“For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way…”
In this parable found in Matthew 20, people who were standing around idle were recruited to work. These people were not necessarily looking for work but were recruited anyway. We ought to do the same when we come across people who are saved but are not in a soul-winning church.
A common phrase you hear fundamental Baptists say out soul-winning is, “We’re not trying to take you away from your church.” This saying should be used rarely if ever. I can only understand someone saying that if the person named a Baptist church that was known to be a soul-winning church. Unfortunately, though, most Christians are not winning souls at all, and, yes, I do want to take somebody out of some dead-as-a-doornail church!
When you come across someone who is already saved, chances are they are in a less than ideal church. If you aren’t familiar with the church or even if you are and you know it’s a lame church, ask them this question: Does your church go out soul winning like we're doing?
“Teaching them to observe ALL THINGS whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:20
This is actually what got me out of a liberal church as a teenager. A man presented me with an invitation to Regency Baptist Church, and when I said that I was a saved Baptist, he asked me that same thought-provoking question. The answer was no. I went home and told my parents about it, which led to our family visiting the church. We kept going there, and soon, I was soul winning and getting the sin out of my life.
“And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:15
It’s not just winning people to the Lord that makes a difference. We need to also be provoking other believers to good works. The person who invited me to his church that day had a part in thousands of people being saved through the ministry of Faithful Word Baptist Church, which I was later sent out to start. What if he had instead just said, “We’re not trying to take you away from your church,” and had never asked me about soul winning?
“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:3
Here is a sermon on "Laboring in the Vineyard."
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