Evangelism in action

Foreword

This book for the most part has been wrought out by the author on the anvil of experience through a period of fifteen years as student, pastor, and general evangelist. During these years the author has made a special study of evangelism and has given it the first place in his ministry. He has a deep conviction that winning others to Christ is the first business of the preacher, the church, and every redeemed soul. It was this conviction that caused him to lead his own church, during a pastorate of ten years, in twelve successful revivals, and during this same period he was called upon to hold scores of revivals in other churches. Success at home created a demand for his services elsewhere, and as a result more calls came to lend a helping hand than could possibly be accepted. During the past few years many persistent appeals have come from kind friends in the pastorate and from some important Christian schools to write a book covering the whole field of evangelism in a brief and practical way. This the writer has endeavored to do. He realizes full well his own inability for such a task and the many imperfections of this work, but sends it forth with the hope that it may add something of value to the knowledge and literature of one of the most fascinating themes in the world—evangelism.

In view of the fact that certain schools have already approved the manuscript, and want to use the book as a text book on evangelism, the material has been rearranged in points and short paragraphs to aid the student in memorizing the contents of the book.

Just here, I wish to acknowledge my debt of gratitude to all who have preceded me in the field of evangelism. It has been my grand privilege and good pleasure to read all the best that has been written on the subject. Yet, I feel that this great theme has not been exhausted and I have simply endeavored in this work to add my little contribution, with the hope that it may be of some small service in the bringing in of the Kingdom of God.

I want to acknowledge my special indebtedness to Drs. L. R. Scarborough, William E. Biederwolf, W. W. Hamilton, and O. O. Green, for their great and inspiring books on evangelism. I feel that these brethren have made incalculable contributions to the cause of evangelism.

I am also deeply indebted to Pres. E. Y. Mullins and the faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, for teaching me the evangelistic message and inspiring me to go out from that holy place with a consuming passion to deliver that message to a lost world. I could not let this book go forth with a good conscience without making this statement. I thank God for every memory of this school of the prophets and for the men who taught me to love and win lost souls. How much I owe to these men I can never know this side of eternity.

In doing a work of this sort, it is impossible to know just how much one owes to others, but wherever another has been consciously used, or quoted, proper credit has been given. So whatever we owe to others in spirit, inspiration, or direct quotation, we gratefully acknowledge.

THOMAS CLINTON CRUME.

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE 1. The Meaning of Evangelism. ........... 7 2. Evangelism in the Old Testament ........ i 3. Evangelism in the New Testament........ 38 4, Outstanding Evangelists of the Chris-

Han Centuries 00 ua ie nin Kees 65 5. The Doctrines of Evangelism ............ 90 6. The Agencies in Evangelism ..... Hee 140 7. Personal Evangelism .......... He opts 159 8. Child Evangelism iti... 4. 4'\. Maas Oa 178 9: Church) Mvangelism wun... MO ae dhe 184

12. Methods in Evangelism ..... Mes a Papers

Chapter I. Evangelism

“And He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers,” (Eph. 4:11-17).

“Do the work of an evangelist,” (II Tim. 4:5).

Evangelism is a great and meaningful word. It is worthy of our deepest thought.. We do well to pause and study its meaning and message. Evangelism is especially at the forefront in this age, as ours is the age of evangelism. Evangelism is indeed the watchword of the Christianity of our day.

“Evangelism is, at this moment, the watchword of the churches. For the first time in many decades the watchword is worthy the followers of the Nazarene. With a strange unanimity conservatives and critics alike have accepted the term, and with one voice are calling for evangelism.’—W. B. Riley, (The Perennial Revival).

THE MEANING OF EVANGELISM.

The Greek word, ‘‘uangelisto,” meaning evangelast, is used only three times in the New Testament. The Greek verb, “uangelizo,.”’ which means to evan~ gelize, is used fifty-two times, and the word, “uangelion,” meaning Gospel, is mentioned some seventyfour times. The word “evangel” means “good news” or “good tidings.” This word came to us 7 from the Greek, passing into Latin letters, and finally reaching us in the English word “evangel.” From this we derived the kindred words “evangelistic” and “evangelize.”

The word “Gospel” comes from an Anglo-Saxon source and means etymologically, the “God-story,” but in practical usage “good news.” In reality “evangel’” and “‘gospel”’ are synonymous in meaning.

It will help us to get a glimpse of the picture out of which the word “gospel” was born. We must imagine a city endangered by an invading army. The brave defenders of the city go far afield to meet the invading forces. They engage the enemy in deadly conflict, the battle rages and waxes hot.

The inhabitants, including the old men, women and children, wait anxiously and impatiently behind city walls for some word from the front. There are no telephones, automobiles, airplanes, or express trains to bring the message. Every nerve is strained, every ear is listening, and every eye is fixed to-

_| ward the battle field. Presently out of the dust, far

\ off in the dim distance, appears the figure of a runner. He is hot, tired, and dusty, but is bending every nerve to reach the gates of the city. The brave defenders have won the day, and this runner is the messenger of the “good news.” He tells the waiting, anxious populace that the brave defenders of the city have won and that the city is saved and safe. My! What news, and what a glad and glorious day for that city.

Now, the word evangelist represents this mes-

EVANGELISM 9 senger or runner. The message that he brings is the good news of the Gospel.

Evangelism then, in our thinking, as well as in its derivative sense, means the proclaiming of the ‘‘sood news” of the Gospel to Jost human beings wherever they are found around the world.

Evangelism is any effort, on the part of Christian people, to win a lost world to Christ. This, effort may be an individual effort, a church effort, a | co-operative community effort, a city-wide effort, a. nation-wide effort, or a world-wide effort. Any effort, therefore, directed toward saving a lost world) from sin and eternal punishment is ee a Call it what you will, it is still evangelism.

Looking from another angle, Dr. E. Y. Mullins in his book, “Axioms of Religion,” aptly defines evangelism from a Theological viewpoint. He says, “Evangelism is the proclamation to the soul of man that God has provided a trysting place, so to speak, ¢or God and man in Christ. In Christ they meet, and face to face settle their controversy. The incarnation is God’s self-revelation as a person, the atonement is His provision for human sin.”

“Hvangelism is the approach of the divine to the human person. The high respect which God pays to the human personality is seen in the fact that His transaction with every sinner in Christ is on the basis of that sinner’s private and personal needs and conditions. Evangelism is the method of God for setting the soul free. He regenerates the spirit of man and thus transforms it into a regeneration of

[a human society. Through evangelism, therefore, God grapples directly with man’s deepest problem— emancipation from sin.”

Evangelism is God’s ordained way of reaching a lost world. Evangelism originated with God, not man. It was born in the heart of God. It is God’s plan, through the channel of evangelism, to reconcile the world unto Himself. Then how necessary, how important, how far reaching, is this something we call evangelism. We owe it to God, to a lost world, and to ourselves—to understand and practice evangelism.

Dr. Henry C. Mabie, in his book entitled, “Method of Soul Winning,” gives us some very illuminating words in regard to the meaning and nature of evangelism. He says, “To evangelize, is to tell the good news, that which is really news and that which is surprisingly joyful news—a real saving message. To evangelize is to point out to men how they may come into a new moral and religious status, under a regime which God has made possible through the sacrificial work of Himself in His Son. To evangelize a soul is to make clear to it the evangelical status made possible for it by Christ.”

The late Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman, writing in “The Advance” has the following to say, “Evangelism has ever been the hope of the church, and properly used

___ and controlled, is the very greatest possible blessing.

Evangelism is a spirit and not a method, and this is as it should be, for if it were a method, then in order to be evangelistic, I must be like other people,

EVANGELISM 11 and this would not be possible, or I must use the methods of other men, and this might be not only distasteful, but disastrous. Since evangelism is a } spirit, one has only to yield himself absolutely to / Christ, become possessed of His Spirit, follow closely |

4 : ; : j His direction, and as a result we have evangelism of: the highest type.”

Knowing now as we do, the meaning and nature of evangelism, we do well to remember that—the object of evangelism is to get lost human beings into right relation to God; the task of evangelism is the salvation of all mankind, and that the scope of evangelism is as wide as the world. Let us then go forth, in the spirit of Him who said, “Follow thou me,” and really, “Do the work of an evangelist.”

Chapter II. Evangelism In The Old Testament

‘“‘And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Gen. 3:15). :

This great verse gives us the origin and kernel of all true evangelism. Here we have the first promise of a Redeemer, who is to come through the seed of the woman, to bruise Satan and save a lost human race. Here begins the “highway of the seed’”’ which leads through Abel, Seth, Noah (Gen. 6:8-10), Shem (Gen. 9:26, 27), Abraham (Gen. 12:1-4), Isaac (Gen. 17:19-21), Jacob (Gen. 18:10-14), Judah (Gen. 49:10), David (II Sam. 7:5-17), to Immanuel —Christ, (Isa. 7:9-14; Matt. 1:1, 20-23; I John 3:8; John 12:31). The way of the seed, is the way of Evangelism. This highway leads to Christ and the cross. We have no evangelistic message for a lost world, apart from the cross—‘“For without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins,” (Heb. O22).

NOAH-——A PREACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

“Noah was a Just man, and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” (Gen. 6:9).

Noah was a “preacher of righteousness” and as such warned his generation, but his warning was in vain. His generation was so wicked that it “repented God that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” Violence filled the earth and God’s way was corrupted. Finally, in disgust, God decreed the ‘‘end of-all flesh,” and the Antediluvian civilization. But Noah, God’s messenger, ‘‘moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness, which is by faith,” (Heb. 2:7).

Then the flood came and completely destroyed every living thing—save those in the ark. Following the flood came the “Covenant” with Noah, and in that Covenant, a prophetic declaration is made— that Shem will have a peculiar relation to Jehovah, (Gen. 9:26, 27). All divine revelation is through Semitic men, and Christ, after the flesh, descends from Shem. Thus we trace the course of God’s evangelistic message to the world.

THE CALL OF ABRAHAM.

Abraham, was not an evangelist in the modern sense of the word, but he was called nevertheless, to leave his native land and give his life to a divine mission. God called him to be a blessing to the world and through him ‘all the families of the earth” have been blessed. He lived the evangelistic life, and through him and his seed, the world has received the evangelistic message. He saw ‘“Christ’s day and was glad.”

THE CALL OF MOSES.

“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, re-

fused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter ;

choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season ; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible,” (Heb. 11: 25-27).

Thus we see that Moses had evangelistic fazth, evangelistic vision, and evangelistic decision. It was this man, thus equipped, that God called by the burning bush to lead his people out of the bondage and sins of Egypt into a larger, and a national life.

A close study of the life of Moses reveals the fact, that he was not only a great law-giver, a mighty leader, etc., but that he was intensely evangelistic. His invitation to Hobab has become immortal— “Come thou with us, and we will do thee good.” His mighty. challenge at the foot of Mt. Sinai, after the - people had worshipped the golden calf, can never be forgotten, where he said, “‘Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me,” (Exodus 32:26). Couple with this heart-searching appeal, his wonderful prayer of intercession—“Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written,” (Exodus 32: 32). Here we see the very heart, and passion, of this lover of souls. We turn to the Book of Numbers (82:23), and find him picturing sin, in words of warning, as a sure detective—“Be sure your sin will find you out.” This great old text has been the means under God, of turning multiplied thousands from their sins through the centuries.

It was Moses who made the brazen serpent in the wilderness and told the people to look, by faith, and live. Those who looked did live. We preach the same evangelistic message today—‘‘And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life,’ (John 3:14, 15).

Moses, throughout his long ministry, was continually warning the people to turn from their sins and be true to God. He did his work so well that when life’s day was done God pulled back the veil of the sky and said, to Joshua the new leader, ““Moses my servant is dead.” This servant, this zealous soul, was counted worthy to meet with Jesus, centuries later, on the Mount of Transfiguration. Give us more servants today with the zeal and passion of a Moses.

JOSHUA.

Joshua was called to take up the work where Moses left off. His first great task was the conquest of Canaan, and his second was the division of the land among the tribes. He did his best to stimulate the various tribes to complete the conquest of the land in every part, (Josh. 13-21). He tried to commit Israel for all future time to faithfulness to Jehovah, and as long as Joshua’s associates and his personal friends lived, the people were comparatively faithful. It is interesting to note that this busy leader and nation builder had the spirit of evangelism. His evangelistic message may be summed up in these words: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve,” (Josh. 24:15). These are his words, and this was the heart of his message. But he did more than deliver his message—he lived the evangelistic life, and said, to all who heard him, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” (24: 15). The true evangelist, of every age and century, must live his message. The man who lives his message is sure to get results. Here is the proof—‘And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, (24: 81).

THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES.

We now come to the “Dark Ages of Israel’s history.” It may be described as a period of political, social, and spiritual decline. The author of the Book of Judges gives us in graphic words the awful picture of the nation during this period, ‘““And the people served Jehovah all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of Jehovah, that He had wrought for Israel—And there arose another generation after them, that knew not Jehovah, nor yet the work which He had wrought for Israel. And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and served the Baalim; and they forsook Jehovah, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other Gods, of the gods of the peoples that were round about them, and they provoked Jehovah to anger,” (Judges 2:7-

12). We can hardly expect any really great, spiritual movement in a time like this. During this period the chosen people went after the false gods of the nations round about them,.and as a result they were punished and made servants of their enemies. Alas, they would come to themselves and be brought back to God in great revivals led by a Deborah or a Gideon. Each generation refused to learn from former generations the lesson, that apostasy from Jehovah meant slavery to heathen oppressors. So again they sin and are made to serve the Philistines as a punishment. This time they are led in a great awakening by Samson. The revival at Mispen, led by Samuel, is the last great awakening of this unfortunate period. This is in brief the story of evangelism in the Period of the Judges. THE EVANGELISM OF THE PROPHETS.

The story of God’s people through the long centuries is after all a little more than the story of evangelism. The whole experience of Israel is one of declension and revival. To be sure, there were no protracted meetings nor evangelistic campaigns in the modern sense, but there were nevertheless great awakenings, and mighty movements in which the people were stirred and led back to God. In every period of Israel’s history there were rulers or false prophets who would lead the people into sin and away from God, but almost immediately some true prophet would arise, and lead them back to God’s altar. All the way through Kings and Chronicles we are told of some Jeroboam, some Ahab, some

Amaziah, some Uzziah or some Ahaz who led Israel into sin, but almost instantly they tell us of some great sweeping reform or revival movement led by a Jehoshaphat, a Joah, a Hezekiah or some mighty prophet like Elijah. The prophets were in a real sense, great revival preachers, and in style, method, delivery, and manner of approach, just as varied and different as the evangelists of our own time. THE MOUNT CARMEL REVIVAL.

It is not our purpose in this treatise to give in detail the work of all the prophets, but simply to note some of the outstanding religious awakenings of the prophetic period. The mighty leader in the revival of Mt. Carmel was Elijah the Tishbite. He was God’s true man, God’s dependable man in one of the most crucial periods of Israel’s history. The situation was serious. Through Ahab and his wicked queen Jezebel, the country had been flooded with false prophets. Jezebel was full of zeal for Baal, and she was determined to introduce his religion into Israel, and make Baal worship the religion of the country. She introduced 450 prophets of Baal and 400 of Astarte. In addition to this, she built houses of worship for Baal, and lavished upon the new religion the favor of the Court. She did her utmost to exterminate the prophets. Great religious centers, like the Schools of the Prophets, were broken up. The people followed their queen, and for the most part, acquiesced in the change of religion. It was a dark hour for true religion, and a real man was needed to stem the tide. Elijah was that man, and he went forth single-handed to fight the forces of Baal. He meets King Ahab and challenges him for a show down on Mt. Carmel. Ahab agrees and the people are summoned, and all the forces of Baal are there. The false prophets are there. Elijah addresses the people and in that memorable address he said, “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow Him, but if Baal, then follow Him, and the people answered him not a word,” (Kings 18:21). In the fire test that followed the false prophets failed. Their God was powerless to help. But when Elijah cried Jehovah answered, and the altar and offering were consumed. “And when the people saw it, they fell on their faces, and they said, The Lord, He is the God; the Lord, He is the God, (Kings 18:39). It was a great hour, Elijah and revealed religion won, and the false prophets were defeated and slain. Then followed Elijah’s prayer for rain. Soon the clouds gathered and the parched earth was drenched with refreshing showers.

This was a genuine revival of old time religion. Revivals of this sort, and men of Elijah’s type, are needed today. We need men this hour who can move both earth and sky. Our prayers should be, O God, give us more men with the spirit, courage, and power of Elijah.

THE WATER GATE REVIVAL.

This is possibly the most modern of all the Old Testament awakenings. It was conducted by Ezra immediately following the return of the people from the Assyrian captivity. It was a great outdoor or open-air meeting. The place was before the water gate. The people literally filled the streets of Jerusalem to have a part in this revival. Ezra mounted himself on a pulpit of wood and began to read the law of Moses. He read and explained from morning till the noon hour, and all the people were stirred and moved. They worshipped, lowered their heads, wept, and repented of their sins. They also observed the Feast of Tabernacles, confessed their sins publicly, and signed a covenant pledging themselves to keep the law of God. ‘‘And there was very great gladness,” (Neh. 8:17).

Surely no one doubts that this was a great and successful revival. In reality it was a Bible Reading revival. Certainly such a revival would be a blessing to our modern world. It cannot come too soon. Lord, hasten the day!

OBADIAH.

Obadiah is, chronologically, the first of the writing prophets and the first to use the phrase, “The day of the Lord.” His message is directed against the sins of Edom. He shows evangelistic fire and fervor in condemning the “pride” of Edom, also EKdom’s disposition to oppress Judah. Obadiah doesn’t mince words. He says “Thou art greatly despised.” ‘‘The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee.” “Thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord.” ‘For the day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen; as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee; thy reward shall return upon thine own head.”

He makes it plain that God’s day of retribution is sure to come and that they the Edomites, must pay the penalty for their sins.

JOEL.

Joel is one of the most spiritual of all the prophets. His sensitive soul was stirred to its depth as he beheld the moral and spiritual decline of his people. He calls upon the “drunkards,” “all drinkers of wine,” “‘priests” and “ministers of the Altar,’’ to lament and repent, in view of the coming “Day of the Lord.”

“Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and how! all ye drunkards of wine.” ‘“Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests; howl, ye ministers of the altar; come lie all night in sack-cloth, ye ministers of my God, for the meat-offering and the drink-offering is witholden from the house of your God.”

“For the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.”

The people are urged in burning words to repent, and thrust themselves upon the grace of God: “Yet even now, saith Jehovah, turn unto me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your heart, and your garments, and turn unto Jehovah your God; for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil,” (Joel 2:1-17).

What modern evangelist could make an appeal more stirring and soul moving? The implication, in verses 17 and 18, is that. they did repent. To be sure, how could they resist? Such a passion is bound to win.

JONAH.

Jonah was an evangelist of strange and diverse moods, like some modern evangelists, but he was nevertheless very effective. It was hard for God to get him started toward Nineveh, but when he did go something happened. The revival of Nineveh stands out as one of the greatest and most far reaching in human history. A whole city was stirred, a mighty population from the king to the lowest citizen was moved, repented, and turned to God. t

“And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not,” (Jonah 3:10).

The city was moved, and saved, but the evangelist pouted, because results were not as he had predicted and expected. How modern! Some evangelists, even now, are not willing to leave results in God’s hands. |

AMOS.

Amos was a herdman and a dresser of sycamore fruit. God called him from his rural task to be a prophet.. Amos was a native of Tekoa, a city on the edge of the desert twelve miles south of Jerusalem. He lived in the South but was called to prophesy to the Northern Kingdom. He delivered his prophecies in the days of Jeroboam II, two years before the earthquake of Zech. 14:5. Bethel was the scene of his activity. Amos was not educated, but he knew men and things, and his soul was aflame with a passion for right and justice. He raised his voice in defense of the poor and oppressed. He was a true and fearless prophet of God. He delivered his messages without fear. They were straight from the shoulder, and they hit home. There is much that is evangelistic in his writings. Some of the greatest revival texts of the Christian centuries have been gleaned from his messages. It will be interesting as well as instructive to note some of them.

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (3:3). “Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan,—which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink,” (4:1). “Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel, (4:12). ‘For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Lsrael, Seek ye me, and ye shall live,” (5:4). “Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live, and so the Lord God of hosts shall be with you,” (14:14). ‘‘Woe to them that are at ease in Zion,” (6:1). ‘‘Woe to them—that lie upon beds of ivory and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; that chant to the sound of the viol, and invent themselves instruments of music, like David; that drink wine in bowls, etc,” (6:4-6). “Though they dig into hell, thence shall my hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down,” (9:2).

HOSEA.

Hosea was a contemporary of Amos in Israel,

24 EVANGELISSM IN ACTION and of Isaiah and Micah in Judah. His ministry was chiefly to the ten tribes, but he also makes references to Judah. His style is abrupt, metaphorical, and figurative. There are some striking evangelistic texts in his writings. It will be interesting to note the most helpful and striking of these: “Seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children,” (4:6). ‘For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer,” (4:16). “Ephraim is joined to his idols; let him alone,” (4:17). ‘Come, and let us return unto the Lord; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up,” (6:1). “Israel is an empty vine,” (10:1). ‘Therefore turn thou to thy God; keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually,” (12:6). ‘‘O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help,” (18:9). “TI will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death; O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction; repentance shall be hid from mine eyes,” (13:14). “Take with you words, and turn to the Lord; say unto him, take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously,” (14:2). “Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fall therein,” (14:9). | MICAH.