Responsibility and Reason

[Dan R. Crawford]

During my teaching years I often wondered why those who were saved as college students or older, were often more aggressive with their evangelistic witness than those who were “born in church” and became believers as a child. Then later I suffered sciatic pain stemming from bulging disks in my lower back.  For nine months I tried multiple cures – MRI, X-rays, meetings with specialists, epidural injections in the lower back, discussion with back surgeon, de-compression table, physical therapy, chiropractor visits, dry needling, cryotherapy, and various prescription pain meds. Nothing relieved my pain. One day I was introduced to deep tissue laser therapy, and the pain was gone. I wanted to tell my story, and especially my healing, to everyone who would listen.  Then I understood.  Those of us who were raised in Christian homes, grew up in church, and became believers at an early age, never suffered the pain of sin as did those who were saved later in life, after sin had taken a toll on them.  They had a more dramatic story to tell and told it with more intensity. Their pain was gone.  They had found healing. Both groups were equally saved, but those who had suffered from the pain of sin, seemed more ready to talk of the cure and their relief.  Both have a responsibility to share their story – “You shall be witnesses” (Acts 1:8); one group has a more deeply felt reason.