The Merriam-Webster Word of the Day for February 3rd was elicit.
They provided the following definition:
1 : to draw forth or bring out (something latent or potential) 2 : to call forth or draw out (as information or a response)
They also provided the following background on the word:
"Elicit" derives from the past participle of the Latin verb "elicere," formed by combining the prefix "e-" with the verb "lacere," meaning "to entice by charm or attraction." It is not related to its near-homophone, the adjective "illicit" — that word, meaning "unlawful," traces back to another Latin verb, "lic?re," meaning "to be permitted." Nor is "elicit" related to the verb "solicit," even though it sounds like it should be. "Solicit" derives from Latin "sollicitare" ("to disturb"), formed by combining the adjective "sollus," meaning "whole," with the past participle of the verb "ci?re," meaning "to move."
"To entice by charm or attraction"... hmmm.
Isn't that what is happening in many mainstream churches today?
- Let's put on a concert with music that will entice unbelievers to attend.
- Let's water down G-d's Word so that it won't offend anyone and attract them with promises of prosperity.
- Let's put on skits and dramas and do all sorts of things in order to elicit a response...
...from their flesh.
To quote a good friend of mine: "The problem is that [these programs] put the cart before the horse. They want Christians to do good works, but they want to skip the process of discipleship."
The work of the Spirit is the conviction of sin in the life of an individual.
It is the Word of G-d through which the Spirit acts.
How about we stop working so hard to elicit a response from unbeliever's flesh and instead
Give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. (1 Timothy 4:13)
and let the Spirit of G-d elicit the proper response from a person's soul.