Do you take evangelism seriously?

[evangelist6589]

Some of you will go to great lengths to debate theological issues that will never be resolved until we are in heaven (Cal vs. Armin, Eschatology, Lordship salvation vs. free grace, etc..). While debating is okay, what makes it wrong are those that would rather debate over do evangelism, and those that do not evangelize. So have you witnessed to your neighbors? Do you pass out tracts to the lost? There are DOZENS of tract ministries out there and some are weaker than others. Perhaps the most exhaustive tracts in print are ones written by John MacArthur
http://www.gty.org/products/booklets/45GT/gospel-tract-100-copies
But plenty of quality ones by Way of the Master, among other ministries are in print.

If you would rather not pass out tracts then by all means go and witness to your neighbors. But do evangelize and do not make excuses why you cannot evangelize.

 

[Revmitchell]

If you are not going out to lead people to the Lord and then intend to disciple them as it says in Matthew 28:18-20 then you are not evangelizing.

 

[evangelist6589]

If you are not going out to lead people to the Lord and then intend to disciple them as it says in Matthew 28:18-20 then you are not evangelizing.

No you are going out to obey the great commission and preach to every creature. But it is God that grants faith and repentance and draws man to salvation. We just obey the Bible.

 

[Revmitchell]

No you are going out to obey the great commission and preach to every creature. But it is God that grants faith and repentance and draws man to salvation. We just obey the Bible.

No you are going out to obey the great commission and preach to every creature. But it is God that grants faith and repentance and draws man to salvation. We just obey the Bible.

While you play the game of rhetorical semantics you missed the point. Simply handing out tracks is not evangelism. Leading people to the Lord must be followed up with personally discipling them. You do not just tell them about Jesus and walk away. The great commission in Matthew 28 says "and teaching them all things I have taught you" in other words discipleship.

 

[SolaSaint]

Sadly I do not evangelize like I once did in the past. Pray for God to move me and for me to obedient.

 

[agedman]

No you are going out to obey the great commission and preach to every creature. But it is God that grants faith and repentance and draws man to salvation. We just obey the Bible.

I preach every day.

When I drive:
I preach to the bugs splattering on the windshield, thankful that they didn't get all over me.
I preach to the road that develops pot holes just exactly the size that fits my tires so that the greatest damage is done.
I preach to the squirrels, cats, dogs and any human that might cross my path.
I preach to the rain to wait until I am finished shopping.
I preach all the time, but no creature or thing does much listening.

When at home:
----
----
----
----
----
my wife does the preaching.

 

[evangelist6589]

While you play the game of rhetorical semantics you missed the point. Simply handing out tracks is not evangelism. Leading people to the Lord must be followed up with personally discipling them. You do not just tell them about Jesus and walk away. The great commission in Matthew 28 says "and teaching them all things I have taught you" in other words discipleship.

You do not understand proper soteriology. I preach and God convicts the elect.

 

[evangelist6589]

I preach every day.

When I drive:
I preach to the bugs splattering on the windshield, thankful that they didn't get all over me.
I preach to the road that develops pot holes just exactly the size that fits my tires so that the greatest damage is done.
I preach to the squirrels, cats, dogs and any human that might cross my path.
I preach to the rain to wait until I am finished shopping.
I preach all the time, but no creature or thing does much listening.

When at home:
----
----
----
----
----
my wife does the preaching.

But you must tell the good news to the lost.

 

[Baptist Believer]

You do not understand proper soteriology. I preach and God convicts the elect.

You are completely missing the point and/or making an idol out of your theology. The Rev is absolutely right. He's quoting The explicit call of Jesus to make disciples of which "soul-winning" is only the first step. You must present a gospel that includes a call to discipleship and then follow-through as much as possible. Obviously, others and the larger body of Christ will share that work, but your evangelism must be rooted in a doctrine of discipleship. Tracts are okay in a few situations, but they are not much more than modern sales methodology. Modern methods are fine as long as the medium does not become the message.

You would be wise to listen to The Rev on this point.

 

[Revmitchell]

You do not understand proper soteriology[sic]. I preach and God convicts the elect.

Apparently you do not understand what I am saying. I have said nothing about how one is convicted. In fact it has not been in view of anything I have said. When you preach the gospel to the lost you are leading them to salvation. Once they have accepted the gospel and are saved (regardless of the means by which that occurs) you now have a responsibility to further disciple them on how to walk with the Lord until they can move forward on their own. This is not an option it is a clear command of God. If you are not doing this you are not doing Evangelism. If you do not know this then it is you who does not understand not only Evangelism but Soteriology.

 

[evangelist6589]

You are completely missing the point and/or making an idol out of your theology. The Rev is absolutely right. He's quoting The explicit call of Jesus to make disciples of which "soul-winning" is only the first step. You must present a gospel that includes a call to discipleship and then follow-through as much as possible. Obviously, others and the larger body of Christ will share that work, but your evangelism must be rooted in a doctrine of discipleship. Tracts are okay in a few situations, but they are not much more than modern sales methodology. Modern methods are fine as long as the medium does not become the message.

You would be wise to listen to The Rev on this point.

And you would be wise to spend quality time with a rabbit! I am not making an idol out of my theology I am speaking what scripture teaches. It is you that have chosen to ignore it.

Look I am all for discipleship but God has to draw a disciple for me to disciple.

 

[evangelist6589]

Apparently you do not understand what I am saying. I have said nothing about how one is convicted. In fact it has not been in view of anything I have said. When you preach the gospel to the lost you are leading them to salvation. Once they have accepted the gospel and are saved (regardless of the means by which that occurs) you now have a responsibility to further disciple them on how to walk with the Lord until they can move forward on their own. This is not an option it is a clear command of God. If you are not doing this you are not doing Evangelism. If you do not know this then it is you who does not understand not only Evangelism but Soteriology.

So you are placing the burden of conviction on me and stating that since people are not being saved when I witness then I am not doing evangelism? I am all for discipling people, but God has to draw the elect.

 

[Revmitchell]

So you are placing the burden of conviction on me and stating that since people are not being saved when I witness then I am not doing evangelism? I am all for discipling people, but God has to draw the elect.

I did not say any of that. Everyone else has understood what I posted except you. Why is that?

 

[Rolfe]

And you would be wise to spend quality time with a rabbit!

"Dislike" is the new Rabbit. Catch up. Wink

 

[Rolfe]

So you are placing the burden of conviction on me and stating that since people are not being saved when I witness then I am not doing evangelism? I am all for discipling people, but God has to draw the elect.

And you wonder why your Pastor does not want you to teach Sunday School?

 

[Revmitchell]

By the way. Adult conversations do not include the phrase "go spend time with a rabbit".

 

[agedman]

But you must tell the good news to the lost.

Not so.

The Lord Jesus Christ called me to be a witness. "You shall be witnesses..."

Some that I come in contact may certainly be lost, some not - ONLY God knows those that are His.

I am not desiring to quench your zeal; rather, I don't think that, because a bunch of elderly spend time on this BB discussing the fine doctrines, we are all lazy or not witnessing, which is essentially the statement of the OP.

You assume that younger members of the BB, who are not standing on the street corner hollering, may lack the zeal of seeing others believe Christ. Or, perhaps if those don't use the "way of the master" or some pamphlet by McA the job is less than it should be and in danger of the message not being complete. That is just not correct, nor is it particularly Scriptural.

Be zealous. Certainly.

Contend for the faith. Earnestly.

I am thankful that God has put it in your heart to preach to the streets.

As I go, I testify of the goodness of God, I give of the abundance He has given, and witness of the death, burial and resurrection of BOTH Christ and me. For I die daily to that which is fleshly, my sin(s) are buried to be remembered no more, and I have great confidence of that first resurrection that first fruit which I too will partake when raised.

 

[evangelist6589]

Not so.

The Lord Jesus Christ called me to be a witness. "You shall be witnesses..."

Some that I come in contact may certainly be lost, some not - ONLY God knows those that are His.

I am not desiring to quench your zeal; rather, I don't think that, because a bunch of elderly spend time on this BB discussing the fine doctrines, we are all lazy or not witnessing, which is essentially the statement of the OP.

You assume that younger members of the BB, who are not standing on the street corner hollering, may lack the zeal of seeing others believe Christ. Or, perhaps if those don't use the "way of the master" or some pamphlet by McA the job is less than it should be and in danger of the message not being complete. That is just not correct, nor is it particularly Scriptural.

Be zealous. Certainly.

Contend for the faith. Earnestly.

I am thankful that God has put it in your heart to preach to the streets.

As I go, I testify of the goodness of God, I give of the abundance He has given, and witness of the death, burial and resurrection of BOTH Christ and me. For I die daily to that which is fleshly, my sin(s) are buried to be remembered no more, and I have great confidence of that first resurrection that first fruit which I too will partake when raised.

A good book for you to read is called "The Gospel and Personal Evangelism" by Mark Dever. What the book does well of is explaining what the scripture really teaches on what evangelism is. And by all means evangelism is telling the message to the lost. How you can think otherwise is beyond what the scripture teaches.

Try reading the book of Acts. They told the message to the lost, and so often did they open air it.

My critics have taken me out of context to imply that I am saying that open air preaching is the only way to witness. I have never said this and these rabbits should stop this lie.

 

[robustheologian]

Some of you will go to great lengths to debate theological issues that will never be resolved until we are in heaven (Cal vs. Armin, Eschatology, Lordship salvation vs. free grace, etc..). While debating is okay, what makes it wrong are those that would rather debate over do evangelism, and those that do not evangelize. So have you witnessed to your neighbors? Do you pass out tracts to the lost? There are DOZENS of tract ministries out there and some are weaker than others. Perhaps the most exhaustive tracts in print are ones written by John MacArthur
http://www.gty.org/products/booklets/45GT/gospel-tract-100-copies
But plenty of quality ones by Way of the Master, among other ministries are in print.

If you would rather not pass out tracts then by all means go and witness to your neighbors. But do evangelize and do not make excuses why you cannot evangelize.

All Christians are called to evangelize...not just pontificate on abstract theological matters. I've been busy with school as of late but a group of us from my church still go out once a month to hit the pavement. Great post!!

 

[Rolfe]

My critics have taken me out of context to imply that I am saying that open air preaching is the only way to witness. I have never said this and these rabbits should stop this lie.

No, you only think that. It seems that, at least some times, you read the words in others' posts without understanding what they are actually writing.