“But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.” Titus 3:9
When we go out soul winning, we are looking for people who are receptive to the gospel. Don’t let someone who is looking for an argument rob you of your time that you could be spending with another person who would be genuinely interested. On the other hand, if someone is receptive but just slow to understand, take some extra time to be even more thorough with that person to make sure they comprehend each point.
If somebody asks me a weird question, I might tell them we can get back to that, and then I’ll change the subject back to the gospel. I try not to take the bait but instead stay focused on getting through the presentation. Have I gotten into arguments out soul winning? Yes, I’m human, but most of the time I try to be patient with people since the goal is to either get them saved or to at least plant a seed.
At times our pride can get in the way and cause us to want to show off our Bible knowledge. Because of this, newer believers are sometimes better soul winners because they are less likely to get off on rabbit trails, trying to win an argument. It’s not beginners luck—it’s just that they don’t know enough Bible to debate about the more obscure subjects.
Those of us with more experience should still try to stay on topic rather than being baited into a fruitless argument. When I change the subject back to the gospel, I usually hope they forget about their original question, but depending on what the question is, I may answer it after the person gets saved. The point is to avoid foolish questions and use our time wisely. Encourage new converts to come to church where they will hear preaching on all manner of subjects, but our primary goal out soul winning is to win people to the Lord.
The type of questions we do want to answer are those pertaining to salvation. People may have been taught something different at their church and have a hang up that needs to be addressed. Answer relevant questions but maintain control of the conversation, so you don’t waste valuable time or veer too far off course.
If someone is combative about a key salvation point even after you have proven that doctrine with a couple of clear scriptures, it is time to walk away. Be polite when you leave, but don’t waste your time arguing with someone that clearly won’t be getting saved—at least not that day.
“A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;” Titus 3:10
Sometimes it will become evident that someone just doesn’t understand salvation. Some people will constantly change the subject throughout the presentation, showing that they are missing the point. We should try to get through to them, but there comes a time when you have to realize the person just isn’t going to get saved. Consider leaving them with additional materials and invite them to visit your church for more preaching on the subject. They may just need some time for the verses to sink in, and perhaps in the future, they will understand it better coming from someone else.
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-11
Here is a sermon to go with this article.
7 comments:
Hey Pastor,
I remember some time ago during one of your sermons you mentioned a lady who was married to a sodomite (she caught him looking for dudes on craigslist) and he died of brain cancer(praise God). You had said that before he was found out that he was all fired up for soul winning, if I remember correctly. Did you ever see that guy get anyone saved or said he did? That was always something that has confused me and I only now thought about asking you about it, if you don't mind discussing it. Please know I'm NOT trying to "gotcha" into a saved reprobate example or something stupid like that, I'm just curious about how or why a filthy sodomite would be all excited about soul winning as a hater of God. A Judas Iscariot type deal? The only reason I even remember this is because it sounded so bizarre when I when I heard it. Thank you for your time sir, I am praying for your restored health.
Look up the phrases: tares among the wheat, wolves in sheep clothing, crept in unawares, etc.
That's pretty much what I thought. Thank you Anonymous. God bless you.
Yeah, it's bizarre that someone would take the time to go to a church, walk the walk and talk the talk and yet be a Judas. Sometimes you can weed them out, like that fake Pastor Afshin who preaches salvation by faith alone (correct) but says he got saved in 1994 and yet preached works salvation in 2011. They can appear legit and then one day they slip up... Even with the SA soul winning thing, there were sodomites creating fake Facebook accounts and they were obviously fake, but there were also some which were so convincing, it was a real shock - they walked the walk, talked the talk, even recommended an Independent Baptist Church... as it turned out, they were infiltrators ratting Pastor Anderson out and trying to get location details of SA believers (yes they exist) to start attacking them too.
Logic fails in such cases - it's a matter of spiritual wickedness.
That kind of wickedness makes my head swim. I know I shouldn't be surprised, but goodnight. I just got that about the SA believers, ha ha. I'm sure there are tons of them down there, they just need some encouragement and some good preaching to get them fired up. I know what it's like to be confused about repentance, not believing repent of your sins to be saved, but trying to reconcile grace by faith alone with growing up having "repent of your sins" crammed down my throat by IFB preachers throughout my life. Or be like, "Oh no, James chapter 2!!" All I needed was a little push in the right direction and to actually start reading my Bible cover to cover. Psst, Steven(me), that's talking about justification in front of men, like having a good testimony. Ding, light goes on and I'm strengthened in my faith and belief.
Repentance in light of salvation- turning from dead works, Heb.6:1 and turning from idols(false religion) to believing on Jesus alone for salvation. And everybody's favorite, Jonah 3:10.
I remember leaving an IFB church where the pastor preached from his pulpit about a lady who was a drunk and said she couldn't stop drinking, could she be saved and he said without missing a beat, No, because you have to repent of your sins to be saved. It took all I had to not stand up and yell heretic. And I had been going to this church for several months. My blood still boils when I think about it.
Yup. I went to an IB (note, no F) because it was the only one in the province that hadn't gone Calvinist. KJV only and faith alone, but the Pastor's one attempt at soul winning was to get people to hand out tracts. He managed to get the church from a gathering at a school to a building and maybe 20 congregants. After 10 years he gave up and fled back to America at the first opportunity - to become a youth counsellor. He left no leadership behind, so we got an "interim Pastor" - yes, someone who spends his life moving around the world every few months at others' expense. Well he preached salvation by faith - in every sermon. He dedicated 2 out of 3 meetings to preach dispensationalism, and started selling Tim Lahaye books, Pilgrim's Progress and CDs in the church. He left and the permanent Pastor came in... I told him my concerns and he instantly told me I'd not be happy in the church, but we should meet. I didn't see the point, but I went into his church service...
Within 5 minutes he encouraged people to go to the evening Communion service, so we can take Communion "to display outwardly that there is no known sin within us"! His sermon was horrible, it was preaching the ideas of some guy called R Kent Hughes (who is into "repent of your sins to be saved") and trying to get people who didn't often come to church (like myself at that stage) to feel guilty to come back; not the "forsaking the assembly" part but just for it being the right thing to do, and he understands some stopped going because of abuse.
After the sermon he spoke with me; I gave him a DVD with some of Pastor Anderson's sermons on there. He instantly asked "is this Steve Anderson?" and said he has major doctrinal issues. I said "oh because he's not Pre-Trib?" "no, because he hates homos" and then proceeded to say they can get saved. I tried to show him the difference between 1 Cor 6:9 and Romans 1, but he didn't get it and said homos are welcome in the church if they want to hear the Gospel. So I just hit him with it... "what must I do to be saved?" He was taken aback. So I told him, tell me how to get saved. He was stunned, so I helped him... "I'm a sinner, I'm going to Hell, but Jesus is God and died for our sins... so what's next?" Instant reply - "repent of your sins". I didn't even say goodbye, I stormed out.
Problem is... I only know of 2x IB churches in South Africa. Nearest is in a small town with zero jobs 3-4 hours drive away, the other is 14 hours' drive but just happens to be in Sodomite City. So the lose-lose dilemma is, do you forsake the assembly (which is bad) or do you go to "the least worst" church and they're not saved, so you're assembling but not with believers?
I'm in a bit of a "least worst" scenario right now, looking to move to San Antonio to attend Pastor Manly Perry's church. Our church is dead as a door nail and SADLY (I am not bragging here, it is heart breaking) from what I've seen, I am the only confrontational soul winner at my church. I am trying to be an encouragement to the rest of the folks there but the only folks that show up to soul winning time are an elderly couple that visit the bus kids, another super elderly couple that just hand out tracts and the few times I've been with the pastor, he just hands out tracts, has an awkwardish conversation about how he wants people to feel welcome and doesn't want to leave a bad taste in people's mouths.
I had to learn to soul win from Pastor Jimenez' soul winning class thing on his website and now I have numbered Post-it flags in my Bible to help me get to the places quickly to preach the gospel and I'm getting a some people saved. Planting A LOT of seeds.
I've heard dangerous things in my church, like the pastor preaching repent of your sins, though it kind of seems like he's trying to reconcile what the Bible says and probably believes and all the garbage commentaries he reads and gets his sermons out of. AND THEN we have missionaries from other countries (who don't get folks saved) visit on furlough and preach repent of your sins, or HAHA this one missionary from Taiwan said he got saved from a Chick tract! And he calls his "ministry" in Taiwan outside of the church he preaches at there, a tract ministry.
I don't know what to say about your predicament. I think I can say that it is far worse than mine. Perhaps you are the (one day) pastor that will rise up and be the beacon of light in that land of darkness. I don't know your situation or where you are with the qualifications of being a pastor, but it could be you that bolsters the faith of like minded believers and stands in the gap against wickedness where you are. Maybe the most important thing is, if you have children, make sure YOU teach them the Bible, correct (and only) salvation and what to beware of. Not that that is a or the substitute for church, but just what we're supposed to do. And tell you what though, I am praying for you. Keep seeking the Lord and be of good courage.
Deu 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Psa 34:10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
If you want to keep chatting it up and Pastor Anderson isn't averse to us hijacking his blog post (terribly sorry, sir!) hit me up. God speed!
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