Evangelism Report

I evangelized at Westport again on Friday night, from 8:30 to about 1:00 p.m. It was for me the most amazing night of Evangelism all summer. For, I paired with a man named Chris, a current student at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, who was the most effective evangelist I've ever witnessed. He leading, we conversed with more people than I had ever talked to on any single night. Actually, we probably talked to more people than I had all summer. Chris used "ticket to heaven" tracts. He began conversations thus: "Could you help me out? I'm doing a project/survey and I'd like to ask you a question: What do you think happens to you when you die?"

Again this week I had no tracts to bring. Although I ordered tracts last week from Good News Tracts, they had not yet arrived; and so, Jim was again nice enough to give me a few of the tracts that he had bought for himself. Surprisingly, I ended up with some good tracts to use for the night. Also, I saw several tracts published by and learned about the tract company Living Waters. (Most of the tracts that Living Waters publishes are gimmicky. One involves a "magic" trick, for example.)

We talked to so many people that I remember almost none of their names. In the future I shall take a small notebook with me and write down the name of and information about whoever I talk to.

• Pierce (the jazz man)
• White Muslim young man
• African Muslim man
• Two young men (white) who were "apostate" Christians
• The "philosophy major"
• The Latino young man
• Two young black men
• The angry Mexican whose brother had been killed in Iraq.
• The BP gas station clerk.

Two of the more notable conversations were the ones with the two Muslims. In both cases, something happened that speaks much to the nature of Islam: they nearly began crying in response to the gospel. Now, first, let us remember that, as Luther said, all religions may be divided into two kinds: religions of law and religions of gospel. Religions of law decree moral laws and promise rewards for those who obey the laws. Religions of gospel (there is only one) also decree moral laws and promise rewards for those who obey the laws, but also, knowing that the human condition (viz., depravity) makes the necessary obedience impossible for humans, provide a way for humans to "get" the perfect righteousness necessary to exist in the presence of a just, righteous, holy, perfect God. Christianity—the only religion to provide such a "way"—is therefore the only religion of gospel.

Because of the human condition, and resulting inability of humans to perfectly keep the law, religions of law never work. For, the perfect law can only cause despair for imperfect man. It humbles him and brings him to their knees. The law is a mirror by which we see and are constantly reminded of God's perfect righteousness and moral perfection, and how we fall infinitely short of attaining that perfection.

Not only was I able to evangelize Friday, but today, also, while getting a haircut, another evangelism opportunity fell right into my lap. For, conversing with the young woman cutting my hair, I told her that I was to sing a solo at my church Sunday. Eventually, I asked her whether she attended a church. No, she said. Her mother used to make her go to church. However, the church she had attended had been an extremely charismatic church, one in which there was wild/extreme speaking in tongues, running around, dancing, and other charismatic idiosyncracies. Plus, they were abrasive and disrespectful in the way they presented their beliefs. These were major turn-offs for her, and, as soon as she was able, she stopped attending church. And so, I presented the gospel to her.

"J. I. Packer puts his pants on one leg at a time, just like you and me," part II

In our discussion two weeks ago, Rev. Syms and I discussed personal spiritual disciplines--both Rev. Syms' spiritual disciplines and spiritual disciplines in general.

We also discussed how it is possible for a somewhat impressionable young theologian, such as me, to put one or two certain theologians on a pedestal and then elevate them so high that he might sometimes accept some or all of what they say simply on their authority, rather than judging them by the Bible. This is something to which I may be prone if I'm not careful. If I were to fall into this danger, it would be John Piper and J. I. Packer whom I would elevate. For, I have been listening extensively and almost exclusively to John Piper's sermons on Romans, and also reading J. I. Packer's books (or books he endorses; most recently, Evangelism & the Sovereignty of God). I recently read a comment to a hilarious blog post that said jokingly,

I’ve often wondered how J.I. Packer has the time to read all the books that he endorces or writes the foreword to. And how much does he get paid for each one? Even if it is $10 each, he is a millionaire!
I’m thankful. How would we know which books are Reformed/Biblical without him?

This is funny, because I own at least six books that are either authored or endorsed by Packer. And, I do get excited and want to buy a book when I see his name on it. I need to take care to ensure that, within those theologians whom I have judged faithful to Scripture and edifying, I read a greater number and a greater variety of theologians. As Rev. Syms reminded me, "J. I. Packer puts his pants on one leg at a time, just like you and me."

I also showed Rev. Syms some of the tracts that I had been handing out when evangelizing. And, when he expressed concern about the message or theology of some of them, I was embarrassed; I realized that I had never bothered to read through any of the tracts that I had been using in evangelism. He pointed out--and after I read through them I agreed--that two of the tracts in particular were questionable. The first was the "Four Spiritual Laws" tract by Bill Bright. Bright is a free-will-ist to the core, and this prompted the concern. And, most of my tracts were "Four Spiritual Laws" tracts (I get all my tracts from my fellow evangelists). The second questionable tract was the million-dollar bill tract. I have never liked these tracts (and have seldom used them). One side of this tract is designed like an imaginary $1 million bill. The other side has a bare-bones gospel message written around the border. It says:

"The million dollar question: Will you go to Heaven? Here's a quick test. Have you ever told a lie, stolen anything, or used God's name in vain? Jesus said, "Whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery already with her in his heart." Have you looked with lust? Will you be guilty on Judgment Day? If you have done those things God sees you as a lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterer at heart. The Bible warns that if you are guilty you will end up in Hell. That's not God's will. He sent His Son to suffer and die on the cross for you. Jesus took your punishment upon Himself -- 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.' Then He rose from the dead and defeated death. Please, repent (turn from sin) today and trust in Jesus, and God will grant you everlasting life. Then read your Bible daily and obey it."

What really makes me uneasy is how I've seen other people use these tracts. At least one of my fellow evangelists in particular uses them in a way that is ineffective and even seems to result in deception and trickery. He'll leave the "bills" lying around in various (public) places, such as in the coin slots of newspaper vending machines, on the large tree pots that line the streets, and even in the middle of a street crosswalk, so that, appearing to be real money, it will be picked up by someone. When I've watched people pick such-placed "bills" up, it has always looked like trickery to me. This, I believe, only hurts the spread of the gospel. From now on, I will be more careful about the tracts I use, and I myself will acquire tracts.

Huh: it appears that the secret service has confiscated a large number of these misguided tracts. Wow.