Photo: Dr. Thomas Maxwell and Dr. Ron Lynch. It was Dr. Lynch that Bapized me years ago at the age of 13. It was Mr. Luddy Payne that first witnessed to me the Love of Jesus. He and Sister Payne witnessed Jesus to a lot of mill hill Boys and Girls.
I was approached this week while preparing to leave for vacation with a problem a friend in the Ministry is having with persons proselytizing attendees from a ministry event he has weekly. I prefer to use the term sheep stealer's. It is easier to spell. Plus it is a closer explanation of what is actually going on.
Anytime a ministry begins to be fruitful you find fruit flies hanging around. Fruit flies feed on the fruit you know.
Unfortunately in ministry events it does not take long before someone gets full of themselves and finds or creates opportunities to forward their agenda. This happens especially when people get their eyes off Jesus, fail to be kingdom minded and begin to put their own agenda and self interests ahead of God's.
Most recently their has been some debate as well between folks about the over abundance of music and an absence or downplaying of the importance of the preached word at some events. Also there are these people who want to start a church. Not knowing any other way to get members they try to solicit members from other churches to join theirs. Hence comes the sheep stealing analogy. As is always the case, some innocent persons get hurt and ministries get hurt.
This is a shame. The basis for outreach ministries is to get the gospel out to the masses. To reach outside the confines of the church building to those outside with the message of Jesus Christ. This is in itself what some say proselytizing is.
Proselyte defined:
1. (intransitive) To encourage or induce people to join a religious movement, political party or other cause or organization.
2. (transitive) To convert (someone) to one’s own faith or beliefs.
The difference between Proselytizing and Evangelism
The Jews were big into proselytes. They were constantly trying to get gentile converts to Judaism. There were righteous proselytes who were gentiles that fully embraced Judaism and were circumcised and proselytes of the gate, who rejected their pagan life and conformed to some of the mosaic law but would not be circumcised.
The difference is Evangelizing witnesses to the faith and allows the person to decide for himself whether to come forward. Jesus of Nazareth spoke to the people wherever they gathered to hear Him. Each individual was free to stay or go, believe or not, and be responsible to God alone for his decision. Jesus told us, Jn 20:21 “As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you.” Christians are to evangelize as Jesus did, by gently inviting others to become interested in God’s glory through His son.
Dr. Mike Knowles one of my Seminary teachers said, As Baptist we split to start churches instead if seeding them. By this I mean, Instead of persons desiring to leave and start a new work by causing some contention and splitting the church to do it, we should encourage those who wish to start one in a new area by seeding it. Taking some strong members who are firmly established in the Faith and Biblical Doctrine and using them as volunteers to help with starting the new work.
One fact remains. There are certainly enough people out there who do not know Jesus we can reach without trying to re-reach those already in the faith and members of churches.
A person that feels the call to preach must realize the awesome responsibility and preparation needed to carry out the call. Moses was prepared by God in the Wilderness before leading the people of God, the Apostles were chosen by Christ and taught by him for a period of time before set out to preach. The Apostle Paul already one of the brightest of his time had to be taught of Christ prior to beginning ministry. Don't take preaching lighly, God's annointing has to be there and you have to be prepared and proved to effectively. Yes the apostles were perceived to be ignorant and unlearned men. But the people took notice that they had been with Jesus. That means they spent time with the Lord learning and preparing for the ministry assigned them.
2Ti 2:15 KJV Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
A man just does not sit up one day and say, I think I will start a church and become a Pastor. God certainly calls a man and he will certainly equip him. However there are qualifications to be met. First and foremost the man has to know Christ as Lord and Savior. Have a relationship with Christ and a calling from him. To feel the leadership of God moving you to the Pastorate or to any Ministry is an awesome feeling.
1Ti 3:1-9 KJV This [is] a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. (2) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; (3) Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; (4) One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (5) (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) (6) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. (7) Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (8) Likewise [must] the deacons [be] grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; (9) Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
Gods word is awe inspiring when you get into it.
I certainly wish to assist any man who feels the call of God on his life to preach. I understand the calling, the responsibility to respond and to prepare for ministry. God calls the man and God uses the church to confirm the call.
Join me in praying for this situation. For all the persons involved to keep Christ center and to follow Johns advice. To Decrease that HE may increase. After all we must lift up Jesus. Not ourselves. He said if HE be lifted up HE will draw all persons unto himself.
see ya after vacation....
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