During the practice of soul-winning, this author has had all kinds of people cross his path to discuss religion. Even though the author is Protestant, biblical, conservative, evangelical, he wears a ‘clerical collar’ because it attracts people of a liberal, liberal-protestant or other religious groups because they believe he is one, who will pray with them. They come to talk, ask questions, or even trust what is said (as led by the Holy Spirit), and some pray to receive Christ for the first time, or some are encouraged to continue in Christ. In many cases, this author observes that many pastors are ill-equipped for spiritual warfare, soul-winning or preaching Jesus, and follow-through in giving an altar call from the pulpit. Some pastors have admitted to the author that they do not know how to explain the Gospel to another person to lead that person to faith in Jesus Christ. There are many churches in this city that sing a few songs, read prayers from a book, and preach liturgy or some philosophy gleaned from their studies, or someone else’s sermon to make listeners feel comfortable for the coming week(s), rather than present Jesus Christ, after much prayer in preparation and the delivery. At the end when they give an ‘altar call’ for people, who have been prepared by the Holy Spirit to rise to come forward to receive Jesus. A preacher must believe the Holy Spirit does His work on a seeker’s soul, so the seeker will hear and receive God’s Word. Upon receiving the Word, God through Jesus Christ changes their lives forever, by making them complete in Jesus by His Spirit given unto them at salvation. Faith comes by hearing the word of God, (Rom 10: 17). Together the new convert and the preacher rejoice and give God the glory through grace by faith. Many seekers miss opportunities when preachers are not providing seekers with that opportunity to receive Christ by giving an ‘altar call.’ One pastor said that he did not want to call people to receive Christ, because if his church grew, he would not be able to handle the workload. Today, that church once was considered a fundamental evangelical church but has now closed its doors, and the pastor has taken a secular job.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a proven historical fact. The resurrection occurred at a specific time at a specific place, and many witnesses saw Jesus. With such historical proof, why do people not believe God for His account of the resurrection of Jesus Christ? It only makes sense. It is historically true. The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is the pinnacle of the Christian faith, but many in the world deny the fact of the resurrection. Jesus says that He is the Resurrection and the Life; that whoever believes in Him will never die, (Jn 11: 25-26). In soul-winning, this author finds that there are many (including priests and pastors) that say they believe in Jesus, but do not believe that He is the Son of God. To some, He is not the Christ. To some He was not dead, buried, and was raised bodily from the dead by the Holy Spirit for our justification, that He appeared before many witnesses, ascended into Heaven, where He intercedes on our behalf. To others, they say His body was stolen from the grave. They believe they need to work for their salvation. (See Appendix L: Misunderstanding Phil 2: 12). Many deny Christ His rightful glory. Note also, Jesus continues His miracles of healing today. Some argue that miracles are a thing of the past, even though thousands of people in this church age are being healed. (See Appendix E: Continuation vs Cessation of Miracles). Jesus heals today from His throne in Heaven through His Spirit whom He sent into the world at the beginning of the church at Pentecost (fact). God sends the Holy Spirit into the heart of every new-born believer, immediately upon believing on Jesus for salvation and thus becoming a child of God. God says in the Scriptures to them, “Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world,” (1 Jn 4: 4). Liberals panic when they are confronted with having a personal experience with Jesus Christ. They light up if anyone talks to them about social action. Liberals put God second and man first. Members of the Pentecostal or the Catholic charismatic movements are more interested in the number of people that speak in tongues, rather than new converts added to the church, living God-honoring lives. They present a non-biblical gospel. (Note the true means of salvation in the following texts: Jn 1:12; 3:3; 3: 16; Acts 2: 21, 47b; 16: 31; Rom 8: 15; Gal 4: 6; Eph 2:8-9; 1 Jn 1: 9; 5: 1-2; 4: 4; 5: 12-13, 20; Rev 3: 20). Some Fundamentalists are filled with lovelessness and strife.⁶ The Alpha Course movement teaches ‘a leap of faith,’ as though it is something a human does rather than a gift of God as Scripture says in Eph 2: 8-9. The term ‘baby’ is used as terminology for one young in coming to faith. How can a baby take a leap of faith as they illustrate with Indiana Jones in the movie trailer of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when he takes a giant ‘leap of faith.’ A bridge appears to cross a cavern, and a sip out of the ‘holy grail’ means attainment of eternal life. This story line may win at the Box office, but not with God.
A lady phoned and said to a friend, who was witnessing apparently to her, that she believed if a baby was not baptized (infant baptism) and it suddenly died, the baby would go to hell. Also, how can a bedridden senior take a leap of faith, when he is born- again on his deathbed? "Faith," as the Scripture says, is a gift of God, not of man’s deeds; Scripture only makes sense, if faith is followed by good, righteous deeds prepared for them by God, (Eph 2: 10) follow. As Jesus says, “By their fruits ye shall know them,” (Matt 7: 16). Spiritual leaders need to know, model and, share the biblical facts. God illumines the minds of those He chooses to work in His fields that are white-unto-harvest. To them, He gives perception, understanding, wisdom, boldness, and grace to serve Him and have joy in doing so. God’s command is to equip the saints to be prepared to give a reason for the hope that lies within them. Discipleship, in the Christian lifestyle, is imperative. For some people in the world, a discipled true Christian may be the only Bible non-churched people read and know. How many ‘shepherds’ are preparing their ‘flock’ to share that hope of the Gospel with those who are waiting and hungering after God or have never heard the Gospel? Some pastors and priests need the Gospel themselves before they can be reliable messengers of the good news to others. God warns the Colossians, “if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Gospel (good tidings), which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister,” (Col 1: 23). Further, God says, “but sanctify (set apart) in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ,” (1 Pet 3: 15-16).
Who is ready and willing to be sent, then go and labour in God’s business? Are you and I?
A minister must first be ‘in’ Christ’ to present Christ effectively for others to be won to Christ, since it is a work of the Holy Spirit of Jesus, by Whom God does His business. Our aim in ministry is that every minister and seeker must be born-again, Lord willing, as Jesus says in John 3: 3, and standing firm (eternally secure) in Christ Jesus by faith, empowered by God ready to preach Jesus to the world, to win converts and thereby influence society for the better. It is not the friendship of another person to just assume that because you have a relatively good relationship with that other person, that they are Christian, even if they say so. That person may be walking out of step with Jesus, or may not be saved at all, and does not believe any of the tenets of the Bible. If they cannot pass the test of the spirits, (1 Jn 4: 1-4), they may not yet be Christian, even if a friend. Confessions of Jesus in the Bible are tests of the spirits, whether they be of God. A true friend must love and show compassion to that other person so that other person can know he/she is born again complete in Christ, saved from the pit. One professor, shortly after his salvation, said in university to another Christian, known to the author, “Now, I know what it means to be saved. Now, I can go back to my Anglican church and teach my friends about Jesus and show them how to be saved, to have peace with God and, eternal life.” Before his salvation, salvation was a mystery. Without knowing Jesus as Savior