By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor
ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Leading someone to saving knowledge in Christ is not a “one size fits all” spiritual effort.
Just as Christ used different methods to heal the sick and afflicted, the Holy Spirit offers different methods for different contexts to successfully share the Gospel with the lost.
Remember, the Holy Spirit was active in creation (Gen. 1:1), as well as during the times of the Old Testament (consider the anointing on Moses, Saul, David, Bezalel & Oholiab, Othniel, Samson, etc.) and New Testament (e.g. Peter at Pentecost, Paul while confronting the sorcerer Elymas).
Most importantly, He is active today (John 14:15-18; 15:26-27; 16:5-15), specifically in salvation (John 16:8; Ephesians 1:13-14) and in holy living afterwards (Galatians 5:22-23).
There may be hybrids of each, according to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but the following soul-winning approaches largely define how to engage unbelievers in the four contexts for evangelism presented in God’s Word.
CONFRONTATIONAL
Many people visualize all evangelism as publicly confronting sinners (something akin to “street corner” preaching). However, the Holy Spirit designed this soul-winning approach for specific situations in which the lost will be receptive.
Although identified as a prophet, it is no stretch to see Jonah as an evangelist, too, even if a reluctant one. Consider that his five-word sermon (as spoken in Hebrew), resulted in wholesale godly grief (2 Corinthians 7:10) within the hearts of the people of this exceedingly immoral capital city of Assyria — and their heart change was so great as to move the king to cry aloud mightily for his sins, too (Jonah 3:5-10).
Moreover, Jonah’s anger — instead of what should have been joy — at the repentance of 120,000 people showed that it was not him at work, but God (which is true in every approach to soul winning). It is not the evangelist but the Holy Spirit who produces repentance that leads to salvation.
On the other hand, Jesus confronted the Samaritan woman at the well about her five marriages and a man not her husband such that He firmly but lovingly convicted her of her sins (John 4:5-26). Interestingly, His constant ministry companions went into the city and came back with lunch (vv. 6, 8, 31). But this excited new convert hurried back to her hometown and returned with newly won souls (v. 39).
CONVERSATIONAL
Perhaps Paul’s appeal to the religious philosophers of Athens is the ultimate example of the Conversational Approach to soul winning. Each of the four evangelism methods involve some form of direct communication, but the Conversational Approach specifically is a purposeful discussion about a matter of interest to an individual or group that transitions into talking about the issue in relationship to their spiritual condition (lost) with regard to eternal life.
The Epicureans and Stoics of the city prided themselves about their special knowledge of the religions represented by the 30,000 idols throughout the city. But the impressive display of gold, silver and marble images on the Acropolis, the highest point of the city where they typically met for intellectual discourse, especially distinguished them among the city’s 10,000 people. Paul used their desire to know all things about religion and their hubris in lording their knowledge over others to lead them to know Jesus (referring to Him as The Unknown God) as Lord (Acts 17:1-34).
LIFESTYLE
This is something of an organic situation where opportunities to share Christ’s love with others result from how people see you live your life. In other words, living supernaturally (or against your human nature) causes them to seek you out — perhaps from curiosity or because they are experiencing difficulties and are looking for answers from someone “who has it together.”
They may have seen you pray with others who might be experiencing troubles. Or, they may have grown to admire how you handle stressful or challenging situations with grace and peace. Maybe, they have noticed how you provide for others’ needs outside of the limelight. Regardless, they see “something” in you and want “it.”
This was the situation with the new Christian community that erupted in Jerusalem on Pentecost.
Before this day, there were 120 disciples in the city of possibly 100,000. But then 3,000 believed and were baptized in one day – an instant megachurch by today’s standards. Importantly, their transformed hearts produced transformed lives. They dedicated themselves to learn from the apostles and were committed in their fellowship with one another. They had all things in common and met every need within their fellowship of believers. They were an exemplary faith community.
Luke described the result of this “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4) this way: “… having found favor with all the people … the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). In other words, the rest of Jerusalem saw that the “before and after” change was real in these followers of The Way, and many wanted the same transformation for themselves.
Authenticity of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23) is the presentation of the Gospel through how you live.
RELATIONAL
While the Lifestyle Approach is largely passive, the Relational Approach is an intentional effort to build a connection with someone. It is an attempt to find something in common with others that gives you enough significance in their social sphere that they invite you to tell them about the guiding force in your life.
Writing to believers in Corinth, Paul explained, “I became all things to all men [under the law of Christ] that I might by all means win some to Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:16-23).
You can’t fake it but must appreciably invest yourself in an activity, or area of service, for the specific purpose of reaching someone with the Gospel. Paul repeatedly urged the congregations he mentored to do everything with all their might for God (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17) which is the same principle in the Relational Approach to soul winning.
FINAL THOUGHTS
So, knowing these four fundamental approaches to soul winning, where do you go from here?
Again, all evangelism is the work of God, so start by asking him to help you put someone who is lost on your heart. Then begin praying for them and ask Him to open the door for you to either confront them, converse with them, live righteously before them or relate to them so that you might win them to Christ.
But remember, He might have you only sow or water (1 Corinthians 3:6-8) before He lets you reap (John 4:37).
