ILLUSTRATION 89

CASTOR OIL LOVE

Topics: Beliefs; Evangelism; Judging Others; Legalism; Preaching; Religion; Teaching; Testimony; Witnessing

References: Matthew 6:5; 7:12; 28:19–20; 1 Corinthians 9:19–23; 1 Peter 3:15

Every day, at exactly the same time, Margaret would go to the bathroom cabinet, open it, and take out a huge bottle of castor oil. Then she would head to the kitchen to get a tablespoon. At the sound of the drawer opening and the silverware rattling, Patches, her Yorkshire terrier, would run and hide—sometimes under the bed, at other times in the bathtub or behind Margaret’s recliner.

Someone had convinced Margaret that Patches would have strong teeth, a beautiful coat, and a long life if she gave him a spoonful of castor oil every day. So, as an act of love every twenty-four hours, she cornered Patches, pinned him down, pried open his mouth, and poured a tablespoon of castor oil down his little doggie throat. Neither Patches nor Margaret enjoyed their daily wrestling match.

Then one day, in the middle of their battle royal, with one sideways kick, Patches sent the dreaded bottle of castor oil flying across the kitchen floor. It was a momentary victory for the canine, as Margaret let him go so she could run to the pantry and grab a towel to clean up the mess.

When Margaret got back, she was utterly shocked. There was Patches licking up the spilled castor oil with a look of satisfaction only a dog can make. Margaret began to laugh uncontrollably. In one moment, it all made sense. Patches liked castor oil. He just hated being pinned down and having it poured down his throat.

Welcome to the world of evangelism!

—Kevin G. Harney, Seismic Shifts (Zondervan, 2005)

Why Evangelize?

1A. Because of the command of Christ:

Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 16:15 (cf. John 14:15).

2A. Because of the condition of all men:

Matthew 9:36–38; 13:49–50; II Thessalonians 1:7–10; I Peter 4:17–18; Jude 23; Revelation 20:15.

3A. Because of the consequences of the gospel:

Matthew 7:13; 14:49–50; II Thessalonians 1:7–10; I Peter 4:17–18; Jude 23; Revelation 20:15.

4A. Because of the coming of Christ:

I Corinthians 15:58; II Corinthians 5:10–11; I Thessalonians 2:19–20.

5A. Because of the constraint of love:

II Corinthians 5:14 (cf. Paul’s example in Romans 9:1–3; 10–1).

6A. Because of the character of the gospel: It is the only thing that works!

Acts 4:12; Romans 1:14–16

7A. Because of the commitment of the message to us:

I Corinthians 9:16–23; II Corinthians 5:18–20; I Thessalonians 2:4–8; I Timothy 1:11–16.

1B. Application:

1C. Isolation: avoiding all association and contact with unbelievers for fear of contamination.

2C. Compromise: adapting to secular culture to the point of sinful practices and questionable behavior.

3C. Separation: approaching unbelievers within their cultural framework, but maintaining moral purity (cf. II Corinthians 6:14–7:1; I Corinthians 5:9–11; 9:19–22).

The Biola Hour Guidelines, What We Believe, by David L. Hocking, (La Mirada, CA: Biola Univ., 1982), pp. 10-1