MUCH MORE

BECOMING A CHRISTIAN IS MUCH MORE THAN MOUTHING THE RIGHT FORMULA OF WORDS. When we first hear the Gospel from someone, we usually are asked to repeat some word phrases, and that is all there is to it. Jesus talked about hearing the word, and responding to it.
“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.
But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” MATTHEW 13:19-23

This is called the “Parable of the Sower,” but a more apt name might be “Parable of the Ground.” For seed to work, the ground has to have some kind of tending especially if the ground has been hardened or full of rocks, or full of thorns and weeds.
In brief, this is really a two way process. Obviously, the hearer must hear and understand the words the speaker is saying, and the speaker must say the words the hearer can understand.. This is actually something called communication–that word comes from a root word:”commune.” On the other hand, a person is going to have to start moving the rocks out and digging the brush up for any seed to sprout and grow. If the seed just lays on hardpan soil it won’t even have any life.