Correct Orthodoxy Does Not Equal Powerful Evangelism

"Evangelical orthodoxy is powerless in itself to spread the gospel. Unimpeachable Protestant teaching in the pulpit, and the plainest of gospel declaration in the church services, may be seen in combination with entire neglect of the Lord's Great Commission." (quoted from The History of the Church Missionary Society as recorded in Andrew Murray's "The Key to the Missionary Problem") 
Sadly this is an all too common testimony of 21st century evangelicalism as well. I see lots of sermons, books, blogs and conferences with "Gospel" in their title, but very little Great Commission going on. We have lots of fellowship and education, but little filling of the Spirit and evangelism.

Not what we should be...

"However devotedly a small part of the Church is doing its utmost, the great majority of her members are not what they should be. They do not truly desire to make Christ known to every creature as speedily as possible. This aim does not rule the Church - she is not prepared to do her duty." ~Andrew Murray 1901

The one great need of the day...

"As we look at the extent of the field, and the greatness of the work that still has to be done, at the utterly inadequate force which the Church has at present on the field, we are crushed. We do not see sufficient signs that she is ready to place herself and all her resources at her Lord's disposal. We see our absolute impotence to give life either in the Church at home or the work abroad, and our entire dependence upon the power that comes from above in answer to prayer and faith. We are amazed at the love of our Lord to His people and to the perishing, and the promise He waits to fulfill. We feel that our only hope is to apply ourselves to prayer. Prayer, more prayer, much prayer, very special prayer, should first of all be made for the work to be done in our home churches on behalf of foreign missions. This is indeed the one great need of the day. 'Our help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.'" (The Key to the Missionary Problem, by Andrew Murray, page 107)

Not "For" but "Through" the Missionary

"Missions is not what the church does for the missionary but what the church does through the missionary...-seeing that the church, as the focal point of God's plan, is in the world to fulfill her mission, not merely to maintain her existence. This means that the churches need to be proactive in the fulfillment of the Great Commission, not just reacting to appeals by missionaries." (Antioch Revisited, by Tom Julien, page 25)

But he has "faith in God."

I think it's kind of funny how many evangelicals were shocked this week to learn that presidential candidate, Ben Carson, does not believe in the rapture of the church or in a place called hell. Really, people were actually surprised to learn this? Carson said, "I don't believe there is a physical place where people go and are tormented, no I don't believe that." Hello, the man is not a Christian, he is a Seventh Day Adventist! The last GOP presidential nominee believes that he will one day be a God. Romney is not a Christian either, my friends. He is a Mormon. Bible believing Christians need to do some reading and be discerning of false religions. I am not trying to be politically argumentative. I'm simply pointing out how many sheeple are following these political leaders (on both sides of the aisle) believing them to be Christians because they attend a ward, a kingdom hall or a Methodist church. I just want to encourage my Christian friends to study and be aware of cults and false religions. Roman Catholics and Jehovah's Witnesses are not evangelical. Mormons and Seventh Day Adventists are not Christians. These often sincere and upstanding people do not know or proclaim the Gospel of the Bible. Please folks, don't be duped because a man or woman talks about his "faith in God" or because she quotes from the Bible. Allah, and the god's of the cults are not the God of the Bible. Please consider these Biblical mandates concerning false teachers. The Bible demands that cults and false teachers be confronted. The Bible instructs to beware of them (Matt 7:15), watch for them (2 Tim 4:3-5), compare their teaching with Scripture (1 John 4:1-3), avoid them (Mark 13:22), rebuke them (Titus 1:10,13,16), and withdraw from them (1 Tim 6:5). I am not recomending who you should our should not vote for; that is NOT the point of this rant. I am simply begging you to study the Scriptures daily. No Christian should have been surprised to learn that Ben Carson and Seventh Day Adventist do not believe in hell or the Gospel of faith in Christ alone. Be an unashamed workman by diligently studying and rightly dividing the Scriptures (Acts 17:11; 2 Tim 2:15). Getting off soap box now...

Worth Our Breath?

"Consider what Christ did toward the saving of souls. He thought them worth his blood; and shall we not think them worth our breath?" ~Richard Baxter, from The Saints Everlasting Rest, published in 1650.

Are you a Supporter or a Partner?

Missions is more than just a missionary. It's more than just giving money to a fund that supports missionaries. It's...

Posted by Baptist World Mission on Monday, November 30, 2015