The Rights and Wrongs of Evangelism

Introduction: The Necessity of the Gospel Proclamation
Christ died for sinners. John 11:25 proclaims our Lord's words, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live."

Evangelism is derived from the Greek root evangelion (ευαγγελιον), which translates to "the reward of good tidings." We as Christians are tasked with the proclamation of the good news of the Gospel that saves souls. Christ tells us, that "...this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Mt. 24:14). Our Lord also remind us, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest" (Lk. 10:2). Therefore, we as Christians have a charge to keep. We must proclaim the Gospel and be faith to the Word of God in our proclamations. So, what is our standard operating procedure in this endeavor?

The Rights and Wrongs of Evangelism
How can one go wrong by evangelizing? Well we when do so without a spirit of humility and humbleness, patience and love, then we may fail as ambassadors of Christ, and turn people off from the good news by our insensitive witness. Likewise, we fail to present the Gospel of faith and repentance.

2 Timothy 2:24-25 is a favorite memory verse of mine related to evangelism, because of its practicality.

"And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will."
—2 Timothy 2:24-26

The Golden Rule is Requisite for Evangelism

"And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition..."

(Note, the above excerpt is the focal point of the verse.) Our Lord Jesus tells us the golden rule, "‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’" (Mt. 22:39). How can we as Christians proclaim that precious Gospel that saves souls, and not do so in spirit of love, humility and compassion? When all is forgiven of us how can we not forgive our brothers? Likewise, how can we not approach evangelism with a forgiving spirit as apologists for Christ, recognizing that ridicule may occasionally come our way, but we do not worry, because we have an eternal perspective.

How can we as believers approach evangelism? First, regarding our modus operandi or mode of witnessing—being gentle and patient are vitally requisite for the evangelist. Prudent evangelism does not embody the use of hit and run tactics. Likewise, trying to beguile someone into a confession like pushy, almost coercive salesmen is a bad tactic too. Being overly persuassive and trying to lead the person on or beguile them by rhetorical sophistry is most definitely disadvantageous. What are we evangelizing for? The head count and our own pride of boasting? Of course not. But rather a geninue heart-felt desire to see souls saved through Jesus Christ and brought into fellowship with the church. We must therefore be faithful in our proclamation of the Gospel.

We can plant a seed in people's hearts, and after we plant that seed, if at all possible, we should water it. If we are evangelizing on the street or in public places amongst strangers, rather than simply sharing our faith and going our separate way, we can leave them with something tangible and substantive like a Bible, or a tract book elaborating on the Gospel, and perhaps an invitation to a church or ministry meeting.

With our friends, family and loved ones, and those we maintain an on-going relationship with, gentleness and patience are vitally requisite virtues in evangelizing. We can actually evangelize by living the Word in our day-to-day life, and showing how the Gospel has impacted our lives. Our effort is not to be pretenders, but we can manifest the joy of faith that impacts our day-to-day lives. Sometimes, I think loved ones are the hardest to reach, perhaps because they have seen us at our worst.

Conveying tacit or outright insults to someone trapped in sin is no way to win their heart. Telling people that God hates them because they are an adulterer, a fornicator, or a homosexual is no way at all to win their hearts. It is very much true that God's wrath abides on those unrepentant sinners that die without Christ, and that they may have committed any number of sins is besides the point. To be certain, the purpose of the evangelist is never to console people in their sins, but rather to awaken them to the perilous condition of their sin, and the righteous standards of the law by which we are judged. We must impress upon the lost person's heart of the hope that is in Christ Jesus, and the necessity of repentance. The gravity of sin separates humanity from God. And because God's overarching nature is His Holiness, and from His Holiness emanates not only His love but also His justice, so consequently his wrath abides on sin. We must confront the reality of sin, and confront the sinner with that reality.

Foremost, why we do preach and why proclaim the Gospel? We do so because we are imbued with the necessity of the Gospel's proclamation. And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “ How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15). We preach the Gospel out of a spirit of love, and out of spirit of gratefulness for what God done for us. Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. (Luke 10:1) An evangelist should be impressed with the majesty of grace and what he has been saved from. An evangelist should have the love of God in His heart, and however, dimunitive that love might be, it sparks a fire that drives a passion for saving souls.

Repentance is all of God

"...if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth..."

Repentance is wholly the efficacious and supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, which regenerates the depraved hearts of sinners and illuminates the believers mind to the truth of the Gospel so that they receive the implanted Word, and repent of their sins. Repentance is all of God. Our Lord tells us, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance" (Luke 5:32). The Apostle Paul tells us, "how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:20-21).

For the evangelist, recognizing that God is sovereign and that it is ultimately His supernatural work that effectuates sinners being born of the Spirit, should give Him comfort and hope.

God sets the Captives Free

"...that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will..."

The supernatural work of the Holy Spirit applies the work of Christ to the believer, effectively freeing him from the bondage of sin. No more does the blemish of sin soil us and separate us from God, but rather our eternal destiny is set. Upon being born again, and born of the Spirit, the believer is freed from the bondage of sin, and his eternal destiny is set.

Conclusion
We need more Christians to reflect upon the power of the Gospel. All evangelists need to be imbued with the requisite spirit of humility to faithfully proclaim the Gospel. Let us Christians all heed the wisdom of 2 Timothy 2:24-25.

Devotional - A friend you can always trust

Who is your best friend? "A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity" (Prv. 17:17).

These are words of wisdom from a good Christian pastor, which might help you reflect more on the matter.

If you could find the perfect friend, what would be your blueprint? You would probably choose someone who loves you just as you are, someone who overlooks every negative act and still loves you without condition. You'd pick someone who accepts you without regarding qualifications or stature.

No doubt, your friend would understand you fully and know why you're hurt, discouraged, or tempted, and he would understand even when you err. He doesn't agree with it, but he understands because he's been there.

Your ideal friend would be someone to whom you could tell your innermost desires and secrets without fear of rejection or criticism. The person would be committed to you, no matter the circumstance, and would be completely with you.

Your new friend would be selfless, showing you love every day and encouraging you to love others. He would offer inspiration and comfort simply be listening before answering. If you haven't met such a friend, it's time for an introduction.

This is Jesus Christ. He is your perfect friend.

—Charles Stanley, Seeking His Face

My best friend is Jesus Christ. Sometimes, experience tells us we cannot always trust even our closest friends. "Do not trust in a friend; Do not put your confidence in a companion; Guard the doors of your mouth From her who lies in your bosom" (Micah 7:5). But I can always trust in Jesus Christ. He will never betray me, nor forsake me, nor seek my hurt or shame.

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends" (John 15:13). He laid down his life for His flock. Our Lord tells us, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep" (John 10:11). Our friend Jesus "sympathize[s] with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Heb. 4:15). Christ is my advocate, my brother, my helper, my redeemer, and my best friend.

Click for crossover comments from God, Family and Republic.

Devotional - A Friend You Can Always Trust

Who is your best friend? "A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity" (Prv. 17:17).

These are words of wisdom from a good Christian pastor, which might help you reflect more on the matter.

If you could find the perfect friend, what would be your blueprint? You would probably choose someone who loves you just as you are, someone who overlooks every negative act and still loves you without condition. You'd pick someone who accepts you without regarding qualifications or stature.

No doubt, your friend would understand you fully and know why you're hurt, discouraged, or tempted, and he would understand even when you err. He doesn't agree with it, but he understands because he's been there.

Your ideal friend would be someone to whom you could tell your innermost desires and secrets without fear of rejection or criticism. The person would be committed to you, no matter the circumstance, and would be completely with you.

Your new friend would be selfless, showing you love every day and encouraging you to love others. He would offer inspiration and comfort simply be listening before answering. If you haven't met such a friend, it's time for an introduction.

This is Jesus Christ. He is your perfect friend.

—Charles Stanley, Seeking His Face

My best friend is Jesus Christ. Sometimes, experience tells us we cannot always trust even our closest friends. "Do not trust in a friend; Do not put your confidence in a companion; Guard the doors of your mouth From her who lies in your bosom" (Micah 7:5). But I can always trust in Jesus Christ. He will never betray me, nor forsake me, nor seek my hurt or shame.

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends" (John 15:13). He laid down his life for His flock. Our Lord tells us, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep" (John 10:11). Our friend Jesus "sympathize[s] with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Heb. 4:15). Christ is my advocate, my brother, my helper, my redeemer, and my best friend.

Devotional - Psalm 27: Faith in the midst of Adversity

The Lord is my strength, my helper, my watch tower, my deliver, and I find solace and comfort in the words of the Psalmist who says:

"The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident."
—Psalm 27:1-3

Matthew Henry delves into the underlying meaning of the twenty-seventh Psalm in his commentary:

We may observe here,

I. With what a lively faith David triumphs in God, glories in his holy name, and in the interest he had in him. 1. The Lord is my light. David's subjects called him the light of Israel, 2 Samuel 21:17. And he was indeed a burning and a shining light: but he owns that he shone, as the moon does, with a borrows light; what light God darted upon him reflected upon them: The Lord is my light. God is a light to his people, to show them the way when they are in doubt, to comfort and rejoice their hearts when they are in sorrow. It is in his light that they now walk on in their way, and in his light they hope to see light for ever. 2. "He is my salvation, in whom I am safe and by whom I shall be saved." 3. "He is the strength of my life, not only the protector of my exposed life, who keeps me from being slain, but the strength of my frail weak life, who keeps me from fainting, sinking, and dying away." God, who is a believer's light, is the strength of his life, not only by whom, but in whom, he lives and moves. In God therefore let us strengthen ourselves.

II. With what an undaunted courage he triumphs over his enemies; no fortitude like that of faith. If God be for him, who can be against him? Whom shall I fear? Of whom shall I be afraid? If Omnipotence be his guard, he has no cause to fear; if he knows it to be so, he has no disposition to fear. If God be his light, he fears no shades; if God be his salvation, he fears no colours. He triumphs over his enemies that were already routed, Psalms 27:2. His enemies came upon him, to eat up his flesh, aiming at no less and assured of that, but they fell; not, "He smote them and they fell," but, "They stumbled and fell;" they were so confounded and weakened that they could not go on with their enterprise. Thus those that came to take Christ with a word's speaking were made to stagger and fall to the ground, John 18:6. The ruin of some of the enemies of God's people is an earnest of the complete conquest of them all. And therefore, these having fallen, he is fearless of the rest: "Though they be numerous, a host of them,--though they be daring and their attempts threatening,--though they encamp against me, an army against one man,--though they wage war upon me, yet my heart shall not fear." Hosts cannot hurt us if the Lord of hosts protect us. Nay, in this assurance that God is for me "I will be confident." Two things he will be confident of:-- 1. That he shall be safe. "If God is my salvation, in the time of trouble he shall hide me; he shall set me out of danger and above the fear of it." God will not only find out a shelter for his people in distress (as he did Jeremiah 36:26), but he will himself be their hiding-place, Psalms 32:7. His providence will, it may be, keep them safe; at least his grace will make them easy. His name is the strong tower into which by faith they run, Proverbs 18:10. "He shall hide me, not in the strongholds of En-gedi (1 Samuel 23:29), but in the secret of his tabernacle." The gracious presence of God, his power, his promise, his readiness to hear prayer, the witness of his Spirit in the hearts of his people--these are the secret of his tabernacle, and in these the saints find cause for that holy security and serenity of mind in which they dwell at ease. This sets them upon a rock which will not sink under them, but on which they find firm footing for their hopes; nay, it sets them up upon a rock on high, where the raging threatening billows of a stormy sea cannot touch them; it is a rock that is higher than we, Psalms 61:2. 2. That he shall be victorious (Psalms 27:6): "Now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies, not only so as that they cannot reach it with their darts, but so as that I shall be exalted to bear rule over them." David here, by faith in the promise of God, triumphs before the victory, and is as sure, not only of the laurel, but of the crown, as if it were already upon his head.

III. With what a gracious earnestness he prays for a constant communion with God in holy ordinances, Psalms 27:4. It greatly encouraged his confidence in God that he was conscious to himself of an entire affection to God and to his ordinances, and that he was in his element when in the way of his duty and in the way of increasing his acquaintance with him. If our hearts can witness for us that we delight in God above any creature, that may encourage us to depend upon him; for it is a sign we are of those whom he protects as his own. Or it may be taken thus: He desired to dwell in the house of the Lord that there he might be safe from the enemies that surrounded him. Finding himself surrounded by threatening hosts, he does not say, "One thing have I desired, in order to my safety, that I may have my army augmented to such a number," or that I may be master of such a city or such a castle, but "that I may dwell in the house of the Lord, and then I am well."

Why am I a Baptist?
I am congregationalist as far as church polity goes and as far as baptism goes I am credo-baptist, which in laymen's terms means that I believe in believer's baptism by submersion.

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
—Ephesians 4:4-5

Like Jesus, John the Baptist, and the Apostle Paul, I believe that credo-Baptism (viz. believer's baptism) is the proper ordinance of baptism instituted by the church and practiced by the Apostles.

The Reformers on Baptism
Though, many Reformers continued to practice the doctrine of paedo-baptism (viz. infant baptism) or baptism by sprinkling as was the practice in the Roman church. However, many among those prominent Reformers readily conceded that baptism by immersion was the ancient, apostolic and established mode of baptism. Martin Luther wrote: "Baptism is a sign both of death and resurrection. Being moved by this reason, I would have those that are baptized to be altogether dipped into the water, as the word means and the mystery signifies." The respected church history chronicler Philip Schaff avowed, "Luther sought to restore immersion, but without effect" (History of the Christian Church. Vol. II, p. 251). Although, John Calvin admitted infant baptism by sprinkling was among the proper modes, he asserted that baptism by submersion was the practice of the early church and the Apostles. Calvin wrote: "The very word baptize, however, signifies to immerse; and it is certain that immersion was the practice of the ancient Church" (Institutes of the Christian Religion. Book IV, Chapter XV). William Tyndale proclaimed belief in believer's baptism, declaring, "Baptism was a plunging into the water. Baptism to avail must include repentance, faith, and confession. The Church must, therefore, consist of believers." Surprising to many modern Methodists, John Wesley, founder of Methodist movement, practiced baptism by immersion. Commenting on Romans 6:4, in his Explanatory Notes on the New Testament (1755), Wesley wrote: "We are buried with him–alluding to the ancient manner of baptizing by immersion."

Baptists on Baptism
Finally, I offer no apologies for being a believer's baptist adherant, for it was the mode of the early church, and an ordinance practiced by John the Baptist. As A.W. Pink says,

This is the name which God gave to the first man who He called and commissioned to do any baptizing. He named him John the Baptist. Hence, real Baptists have no reason to be ashamed of or to apologize for the Scriptural name they bear.
—A.W. Pink, "The Churches of God," Studies in the Scriptures, (Dec. 1927), p. 5.

While I was raised in a Congregational Christian church, if I were to move out of town, in all likelihood I would settle in a sound Baptist church.

C.H. Spurgeon, the Baptist Prince of Preachers from London, once said,

We believe that the Baptists are the original Christians. We did not commence our existence at the reformation, we were reformers before Luther and Calvin were born; we never came from the Church of Rome, for we were never in it, but we have an unbroken line up to the apostles themselves. We have always existed from the days of Christ, and our principles, sometimes veiled and forgotten, like a river which may travel under ground for a little season, have always had honest and holy adherents. Persecuted alike by Romanists and Protestants of almost every sect, yet there has never existed a Government holding Baptist principles which persecuted others; nor, I believe, any body of Baptists ever held it to be right to put the consciences of others under the control of man...

There is a modicum of truth to this statement as there have always been adherants to believer's baptism throughout Christendom, throughout its history from Christ's time, and long before the Reformation and they persisted in isolated quarters even in the days of Papacy's ironclad supremacy over Europe. Though some of my ancestors admittedly tried to reform the Church of England, but I have good reason to concede that those ancestors were probably beholden to paedo-baptist doctrine. I cannot maintain my Christian forefathers were all Baptists. Eventually, their posterity opted to become Puritan Congregationalists and leave the established Anglican church, particularly the branch of the family that made passage to America, and those Christians in my lineage became Baptists for the most part as well.

An interesting side note: many parishes within the Orthodox church insist on baptism by submersion, and the Orthodox claim that their traditions proceed those instituted by Rome. So, this is another monkeywrench for those who seek to appeal to the antiquity of paedo-baptism as doctrine.

What Baptism Represents
Please read John Piper's John Piper Series on Christian Baptism for a clearly articulated in-depth elucidation of baptism. Simply put, the ordinance of baptism is symbolic of cleansing, putting off the old man, and being buried and raised in the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
—Colossians 2:12

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
—Romans 6:3-4

We obey the ordinance because we seek to please God, and to reflect upon the new man, but it is by no means requisite for salvation.

We Baptists do not believe in any notions of baptismal regeneration, which we find to be a rather baneful works-righteousness doctrine opposed to Scripture. I've heard the infant baptism rebuttal on occasion, "Those baptists think that droves of water shall save them." That is a straw man argument. No Baptist believes that. Granted, some Baptists have offered weak attacks on paedo-baptists using a similar line of reasoning. It's not the church you need, it's not the sacraments you need, it is Christ's blood and Christ's blood alone that saves the soul!!! Salvation is found only in Jesus Christ, and Christ alone.

I remain unmoved by those brands of covenant theology that presuppose that the ordinance of baptism, supposedly was put in place to directly supplant the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenant seals of circumcision. It's just blatant eisegesis. Besides, baptism is for all believers, not just males. There is nothing explicit in the Scriptures giving credance to infant baptism as an established Apostolic mode. It's a Papal contrivance. I've heard some pretty shoddy arguments from certain Presbyterians who happen to be absolute dogmatists about the validity of infant baptism, and the invalidity of believer's baptism. Whereas many Reformers who accepted the validity of infant baptism readily acknowledged that baptism by submersion was the mode of the early church, these Presbyterians go so far as to deny Jesus was even baptized by submersion (Luke 3:15-17). By far some of the more comical rebuttals is hearing that when Jesus went down to the River Jordan, he was merely sprinkled from afar along the banks. Jesus and John the Baptist were not hydrophobic! I grant that merely because baptism by submersion was the established ancient mode, it doesn't de facto make infant baptism invalid for that reason alone. However, why set yourself up for a fall like that? Admittedly, there are more reflective thinkers who make cases for covenental infant baptism, but I remain unpersuaded.

The Meaning of Baptism
The word "baptize" is translated from the original Greek/Koine word "baptizo", which means to immerse. "Baptizo" does not mean to sprinkle, the act of sprinkling, or the act of pouring. God would have inspired the New Testament writers to use the Greek word "rhantizo," if he meant sprinkling to be the proper mode. So there is your big rebuttal, when you paedo-baptists say, "Oh yeah, well believer's baptism isn't mentioned explicitly either." The word baptism means submersion! Duh!

Baptists criticized for infant dedications...
Some infant baptism adherants have a penchant for mocking public infant dedication in evangelical churches, which is admittedly not an Apostolic ordinance! Why must one ritualize everything anyway? And what Baptist ever said it was? Joshua 24:15 says, "But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." The faithful have long dedicated their children to God, and pleaded for their salvation, and for God's blessing in their lives. Hannah dedicated the prophet Samuel after all. There is nothing wrong with dedicating a child whether in public or private, assembled with a family in prayer, or husband and wife pleading for God's blessing in their children's lives—or in public profession amongst a congregation. The dedication means that the parents commit themselves to raising their child in the ways of the Lord, and pleading for blessing and protection upon the life of that child. That is essentially what these infant baptism adherants do with infant baptism, and only to turn around and mock us for not using their presupposed requisite sprinkling of H20. I shall dedicate my future posterity to Christ, and ask for his blessing upon their lives, and wisdom as I commit myself to raising them in fear and admonition of the Lord. I have already prayed for them before.

The Closing Salvo

It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
—Mark 1:9-11

Believer's baptism is biblical! "Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized" (Jhn. 3:23). Now, why did John the Baptist want to goto place with "much water" to perform baptism? "...And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him" (Acts 8:38). Again, why go down to the water to perform baptism? Sprinkling and pouring merely requires that one bring the water to the person being doused with water. Notice the following verse, "Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away... and he went on his way rejoicing" (Acts 8:39). In order that that man come up out of the water, he first had to be submerged down into the water.

Finally, just read Luke 3:15-17; Luke 3:21-22; Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:4-11; John 1:29-34 if you need an added baptismal doctrinal lesson.

Yeah, one has to lift weights and freebase creatine to be a Baptist preacher... some of these baptizees aren't featherweights you know. Yes, we could take the easy way out like those hydrophobic denominations like Episcopalians and Presbyterians, but we're sticking with the Bible's way.

As for concern whether other modes of baptism are Biblical, it's not my concern, and I won't speak to the matter, but I will, however, embrace the mode of baptism established by John the Baptist, the Apostles and the early church—which is believer's baptism by submersion.

Related Articles:
Pro-Credo-Baptist
A Scriptural Critique of Infant Baptism by John MacArthur
An Exposition of Acts 2:39 and Infant Baptism by John Reisinger
The Ancient Mode of Baptism by John Gill
An Introduction to Christian Baptism by W.J. Seaton
Baptism—A Burial by C.H. Spurgeon
Baptism: A Matter of Obedience by John MacArthur
Series on Christian Baptism by John Piper

Pro-Paedo Baptist
Granted, since I have alluded to some of the weaker arguments made by Presbyterians I shall be even-handed and reference some of their more thoughtful and reflective theological arguments vindicating infant baptism, least I be guilty of erecting the same straw man arguments that I have seen some of them doing in attacking believer's baptism.

A Case for Infant Baptism by Rev. Scott J. Simmons
Candid reasons for renouncing the principles of anti-paedobaptism by Pastor Peter Edwards
Covenant Baptism: I Will Be Your God and Your Children’s God by Dr. R. S. Clark
Covenantal Infant Baptism: An Outlined Defense by Gregg Strawbridge


Credits
(Baptismal picture above is from River Springs Church baptismal service.)