Volume 2 Issue 1 January 1996
by Robert Hudson
As the servants of the Almighty God we understand it is His will that all men be saved. We also understand that no man can be saved unless He first is exposed to the gospel message for only it is God's power unto salvation. Knowing this gives us a keen awareness of the importance of evangelism.
Sadly, such an important work has long been overshadowed by controversy and misplaced energies. Well intentioned men, harboring a heated desire to convert vast crowds to the Lord, have run wild in their zeal and left the scriptural pattern and authority for evangelism behind them. They have established secular institutions such as Missionary Societies to do the work of the local church and individual Christian. Congregations have cooperated in unscriptural union to assume a larger work than any one local autonomy
could do alone. Programs on radio and television which reach millions of people and cost millions of dollars are organized by a sponsoring church. These sponsoring churches plan and oversee the work, soliciting and collecting the required funds from many congregations all across the country.
One might ask what could be wrong with such a noble and industrious effort? As long as souls hear the gospel, what dies it matter through what method, group, or organization they hear it? These questions can only be answered by returning to the N.T. as our sole source of authority and consent. Never in God's word are congregations given permission to co-opt each other's work. Never does a congregation have the right to assume the work of another! For one congregation to shoulder the work of teaching a whole nation or world sounds ambitious; yet this ambition is very select and leaves the vast majority being deceived into thinking they are teaching the world when they are not. Such unscriptural cooperation ironically leaves many both mute and satisfied at the same time.
We can readily find the scriptural pattern of evangelism over and again in the work of N.T. congregations. They each did their own work. This work of teaching was done person to person by individual children of god. Please not these examples:
"At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria...Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word." (Acts 8:1,4).
"And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:2).
In both passages we see the wisdom of God's eternal plan to teach the lost: men will tell men the wonders of God and salvation. This isn't done electronically or via mass media. It's best done fact to face! This pattern is too simple for ambitious men, and it's too much work for lazy men, but to the God-fearing man it is the sweet smell of spiritual success. A key point in all this is the ability and desire that individuals in local congregations must have to save lost souls. Notice the intensity James places on individual Christians working to reach the lost.
"And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh." (Jude 22,23).
Each local congregation must understand its place in the plan of salvation. Every local member must feel the urgency to either save souls or see them lost. When each member of the local congregation realizes his role in preaching the borders of the kingdom we will not only despise man made plans for saving souls, we'll see them as pitiful attempts that fail in their results when compared with the simplicity of God's plan of salvation.
We who cherish the simplicity and personal responsibility of God's design of evangelism must be willing to shoulder that responsibility. As long as we fail to commit our lives to reaching the lost as we work with local brethren, the more attractive man made plans to reach the lost will seem. WE, in each congregation have a job to do that is ordained by God, let's prove to the doubters and skeptics that we can indeed do it!
