VII - EVANGELISM

It matters what position we take on this issue when it comes to the work of evangelism.

Arminianism has a tendency to drive men to methods, while Calvinism drives men to God. If it is God who sovereignly saves people through the use of His truth, then the need is for us to make known the truth, and get it out to everyone we can, and fervently to seek God's face for the supernatural power of His Spirit to apply His truth to the hearts of sinners.

However, if we are persuaded that "God has done all He can", that "God can do no more", and that "it is now all up to you", then we are going to take up our time thinking more about men than God. Our thoughts will centre on how we can persuade that sinner to take the necessary independent step that he must take before God can help him. The sinner must be persuaded to "allow God" the chance to come in and do something. So the average modern evangelical, motivated (perhaps unknowingly) by Arminianism is constantly looking for "new soul winning methods" and techniques by which the sinner may be persuaded. Obviously if God can do no more, and the sinner must be persuaded to "allow God", then why waste time praying to God to do something which we've already concluded He cannot do! And so our attention instead of being taken up with God, is taken up with men and methods.

There will be a great difference in the preaching of one who believes as we have just described, and the one who preaches in the assurance that the Spirit of God will do His own work of applying Christ's redemption to God's elect in His own time and way; and that the Spirit and only the Spirit, by means of the truth, can open blind eyes, unstop deaf ears, and cause men to repent and believe the gospel.

Still thinking in the field of evangelism, an understanding of the truth of Calvinism will keep a person from superficial views of conversion, and from this angle the position we take will make a difference.

Arminianism, with its emphasis on the ability of the human will, and man-devised methods has come to view salvation solely in terms of a "decision". This "decision" is usually registered by responding to an "altar call", or going through a given procedure in a counselling room, and once this decision is registered it is confidently asserted that another soul has been born again. But the appalling "drop out" rate in modern evangelicalism; the omission of vital aspects of truth (e.g. depravity, repentance); the evident lack of conviction of sin, and many other things cause one to wonder, is this truly Biblical conversion? Or have we, because of our desire to appear successful, deceived ourselves into accepting a sub-standard "Christianity" which will not stand up under the searching eye of the Word of God, and which will avail nothing in the day of judgment?

Calvinism will deliver one from such superficial views of conversion, for it sees conversion not simply in terms of a "decision", but as the work of the Spirit of God, first of all convincing of sin, then enlightening the mind in the knowledge of Christ, and then renewing the will so that the sinner receives the whole Christ as Saviour and Lord. Furthermore, Calvinism insists on evidence in the life as the great test of the reality of the profession; it is by our fruits, not by our decisions that we must be known. Historic Biblical Calvinism has always strongly emphasised human responsibility, the responsibility of a sinner to repent and believe the gospel, but it also emphasises the necessity of a divine work within the soul, and the absolute necessity of the evidence of this being seen in the life.

In modern evangelicalism, when a "firm decision" is recorded, and yet the subsequent life reveals nothing of the "new creature in Christ", it is regarded as almost a heresy to suggest that regeneration has not taken place. Rather a manner of theories are invented to explain this unfortunate state, but to firmly insist that the person is a Christian! This sad situation simply confirms the deluded souls in their unrenewed state, assuring them that heaven is theirs, while they are on the broad road that leads to destruction.

One of the crying needs of the hour is for evangelicals to return to a Biblical view of conversion. It will be a humbling procedure, for we will have to acknowledge that we are not enjoying the great blessing that we have perhaps been claiming, and that our churches are not experiencing the mighty ministry of the Spirit as we would like to think.

Finally, let me say that our viewpoint in this matter will make a difference with respect to our perseverance in the Lord's service. All evangelical Christians admit that the service of Christ though glorious is not easy. There are disappointments and discouragements. Many a Christian worker has given up because of these things, and in these circumstances Arminianism has no comfort to offer for nothing is assured, success hangs in the balance, the stubborn human will may frustrate our every effort!

But the truths of sovereign grace are a great comfort to the Christian worker. He knows that "no man can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him"; but he also knows that "all that the Father hath given me shall come unto me". It was the truth of sovereign grace, for instance, that enabled Paul to persevere in the difficult work in Corinth, for God had told him, "be not afraid but speak; and hold not thy peace; for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee for I have much people to this city" (Acts 18:9f). We labour knowing that the Father has given a people to His Son, and that through the witness and labours of God's people, under the blessing of God's Spirit, Christ "shall see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied". Victory is assured because the outcome depends not on man's will but on God's will. As Martin Luther wrote:

And though this world with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.

We live in a world that has been conditioned to want the spectacular and the dramatic. This, we are told, is the "now generation". They want instant results!

We openly confess that the Calvinistic viewpoint seems to be in contrast to this. The patient exposition of scriptural truth is far less dramatic than great campaigns and "scintillating evangelists". Leaving the Spirit of God to fulfil His ministry is far less spectacular than being able to publish lists of decisions! Yet it is the conviction of this writer that in the long run, the well being and spiritual health of the Church of Christ at large depends on a return to the doctrines of grace, and the proclamation of them in the power of the Spirit throughout the world.

Like the reformers we need to come back to the Bible, and all the Bible, and the Bible alone. We need a return to Biblical theology and Biblical preaching. May God revive His truth in these days, and may He be pleased to revive His work.

<< What Difference Does it Make?

Index >>