Present Day Evangelism # 2

Present Day Evangelism # 2

Bent on attaining a certain desired object, the energy of the flesh has been given free reign, and supposing that the object was right, evangelists have concluded that nothing could be wrong which contributed unto the securing of that end; and since their efforts appear to be eminently successful, only too many churches silently acquiesced, telling themselves "the end justifies the means." Instead of examining the plans proposed and the methods adopted by the light of Scripture, they were tacitly accepted on the ground of expediency. The evangelist was esteemed not for the soundness of his message - but by the visible "results" he secured. He was valued, not according to how his preaching honored God - but by how many souls were supposedly converted under it.

Once a man makes the conversion of sinners his prime design and all-consuming end, he is exceedingly apt to adopt a wrong course. Instead of striving to preach the Truth in all its purity - he will tone it down so as to make it more palatable to the unregenerate. Impelled by a single force, moving in one fixed direction, his object is to make conversion easy, and therefore favorite passages (like John 3:16) are dwelt upon incessantly, while others are ignored or pared away. It inevitably reacts upon his own theology, and various verses in the Word are shunned, if not repudiated. What place will he give in his thought to such declarations as: "Can the Ethiopian change his skin - or the leopard his spots?" (Jere. 13:23); "No man can come unto Me, except the Father who has sent Me draws him" (John 6:44); "You have not chosen Me - but I have chosen you" (John 15:14)?

He will be sorely tempted to modify the truth of God's sovereign election, of Christ's particular redemption, of the imperative necessity for the supernatural operations of the Holy Spirit.

In twentieth century evangelism, there has been a woeful ignoring of the solemn truth of the total depravity of man. There has been a complete underrating of the desperate case and condition of the sinner. Very few indeed have faced the unpalatable fact - that every man is thoroughly corrupt by nature, that he is completely unaware of his own wretchedness, blind and helpless, dead in trespasses and sins! Because such is his case, because his heart is filled with enmity against God, it follows that no man can be saved without the special and supernatural intervention of God. According to our view here, so will it be elsewhere. To qualify and modify the truth of man's total depravity will inevitably lead to the diluting of collateral truths. The teaching of Holy Writ on this point is unmistakable: man's plight is such that his salvation is impossible, unless God puts forth His mighty power. No stirring of the emotions by anecdotes, no regaling of the senses by music, no oratory of the preacher, no persuasive appeals - are of the slightest avail.

In connection with the old creation, God did all without any assistants. But in the far more stupendous work of the new creation, it is intimated by the Armenian evangelist of our day that God needs the sinner's cooperation. Really, it comes to this - God is represented as helping man to save himself: the sinner must begin the work by becoming willing, and then God will complete the business. Whereas, none but the Spirit can make him willing in the day of His power (Psalm 110:3). He alone can produce godly sorrow for sin, and saving faith in the Gospel. He alone can make us not love ourselves first and foremost, and bring us into subjection to the Lordship of Christ. Instead of seeking the aid of outside evangelists, let the churches get on their faces before God, confess their sins, seek His glory, and cry for His miracle-working operations. "Not by might (of the preacher), nor by power (of the sinner's will) - but by My Spirit, says the Lord."

It is generally recognized that spirituality is at a low ebb in Christendom, and not a few perceive that sound doctrine is rapidly on the wane - yet many of the Lord's people take comfort from supposing that the Gospel is still being widely preached and that large numbers are being saved thereby. Alas! their optimistic supposition is ill-founded and sandily grounded. If the "message" now being delivered in Mission Halls be examined, if the "tracts" which are being scattered among the unchurched masses be scrutinized, if the "open air" speakers be carefully listened to, if the "sermons" or "addresses" of a "soul-winning campaign" be analyzed; in short, if "modern evangelism" is weighed in the balances of Holy Writ, it will be found lacking, lacking that which is vital to genuine conversion, lacking what is essential if sinners are to be shown their need of a Saviour, lacking that which will produce the transformed lives of new creatures in Christ Jesus.

It is in no captious spirit that we write, seeking to make a man an offender for a word. It is not that we are looking for perfection, and complain because we cannot find it; nor that we criticize others because they are not doing things as we think they should be done. No, it is a matter far more serious than that, the "evangelism" of the day is not only superficial to the last degree - but it is radically defective. It is utterly lacking a foundation on which to base an appeal for lamentable lack of proportion (the mercy of God being made far more prominent than His holiness, His love than His wrath) - but there is a fatal omission of that which God has given for the purpose of imparting a knowledge of sin. There is not only a reprehensible introducing of "bright singing," humorous witticisms and entertaining anecdotes - but there is a studied omission of dark background upon which alone the Gospel can effectively shine forth.

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 3)