Misconceptions of
Modern Evangelism
By Benjamin Gardner
I. Definition
The word evangelism is derived from the Greek word euaggelion (yoo-ang-ghel' -ee-on),
from which we get our word “Gospel”. Gospel, in its turn, means “Good News” or, by
some interpretations “Glad Tidings”. Thus, evangelism is nothing more or less than
Gospel-ism, or Good News-ism – the means of propagation for that which is contained
in the Gospel. Accordingly, in this study, whenever I use the word evangelism, I
will be referring to the means and ways of testifying of the Gospel – which is the
message of redemption in and through our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 1:12, 13).II.
The First Misconception – “Modern” The very first misconception which we encounter,
right from the beginning, is the use of the word “modern” in relation to evangelism.
This denotes a change from that which is old-fashioned or out-of-date, and refers
to a period that is distinct and apart from the past. However, Biblical Evangelism
need not be upgraded or overhauled, for it is never out of date. There is no need
for a different approach to the propagation of the Gospel other than that put forward
in the Word, for:
A. Man’s Condition Has Not Changed – Isa. 64:6, 7. But we are all as an unclean [thing],
and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and
our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth
upon Thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of Thee: for Thou hast hid thy
face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. Also Jer. 17:9: The
heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
B. The Message Has Not Changed – Acts 17:30. And the times of this ignorance God
winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because He hath appointed
a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He
hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised
Him from the dead. Mat. 3:2: And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is
at hand.
C. The God We Serve Has Not Changed – Mal. 3:6, For I am the LORD, I change not;
therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Even from the days of your fathers ye
are gone away from Mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto Me, and I
will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. Heb 1:10-12: Thou, Lord, in the beginning
hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands:
They shall perish; but Thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
And as a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but Thou art
the same, and Thy years shall not fail.
D. We Are Commanded NOT to Change – Prov. 22:28, Remove not the ancient landmark,
which thy fathers have set. II Thess. 2:15: Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and
hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Therefore,
it might be good to note that we preach Christ’s and biblical teachings, not Christian
traditions. Christ’s and biblical teachings are unchanging and eternal, and thus
are traditional in the sense that they are historically ageless. However, it is because
they are God's Word that we preach them, not because they are traditional.
III. The Second Misconception – “The Means”The second great misconception of modern
evangelism is that the means and focus of evangelism must be updated and made more
palatable for “modern” man to accept – as if the 21st century human is not depraved
and dead in sins to a different degree than his counterparts in other times. Accordingly,
the means of evangelism has been perverted. We now show movies and perform skits,
set up hotlines and counseling centers, host basketball tournaments and hayrides,
and give away ice cream and bicycles in an attempt to cajole people into hearing
a watered-down, compromised Gospel. Despite this, true evangelism is still:A. From
The Word – Lu. 16:27-31, Then he [the rich man] said, I pray thee therefore, father
[Abraham], that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren;
that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham
saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said,
Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And
he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded,
though one rose from the dead. Ps. 119:130: The understanding of Thy words giveth
light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.B. By Means of Preaching – Rom 10:14-15,
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they
believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are
the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good
things! I Cor. 1:21: For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew
not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
IV. The Third Misconception – “The Motivation”
The third great misconception of the modern evangelism movement has been in regard
to the stimulus and motivation of evangelism. The focus of modern evangelism has
been to gain a decision, to make a psycho- emotional appeal that triggers a positive,
corresponding response, and to effect an intellectual resolution inline with what
is desired. It finds the means of effecting these goals in corrupted psychology,
mind control, and emotional prompting. True evangelism, however, finds its power
and essence in:
A. God Himself – Job. 15:5, For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest
the tongue of the crafty. Pas. 127:1: Except the Lord build the house, they labour
in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in
vain. Regarding John 15:5, we have tried to eliminate God so that we are no longer
limited by the exclusiveness of “without Me ye can do nothing”. However, having done
that, and having dabbled with every method and motive under the sun, we find that
our disobedience to the Word and will of God accomplishes nothing, for He is everything
that evangelism must be.
B. The Knowledge of Man’s Incapacity – Jer. 10:23. O LORD, I know that the way of
man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. O LORD,
correct me, but with judgment; not in Thine anger, lest Thou bring me to nothing.
Isa. 6:5 – Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean
lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen
the King, the Lord of hosts.
C. The Fact That Salvation Is of the Lord – Eph. 2:8-10, For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest
any man should boast. [Why?] For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
unto good works, which God hath before ordaiTed that we should walk in them. I Tim.
1:9: Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our
works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus
before the world began, Thus, the sustaining power of evangelism is the knowledge
that we are fundamentally incapable of doing God’s Will in our own power, and yet
that it pleased God to use us as His servants. Furthermore, beyond doing our duty
as messengers, we must recognize that results are solely of God. In summing this
up, So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded
you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
Lu. 17:10 – and that only through His power.
V. The Fourth Misconception – “The Results”
The fourth misconception that the world holds regarding modern evangelism is in relation
to its results. It is a sad fact that only a small fraction of the multitudes converted
by modern methods ever darken the door of a church. Instead, it is perfectly acceptable
that bars and strip clubs and other establishments of evil remain open in the wake
of great “evangelistic outreaches”, while periodical services are held so that the
lost conscience may remain assuaged by “rededication” to the Lord. Despite this,
true evangelism leads to:A. Repentance of Sins – Acts. 16:30-32 . . . Sirs, what
must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou
shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the Word of the Lord, and
to all that were in his house. Acts.2:37-38, Now when they heard this, they were
pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men
and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
B. Departure from Evil Ways – Eph. 4:28-32. Let him that stole steal no more: but
rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may
have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your
mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace
unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto
the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and
evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven
you. Act.19:18-19 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their
deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and
burTed them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty
thousand pieces of silver.
C. Submission to Baptism and a Commitment to Walk with Christ – Acts. 8:36-39 - And
as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See,
here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest
with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went
down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him And when
they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that
the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. Acts 16:32, 33 - And
they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And
he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized,
he and all his, straightway.
Acts. 2:42 - And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship,
and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.D. True Fellowship with Other Like-Minded
Believers – Acts. 2:43-47 - And fear came upon every soul: . . . And all that believed
were together, and had all things common; . . . And they, continuing daily with one
accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat
with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the
people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts. 4:32
- And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul:E. Establishment
of, and Addition to, a New Testament Church to the Glory of God
Acts. 2:47 - Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added
to the church daily such as should be saved. Eph. 3:21 - Unto Him be glory in the
church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Thus, the great
fallacy of the modern evangelistic movement is that its converts are not attending
Scriptural, New Testament churches. The sheep – if they are sheep – are not being
fed as Acts. 20:28 indicates they should be, nor is glory being given to God, but
to men. These errors have bankrupted the modern evangelistic movement and effectively
separated it from its base, the local church, empowered by Christ to do His will,
as indicated in Mt. 28:18-20, And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power
is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am
with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
VI. The Conclusion
In conclusion, the knowledge of all the above should impact our evangelism. It should
not only make us conscious of the God-centeredness of every aspect of true evangelism
as stated in John 15:5 by our Lord, I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth
in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do
nothing. Therefore, it should also make us acutely aware of our unworthiness before
Him, and our need to submit ourselves and our efforts unto Him on a continual basis.
At the same time that it should burden us for the lost, it should make us draw closer
to that precious faith for which our forefathers in the faith suffered – and for
which faith they preferred all the terrors of Heb. 11:36-38 rather than give an inch
in their beliefs. In every aspect of our Christian life – no less in our approach
to evangelism - may we also be prepared to live as decidedly and uncompromisingly
as they.
All the following sermons can be obtained on CD's on request from:
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Biblical Evangelism
Messages by Bob Spagnuolo
