Reaching The Heart (An Introduction)

Introduction

This is potentially the first in a series of studies about evangelism. I definitely want to talk about evangelism in the next few Sabbath services I give, but I am still in prayer regarding the direction it will take. I consider this sort of a preview, or a preliminary talk, and this is why I have entitled it “part 0,” sort of like the preface of a book before the actual chapters begin.

This week we begin by discussing the “core” of Evangelism, and this is related to the fact that we as a movement call ourselves the “Elijah people.”

Elijah’s ministry had several attributes, as covered in the book of 1 Kings.

In the interest of time, a brief description of the ministry, and specific attributes found in the following verses, taken from the first volume of Highway of Holiness:

1) Restoring true worship (1Kings 18:38, 39)

2) Uniting Israel according to the twelve tribes (verses 30, 31)

3) Pronouncing judgment against wicked leaders (verses 17, 18)

4) Pronouncing judgment against false prophets (verse 40)

5) Announcing the appearance of much-needed rain (verse 41)

6) Ascending into Heaven at the end of the ministry (2Kings 2:11)

This is the pattern of Elijah’s ministry, and all are vital; but one of the elements we need to focus on is found here:

1Kings 18:37;

also the last two verses of the Old Testament talk about the Elijah mission: Mal 4:5, 6

The idea of this series of studies is how to reach out to those of other faiths, and we will take a couple each week, but more importantly than simply being able to refute doctrines, we must be able to show a spirit of love, to “turn their heart back again.” That is our constant theme in this series, and in this, our introductory talk, we will discuss some basic principles for evangelism.

Principles

1) Demonstrate genuine affection

If you don’t care about people, don’t try to win them.

My experience with SDA youths in Belize: Some “doing their duty” by evangelizing, (like J.W.s) my friend expressing a desire to be with me in Heaven.

Talk of judgment has its place:

The First Angel’s message encourages worship by pointing to the coming judgment. Also, Acts 24:24, 25; Jude 1:22, 23

Judgment must come to the hard-hearted, and the slow to hear, but as Jude points out, the first approach should always be the compassionate one. Judgment gets attention, but does not retain interest, or necessarily stimulate the growth of love.

We read:

Rom 2:2-4

Christ showed true affection for humanity, the word for which in the Scriptures is often translated “compassion”:

Mark 8:2, Luke 7:13, Mark 1:41

We must, if we wish to work effectively in His name, do likewise:

John 13:35; and remember the parable of the Good Samaritan. “One to another” does not mean only toward the baptized brethren, but to “one another” of the human family:

1Th 3:12, 1Pet 2:17 – the word “honor” there means “esteem,” or “value.”

2) Never show contempt

That last verse from Peter leads smoothly to the second point.

The only thing a Christian must hold in contempt is sin.

Peter’s experience on the roof:

Acts 10:9-16, 25-28

That text above really gets to the heart of this second principle. From the Hebrews’ ritual perspective, Gentiles are unclean. From a Christian’s perspective, the unrepentant sinners are unclean; at the same time, we are to be Christ-like in character. If uncleanness were a barrier to interaction, or a reason to avoid people how could Yahshua have come to earth for our sakes? Consider carefully His actions toward us when tempted to think any man beyond hope, or unworthy of hearing our message.

From a recent letter to an individual regarding my conversion experience:

“I do not consider myself, with all my good feelings and emotional experiences before, to have been converted until that point [when I accepted the Victory message]. God’s Spirit, I am certain, leads people who are in the world into greater and greater light. The Father draws people by His love, and gives them tokens in their spirits that they are on the right path... I therefore do not at all doubt the religious convictions of those who are of a faith different than my own. At the same time, there is a conversion experience, something that results in what Ellen White calls being ‘fully converted,’ and this can ONLY be done when one intelligently and in faith (both together) decides to absolutely renounce sin, and to thereafter live a life of learning what righteousness is, and putting away defects when they are discovered. Through the sacrifice and heavenly ministry of Christ, we are more than able to do this; this is what it means that we are ‘more then conquerors,’ as the Bible says.”

This experience is everyone’s for the taking. Those who have accepted it are only one choice different from those who have not, for there is nothing in us of ourselves that sets us apart from the “vilest offender” as the song we sing describes them. We are to see all men as being just that one choice away from salvation, and deserving of every dignity and honor as a being created in the image of Yahweh, marred though that image may be in some.

The word “comtempt” and extensions of it occur several times in the Bible, but you never hear of it used to describe the feelings of the righteous toward anyone else. We find:

Psa 119:22, Pro 18:3, and famously Dan 12:2

Only one verse that suggests this concept: Psa 15:4

Looking at the context, we see that this is held in opposition to “honoring” those who fear Yahweh, and this is proper. A vile person, one who is known for evil acts, should never be “praised” or held in honor by the righteous, or onlookers will get the impression that his/her actions are acceptable. We are absolutely to rebuke evil wherever it is found, and we cannot sanction wrong acts. At the same time, our attitude must be as the author of that Psalm’s was for the sinner. It was David who wrote, Psa 51:12, 13 – our very focus of this study, the desire to turn the sinners’ hearts back to Yahweh.

3) Display patience

The Victory message, if it is not accepted, generally produces one of two results. Either a) they say, “That’s an interesting idea,” and ignore what it means to their lives, or

b) they get very upset, because our words (and, if we are sincere believers, our actions) bring judgment to the sinner.

It is not, of course, that we are going around judging others, but our words judge them, and or actions judge them – in a passive sense. We need never say, “You will not be saved, because you have such-and-such a bad habit.” Instead, we set an example, and we testify that we are walking in what we know is the truth… this is enough. It is enough, anyway, to cause a violent reaction in some people, and this really reveals the character that results from the world’s watered-down version of Christianity.

In every situation, patience is required. This is one of the elements of the fruit of the Spirit, and evidence of genuine conversion:

Gal 5:22

In the situation wherein we are opposed, it is particularly important. Opposition means that people care about what we say – view it in this, more positive light. Remember that we are not the objects of their derision, but it is Christ who sent us that is truly the target of these attacks by those who claim to know, love and serve Him. We’re just the messengers.

Verses about Yahweh’s longsuffering and patience should inspire us to treat others the way He treats us:

Exo 34:1-6; His very “name” is tied in to this characteristic of His Person

2Pet 3:9, 15

1Tim 1:15, 16 is a key text for evangelism.

In this way we do not lose any ground, and may actually gain it, when we are opposed by those who do not accept our testimony as valid.

4) Express familiarity with the doctrines

We are easily dismissed if we seem ignorant, and while we are never to show contempt for others, the Scriptures make it clear that those who are not of our faith have no reservations about viewing us in this light.

This is the reason for the Church in general:

Eph 4:12

We should also show a measure of knowledge of the doctrines of those we are evangelizing, but at the same time, this is not the most important thing; we demonstrate knowledge of their doctrines only so they will talk to us intelligently about them, but our purpose is not merely to expose error, but also to promote truth.

We care enough to discuss and know what those with whom we speak believe, but we have to be careful in this area. Some groups forbid their members from reading the religious information of other Churches; this is not at all proper, for it is based on fear, the fear of losing members, and the fear placed within members for being “polluted” by the errors.

But mature Christians do not need to worry about that:

Eph 4:12-14

We are to be as Christ of whom it was written in prophecy: Isa 7:14, 15

Of course, not worrying does not mean being presumptuous either, and this can be a fine line. The CSDA Church does not forbid its members (or those who study with us) from reading anything at all, but we advise only that those who wish to read about other faiths at least clearly understand what we believe first! It may be useful, in some instances, to know the doctrines of those we are reaching out toward with the Gospel, but it is absolutely vital in every circumstance that we know the truth as it is in Yahshua.

Everyone comes in with baggage, religious instruction of one kind or another that was less than perfect. Those who study other faiths run the risk of recollecting some old bags, or adding to an existing load. We have had experiences with individuals who have tried to come in from the outside and “fix” the CSDA Church with foreign doctrine, little understanding our own beliefs yet, how they developed, and that we have in fact taken EVERY verse of the Bible into account when receiving and teaching the Gospel.

Other groups may have their interpretations, even other sacred texts, but we have received the Word of Yahweh from the Creator Himself, confirmed by the continuing spirit of prophecy and the individual, victorious testimonies of those who walk alongside us on the path of sanctification.

5) Give a testimony

This last point is the most important one. Talk about what the truth has done in your life, and how it has changed you. This cannot be done, of course, unless one IS converted!

Express a desire for others to share this experience: this is agape. This is what that mysterious, but commonly used, word means in practice. This is the heart of Christianity, reaching out to others with a genuine desire that they enter into this experience with us for no other reason than that this joy, the “joy of full salvation,” awakens in us both a sense of profound peace and at the same time a sense of profound agitation that there are those in the world who do not have the same marvelous experience that we do. It is almost a paradox, but these two aspects of the Christian’s character are strangely yet perfectly compatible.

A few verses to demonstrate the importance of this idea:

Rev 12:11 A very common verse in our teachings, for even those who say they agree with us about the Victory and the Gospel “on paper,” as it were, do not see the necessity of saying, “I have the Victory.” This demonstrates that error in their claims of agreement, for those who truly understand the Victory know that we cannot be silent about its impact on our lives.

1John 1:3,

Mark 16:15,

Acts 20:24,

Acts 10:39-43, but not limited to the apostles, for John 17:17-21

From John 17 we find that testifying to the truth is necessary for sanctification as well as for evangelism, that they world may have a clear witness through clean vessels, of the majesty of our Father and the Savior whom He has sent.