I am curious, and almost don't want to hear a response to this. Is there any of us that think that the individual Christian (you) is not Biblically called to personal evangelism of the lost, ie: soulwinning, faith sharing, preaching the gospel, getting people saved, etc, etc?
I hope nobody thinks that! Jesus said Go;and make disiples of all nations.HE also said Love your neighbor. If I know my neighbor is dying and I don't tell him he will die and his blood will be reqired at my hand. Ezek 33. If I don't warn him how have I loved my neighbor?
Wow, I don't think that's biblically possible. Jesus said we would be witnesses of Him to the world. The word for witness is not a verb but a noun--we would be witnesses. Saying that a christian isn't called to share Christ is like saying that a rose isn't called to be a flower. It should be something that's a part of our very nature.Granted, there are some with a special gifting to evangelism, but that doesn't mean we all can't do the work of an evangelist.
The word for witness is not a verb but a noun--we would be witnesses. Saying that a christian isn't called to share Christ is like saying that a rose isn't called to be a flower. It should be something that's a part of our very nature.It was a surprise to me to discover how true this is. Running out of fuel in a hired car just before midnight, I knocked at the door of the only house still lit, on the main road. The man said, later in our discussion, that as soon as he saw me he knew I was a believer (meaning, in Christ). To me this is still a bit of a miracle, because there was so much wrong with my life. My point is, GOD bears witness to others that we are His.
I think that the Church has this mandate: "to make disciples of all the nations." I haven't found a verse in Scripture that clearly states that today, each individaul Christian is called to personal evangelism towards lost individuals. The apostles, who had personally seen and known (witnessed) Jesus in the flesh before and after the resurrection, were told that they would be Jesus' witnesses after the Holy Spirit had come upon them. Sure, I know that a case can be made in favor of the position brought up in this thread, lots of Scripture with logical conclusions and assumptions, but I have yet to see anyone prove that today, every individual Christian is called to personally evangelize to lost individuals. I don't think it can be done.
todd,Whereas not everyone will be the last link in the chain of Christians who challenge a non-Christian to believe, it is useful for believers to understand that non-Christians identify Christians, much more easily than Christians may wish to be identified by complete strangers (perhaps), as either knowing or asipiring to know, Jesus Christ. This knowledge (to which the non-Christian reacts one way or another) is part of the 'witness' of believers in the world. We can do nothing about it except be aware that we are being watched, even if we say nothing overtly 'religious' and don't know who is most affected in these passing moments.
I think its every christians call to preach the gospel with words of TRUTH. To make disciples, and to baptise them (even though tradition says 'only pastor') and to pray with them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
"I am curious, and almost don't want to hear a response to this."you know I could almost hear the shotgun blast going off.anyway it's hard to be a christain and hide. you want to tell the good news of the gospel. I couldn't wait to tell some body about the one who changed me. 8-) " If we live in the Spirit,let us also walk in the spirit" God bless
Soulwinning: Must be SPIRIT led!
My mistake, HOLY SPIRIT led.
You are right, I don't think you can win souls without being led by the Holy Spirit. Doesn't the Holy Spirit convince on sin?Dorcas makes a good point to, most of us has probably been used by God to make a difference in someone's life that eventually may lead that someone will get saved. Without us knowing.What did Jesus tell His discipels? Go and make all the nations to my discipels. Seems watertight to me, as that makes us discipels too.
Yea, being led by God is much better than doing it on your own. More fruit, more truth, more POWER..that Paul and all the apostles new of.I love Jesus..
Yes, soulwinning must be Spirit led. And the Spirit of God spoke to us when Jesus said "go." The starting gun went 2000 years ago. If any of you brothers are waiting for the clouds to part and hear, "Frank, go unto all the world and preach the gospel to every creature," you're going to be waiting for some time.Don't wait for a spiritual experience, Christ said, "go."Let's pray for one another that we would win more and more to the Lord. Every person we pass is a potential convert. If you are witnessing, keep on, if you're not, start with one. You won't regret it.PROMISE OF HIS:PRESENCE Matthew 28:19/20 I am with you alwaysPROTECTION Mark 16:15/18 it shall not hurt themPROGRAM Luke 24:47 repentance and remissision of sins should be preachedPEACE John 20:19-23 Peace be unto youPOWER Acts 1:8 You shall receive powerList from Curtis Hutson sermon entitled "Christ and His Co-Workers" given at a Sword of the Lord Conference
letsgetbusy wrote:Don't wait for a spiritual experience, Christ said, "go."I agree yet disagree with this statement. If your waiting on the Spirit, keep waiting. Christ said to WAIT until they received POWER from Above. No one should preach the gospel without the power of God, which MAN do and very little fruit come forth, fruit is fruit ...yes..but not the way Christ intended us to preach.Now, if you have received the Spirit, there is no need to wait any more, you dont need a 'new' filling or nothing, PREACH...pray pray pray. Go Go Go, one-on-one is simple, nerve wrecking at first. But keep this in mind, anyone who is in the world, WANTS OUT, if they realize the need of getting out. Also, most people kinda have the 'bored' mantality, and are willing to talk/debate over anything cause they are BORED. And heck, you could find yourself another christian, and exchange stories, or encourage them to witness with you.Love ya bro.
Yes, soulwinning must be Spirit led. And the Spirit of God spoke to us when Jesus said "go." The starting gun went 2000 years ago. Actually Jesus didn't say "Go". The greek translated "Go" is actually in the passive and not the imperative and should be translated "having gone" therefore this is not the part of His statement that contains the commandment. The Greek verb, however, that's in the imperative is "make" disciples. Jesus said, "Having gone into the world, MAKE disciples of all nations..."The sense here is that the going has already been accomplished in the fact that they lived in the world. This then should mean that where ever we find ourselves at the present moment we should "MAKE" disciples and not wait around till we're sent off to some foreign land some day.
Is the word 'Go' truly passive??http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/words/4/1121231748-6778.htmlOutline of Biblical Usage..1) to lead over, carry over, transfera) to pursue the journey on which one has entered, to continue on one's journeyb) to depart from lifec) to follow one, that is: become his adherent1) to lead or order one's lifeFor Synonyms see entry 5818
The word "Go" its self may not be, but you have to remember the context. Jesus didn't say, "Go", He said, "Having gone." In the context of what he was saying to His disciples Going was assumed, but Making disciples was commanded.
oh okay, that makes more sense. Actually sounds better that way ;)
Hulsey, Sir, I must respectfully disagree. I would not be true to self to not do so, my brother. I am a believer than Scripture is in plain language to plain people. I reference Greek and Hebrew sometimes, but I don't think this is necessary here. I read that Jesus said, "Go" in Mark 16:15 and then in verse 20, "they went forth." Jesus commanded that they all "go" and they all "went forth." The greek "Eis" means towards. Translated "on" for "he that believeth on me." I understand what Strong's lexicon says as an explanation, but read the definitions of "eis": into, unto, to, towards, for, among. It is a clear command in my opinion to go forth. This is why I disagree when you say, "going was assumed." They were sitting around when he came to them in Mark 16. The reason he said "go" is because he was upbraiding them (scolding) for their unbelief and hardness of heart (v14). If the only begotten Son is getting on someone's case, I don't see him saying, "having gone." He was telling them the same thing the angels said in Acts 1:11, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?" They were implying to "get going." Jesus implied the same thing when he told them by the well in John 4:35, "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." The disciples were discussing how they should tarry because they did not want to pick converts while they were "green." But Jesus was telling them not to wait any longer.So, Hulsey, I respect that you have a different take on the wording, but I do see it differently.Yesh, I think I know where you are coming from. I think we should get knowledge with zeal. Remember, though, that John Wesley crossed the Atlantic three times as a missionary before he was even converted at age 35. But for the next 53 years he was a raging inferno for God!
It's late...so that might be why right now im all 'bonkers'. Thanks, thats why im glad this is a FORUM and not 1-on-1..
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