The question has arised, can a non Christian be used by the Holy Spirit to lead others to Christ?
A friend of mine was educated in a private Church of England school. Part of that education was the confirmation class. Over a period of months, they were taught by the school chaplain all that was required in preparation for their confirmation service, and first communion. The confirmation service was to be held in the local Anglican cathedral, and they were to be confirmed by the Bishop.
My friend and his buddy were amongst a whole year's worth of children being prepared for this event. These two young boys were in a state of awe about what they had been told. They were taught that the ceremony of confirmation and laying on of hands was when the Holy Spirit of God would come upon them, whatever that meant!
On that day, the children were all white robed and waiting in a double line at the back of the cathedral. At the appropriate point they would be sent to walk the length of the aisle towards the wonderfully bedecked bishop, sitting Godlike on his glorious throne at the front. Then they would kneel down before his throne as he laid hands on them and spoke the magic words.
By friend and his buddy, when their time came, nervously walked down the aisle and knelt as they had been told. However for them there was a difference. The two of them had been talking about what they had learned during the boring religious lessons, and they both foolishly expected something special to happen when this representative of God laid hands on them and prayed.
As the Bishop reached out his hands and mumbled the words from his little book, the power of God fell on the two boys and filled them with the Holy Spirit and immediate speaking in tongues etc. Just like the bible promised.
Amazing, wonderful, powerful stuff........ Except that the outraged Bishop and the chaplain immediately started shouting and screaming at them to stop all that devilish demonic jabbering. The church officials went ballistic and two boys were terrified and humiliated into a crushed tearful silence.
The whole thing was wrapped up and swept under the carpet. Nobody spoke of it again.
Shocked into unbelief, my friend grew up and got on with his life, completely burying the whole event as one of those childhood nightmares best forgotten. His life tumbled on and things gradually descended into a chaos of alcoholism and a broken marriage. Only then did he encounter the gospel again. His wife came to know the Lord and he was persuaded to attend a meeting. It all flooded back. He was gloriously filled with the Holy Spirit again and God started to restore all things.
So yes, most certainly an unbeliever can lead others to Christ. Sadly when they do, these hypocrites all too often do what the Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus's time did. Shut up heaven against men. Neither entering themselves and making sure that those who are trying cannot enter.
