supply and demand would bring high profits for the company - they would feel a natural pull for higher production and shareholders would be happy.   

Widgets are a fictional item, so I would like to apply this principal in a more realistic way to our spiritual lives for a moment.  In order to do this, I must change the metaphor just slightly.  We all know what it's like to be forced (or "pushed") into doing something that we don't really want to do.  This type of relationship often yields mediocre results in both churches and the workplace, not to mention personal relationships.  Take for example, a boss that tells you to take a forced furlough without pay during certain slow months of the year.  I suspect many employees would use this frustrating time to look for another job.  

As I said a moment ago, we can apply this to the world of personal relationships also.  Take another example: the friend that coerces you into doing something you would rather not do.  Maybe they are convinced that you owe them something, so the intention is to guilt you into performing at a level they desire.  Wouldn't most people do only the bare minimum at that point?  It doesn't make for an ideal situation.  The difficult friend may get what they want, but it creates a lose-lose result ultimately. 

Another interesting thing occurs when people are pushed into a form of rule book religion at church.  Maybe they have a pastor who believes that only good works get you closer to heaven, and so they try and try to live a good life through behavior modification as best they can; resulting in the inevitable frustration when they do eventually fall short and sin.  This exemplifies an understanding of God that never really allows grace into the equation.  In other words, the idea is that if you want forgiveness ... you must earn it yourself.  

Jeremiah was a Biblical prophet that foresaw the destruction of Jerusalem and the fall of Assyria.  He was often called the 'weeping prophet', because much of what he had to say was negative.  He often didn't want to say what God put on his heart, and the people didn't want to hear it.  What a difficult job, right?

Jeremiah 31:3 says this, "The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: 'I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.'"  The prophet is speaking to Israel here, on behalf of God.  This time it is good news!  Notice how the Lord decides to draw people to himself - it's a pull, not a push.   It's a gentle word of encouragement and an everlasting love pulling God's chosen people back to Himself.  

We all know that the opposite of this gentle encouragement (feeling the violent push aforementioned) can result in rebellion.  If someone were to exclude Jeremiah 31 and other similar passages from their Biblical worldview, and try to argue people into the Christian faith, we wouldn't have many followers.   While logical arguments and reason do play a part in Apologetics and conversion, I believe that the vast majority of converts follow Jesus today because someone showed them love and kindness.

I attended a large, non-denominational church years ago in a different city.  The pastor was someone about my own age, who also had young children.  We had quite a bit in common, and I'm sure it was clear to him that I was in need of the real Jesus back then.  So he took the time to offer me counsel when needed, and to help me make sense of the Scriptures.  I studied, and then he guided.  He used love and kindness to help draw me to the Lord (never arguing or becoming impatient).  His was a faith built on trust and goodness, and it helped me find my own way to the cross.  In effect, God pulled me to Himself through this young preacher.  Right time, right place, right relationship.  

Since that time, I have been witness to both the effect of graceless, rule book religion's harmful results, as well as forgiveness and mature Christianity.  Pulling people to Jesus is always the most effective way.  Gentleness works. 

A 'pulled Christian' will change the world, one convert at a time, because kindness is universal.  The church does have access to an undeniable and exclusive truth (i.e.: Jesus is the only way to the Father).  But we need not wield that truth like a weapon, using it to argue or chastise the lost.  We pull them to church instead, then the Spirit loves them, and Jesus does the judging in his own time.  

We are far more important than widgets, and the work of the church is of immutable value when it comes to pulling people to heaven.  We offer our hand in a friendly gesture, their fingers holding ours tightly.  All the while, Jesus pulling both of us upward together by his own force.  

 

 

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