As He Sees Fit

So much of Evangelicalism's method of evangelism is to simply get people into church and get them to "come forward" or to atleast just say the "sinner's prayer". Never mind with dealing with the issues of the heart or explaining the Law and the Gospel. We don't even need to bother with the Spirit's role in giving new life when He sees fit.

Publisher, International Outreach with editor William Nichols has done the church a great service by publishing Jonathan Edward's sermons Knowing the Heart. Edwards truly searched the Scriptures and came to a very good understanding of how deceptive the human heart can be. Although I am only on page 41, the book has much to offer the modern day preacher and layman alike in how we approach evangelism.

For instance, on page 31 he says:

"When men are affected with reflections on their sins and are in a penitent frame, they are ready to think they shall always hate such and such sins as long as they live, but [are] apt in a very little time [to] fall into them again"

Isn't this much of we see in our churches. Men becoming sermon sick until they get home. Men caught in a sickness in which they make a deal with God to never sin again if....

Sometimes men "mistake common illuminations and affections for saving grace" (page 33). Yet in time, these men fall away from obedience to the Gospel and follow their own lusts.

How often do we see men in their own strength manipulate themselves to "believe" in Jesus, thinking they have been saved, when their belief is earthly born faith instead of Spirit born faith. All of this leads to a false assurance, which is deadly.

Perhaps the church needs to recognize that many of the "tricks" that modern evangelism uses to get people saved is only a wide path for many that leads to destruction. Christians need to be persuasive. They need to be bold. They need to be firm. They need to be thoughtful. They need to trust that when the Gospel is proclaimed faithfully and with clarity, the Spirit will bless His work as He sees fit.

Soli Deo Gloria