Post by pitbull on Nov 1, 2005 18:18:14 GMT -5
Are you a soul winner? The sad truth is that most Christians don't even know what Biblical soul winning is. First, let us look at what it is not:
1. Biblical soul winning is not solicitation. For over sixty years, the United States Supreme Court has examined cases involving sharing the Gospel on public streets, on public sidewalks, in public parks, in parking lots, airport terminals, bus stations, train stations, walkways and sidewalks surrounding government-owned coliseums and stadiums, at most tourist attractions, and at other places that are open to the general public. In the Kokinda case, the U.S. Supreme Court distinguished between soliciting and leafleting:
As residents of metropolitan areas know from daily experience, confrontation by a person asking for money disrupts passage and is more intrusive and intimidating than an encounter with a person giving out information. One need not ponder the contents of a leaflet or pamphlet in order mechanically to take it out of someone's hand, but one must listen, comprehend, decide and act in order to respond to a solicitation.
As long as a Christian is giving out information freely [written or verbally], and he or she is not panhandling for donations, that Christian is participating in the most protected form of speech. Solicitation involves the asking for a donation and sharing the Gospel is a free gift to the receiver. Hence, sharing the Gospel [in written or verbal form] is not legally considered to be solicitation and cannot be legally banned in areas opened to the general public.
2. Biblical soul winning is not proselytizing. This ends up being the "spiritual" version of bar hopping. People end up going from one church to another and all that happens is the moving of "sheep" from one fold to another. There is no one actually trusting Christ as his or her Savior. This may cause a quicker growth than Biblical soul winning, but it will also cause a quick death to the congregation.
3. Biblical soul winning is not forcing your religion on others. It is impossible to force someone else to accept or believe what you hold to. This is a "red herring" that people will throw out at you. All you can do is share your faith with others. It is up to the Holy Spirit to convict their heart and convince them of the truth found in the Bible. Anyone who accuses you of this is actually under conviction and does not want to hear the truth of the Bible.
4. Biblical soul winning is not just for pastors, missionaries, evangelists, etc. God's commandment is not limited to those that serve Him in a full-time position. It is not a gift or a calling. It is a commandment for every single person who has trusted Christ as his or her Savior and Lord.
Now, consider what Biblical soul winning actually is:
1. Biblical soul winning is obedience to the Word of God. Read Proverbs 11:30, Matthew 4:19, Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8, Acts 5:45, and other similar verses found throughout the Bible. God commands us to win others to Christ. This is not an option or a suggestion.
2. Biblical soul winning is demonstrating love for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus has told us that if you truly love Him, you will obey His commandments. [John 14:15, 23-24] That clearly includes soul winning. When we do not obey this commandment, we are demonstrating our lack of love for Him, our lack of desire to be like Christ, our unwillingness to following Christ [Matthew 4:19], and the fact that we are not abiding in Christ [John 15:1-8]. This is a sad testimony for the believer.
3. Biblical soul winning is demonstrating compassion on others.
Jude 22 best describes this. If we do not want to see souls in Hell, we will warn them about it. It is amazing how we will have enough love to warn people not to eat something bad, but we will not warn them about something that will affect them for all eternity. If you truly love the other person, you will tell them how to get saved.
There are many different ways that one can be a soul winner. Not every believer is given the same gifts, callings, or opportunities. Consider each of the following "tools" that you can use as a soul winner and find out which apply to you:
1. Praying (Matthew 9:38)
2. Inviting others to church (John 4:28-29)
3. Giving away Gospel tracts
4. Scripture on car magnets, shirts, hats, etc.
5. Giving away Bibles (Psalm 19:7)
6. Street preaching
7. Going door-knocking (Acts 5:42; 20:20)
8. Make phone calls [door-knocking using the telephone!]
9. Visitation
10. Altar work
11. Surveys
12. Being a missionary (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8)
13. Giving your tithes and offerings
Are you using every available "tool" that God has given you to win others to Christ? I ask this question is because most Christians have not heard of the sevenfold sin of not winning souls. Consider how each of the following is a sin that is committed by not being obedient to Biblical soul winning:
1. The sin of disobedience to Christ (Matthew 28:18-20)
2. The sin of little love for Christ (John 14:15, 23-24)
3. The sin of not following Christ (Matthew 4:19)
4. The sin of not abiding in Christ (John 15:1-8)
5. The sin of dishonesty in a sacred trust (Matthew 25:14-30)
6. The sin of the short-sighted fool (Proverbs 11:30)
7. The sin of blood-guilt - spiritual manslaughter! (Ezekiel 3:17-19)
Here is a question that I ask myself on a regular basis. Ask yourself it: How do you stand before the Lord - a faithful servant or a lazy bum?
1. Biblical soul winning is not solicitation. For over sixty years, the United States Supreme Court has examined cases involving sharing the Gospel on public streets, on public sidewalks, in public parks, in parking lots, airport terminals, bus stations, train stations, walkways and sidewalks surrounding government-owned coliseums and stadiums, at most tourist attractions, and at other places that are open to the general public. In the Kokinda case, the U.S. Supreme Court distinguished between soliciting and leafleting:
As residents of metropolitan areas know from daily experience, confrontation by a person asking for money disrupts passage and is more intrusive and intimidating than an encounter with a person giving out information. One need not ponder the contents of a leaflet or pamphlet in order mechanically to take it out of someone's hand, but one must listen, comprehend, decide and act in order to respond to a solicitation.
As long as a Christian is giving out information freely [written or verbally], and he or she is not panhandling for donations, that Christian is participating in the most protected form of speech. Solicitation involves the asking for a donation and sharing the Gospel is a free gift to the receiver. Hence, sharing the Gospel [in written or verbal form] is not legally considered to be solicitation and cannot be legally banned in areas opened to the general public.
2. Biblical soul winning is not proselytizing. This ends up being the "spiritual" version of bar hopping. People end up going from one church to another and all that happens is the moving of "sheep" from one fold to another. There is no one actually trusting Christ as his or her Savior. This may cause a quicker growth than Biblical soul winning, but it will also cause a quick death to the congregation.
3. Biblical soul winning is not forcing your religion on others. It is impossible to force someone else to accept or believe what you hold to. This is a "red herring" that people will throw out at you. All you can do is share your faith with others. It is up to the Holy Spirit to convict their heart and convince them of the truth found in the Bible. Anyone who accuses you of this is actually under conviction and does not want to hear the truth of the Bible.
4. Biblical soul winning is not just for pastors, missionaries, evangelists, etc. God's commandment is not limited to those that serve Him in a full-time position. It is not a gift or a calling. It is a commandment for every single person who has trusted Christ as his or her Savior and Lord.
Now, consider what Biblical soul winning actually is:
1. Biblical soul winning is obedience to the Word of God. Read Proverbs 11:30, Matthew 4:19, Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8, Acts 5:45, and other similar verses found throughout the Bible. God commands us to win others to Christ. This is not an option or a suggestion.
2. Biblical soul winning is demonstrating love for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus has told us that if you truly love Him, you will obey His commandments. [John 14:15, 23-24] That clearly includes soul winning. When we do not obey this commandment, we are demonstrating our lack of love for Him, our lack of desire to be like Christ, our unwillingness to following Christ [Matthew 4:19], and the fact that we are not abiding in Christ [John 15:1-8]. This is a sad testimony for the believer.
3. Biblical soul winning is demonstrating compassion on others.
Jude 22 best describes this. If we do not want to see souls in Hell, we will warn them about it. It is amazing how we will have enough love to warn people not to eat something bad, but we will not warn them about something that will affect them for all eternity. If you truly love the other person, you will tell them how to get saved.
There are many different ways that one can be a soul winner. Not every believer is given the same gifts, callings, or opportunities. Consider each of the following "tools" that you can use as a soul winner and find out which apply to you:
1. Praying (Matthew 9:38)
2. Inviting others to church (John 4:28-29)
3. Giving away Gospel tracts
4. Scripture on car magnets, shirts, hats, etc.
5. Giving away Bibles (Psalm 19:7)
6. Street preaching
7. Going door-knocking (Acts 5:42; 20:20)
8. Make phone calls [door-knocking using the telephone!]
9. Visitation
10. Altar work
11. Surveys
12. Being a missionary (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8)
13. Giving your tithes and offerings
Are you using every available "tool" that God has given you to win others to Christ? I ask this question is because most Christians have not heard of the sevenfold sin of not winning souls. Consider how each of the following is a sin that is committed by not being obedient to Biblical soul winning:
1. The sin of disobedience to Christ (Matthew 28:18-20)
2. The sin of little love for Christ (John 14:15, 23-24)
3. The sin of not following Christ (Matthew 4:19)
4. The sin of not abiding in Christ (John 15:1-8)
5. The sin of dishonesty in a sacred trust (Matthew 25:14-30)
6. The sin of the short-sighted fool (Proverbs 11:30)
7. The sin of blood-guilt - spiritual manslaughter! (Ezekiel 3:17-19)
Here is a question that I ask myself on a regular basis. Ask yourself it: How do you stand before the Lord - a faithful servant or a lazy bum?
