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MISSIONARY VS. EVANGELIST

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By Ken Blue

 

I don’t expect this article will win the good neighbor award. However, I think it is time we give the subject some thought. We are well aware that there are “evangelist” for about every subject on earth. There are clown evangelist, singing evangelist, vintriqualist evangelist, carpenter evangelist, and evangelist telling established churches how to run their church. This is only the tip of the iceberg.  Then we find the same thing concerning “missionaries.” They come in all varieties, and many are doing everything except what Paul did.

Technicality, there is no office in the New Testament for missionaries. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” Ephesians 4:11. The “evangelist” is supposed to be doing what the missionary is “supposed” to be doing. These are not two different ministries. There is but one, and it is the evangelist.

The question is, what is a “real” evangelist supposed to be doing? Evangelist are supposed to go on a mission into an area where the lost are, preach, and win people to Christ. Their task is not to have some “unique” ministry where they entertain members of local churches. Their task should be to win a group of believers, and then let the group call a pastor, or chose one from the group. The evangelist moves on, and repeats that same form of ministry; that is his “mission.” We have given that task to a group called missionaries, while evangelist do everything except start churches.

I’m sure I’ll be accused of straining at a gnat, but it is time we take a long, hard look at what we are doing, and supporting. Evangelist have written their on job description, and missionaries have been pushed out into another category. Paul, the Apostle, had a mission, and did the work of an evangelist. He went everywhere preaching the gospel, and establishing churches.

Now if you disagree with me, that’s ok, we can still get along, I don’t expect anything to change. I am contemplating becoming a missionary to retired pastors in Arizona. I need your support, and help purchasing a truck and a fifth wheel. I just want to be a blessing to others.

POLITE SINNERS

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By Ken Blue

Not all lost people are rude or impolite. Some are quiet, kind, and unoffending. During my 40 years of pastoring, I have knocked on literally hundreds of doors in the Lynnwood area. I have encountered just about every reaction imaginable on those visits.

I have had people who opened the door, and before I could say one word, they  yelled, “NO, we don’t want any.” On other occasions, when I introduced the church, and myself they told me where to go, and it wasn’t heaven. Then I have had some who listened briefly, and then slam the door. In every case, I was shut out, and left standing alone on the porch.

However, there was one experience I will never forget. It happened just a few blocks from the church. I knocked on the door, and a very polite lady came to the door. I introduced myself, gave her a piece of literature about our church. She smiled, and thanked me for it. I ask for permission to ask her a question, which she gave.

I ask her if she knew for sure she would go to heaven when she died. She responded, “I believe we make our on heaven or hell right here on earth.” I then ask, “Which are you in?” See assured me that this was not heaven. She then thanked me for the invitation; she smiled, and gently shut the door. As all the others mentioned above, I was still shut out and standing on the porch alone.

I’ve met a few like her. They are polite sinners, but they have no time for Jesus Christ, or the gospel. They just gently close the door, and shut Him out. Regardless of the attitude, the end result is all the same. Christ is rejected because they haven’t time for Him.

What about you? Are you just a well-mannered, polite sinner? Politeness and spirituality are two different things. You may not curse Jesus; you just don’t have time for Him. Well, let me say as politely as I know how, those of you who have no time for Jesus, will find at the judgment, He will have no time for you, and He will not be polite.

 

 

 

“BY ALL MEANS.”

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By Ken Blue

 

“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some..” 1 Corinthians 9:19-22.

 

I find it beyond belief at the number of pastors who attempt to discredit this passage in order to not use  “all means” to reach people. Anyone with an ounce of sense knows Paul would not get drunk to win the drunkard, or sleep with a prostitute, to witness to her. How stupid do we have to sound in order to discredit a text?

 

Paul, who said it was a shame for a man to have long hair, let his hair grow for a year or more. He had taken a vow which involved this decision. (Acts 18:18). Young Timothy, a gentile, submitted to circumcision in order to make his witness acceptable to the Jews. (Acts 16:3). And yet, we have self-righteous pastors who aren’t willing to spend, and be spent to reach everyone with the gospel. Most pastors don’t add new converts because they have no real desire to grow.

 

I know a pastor who has pastored in a major city for over six years, and still has about 40 people in attendance. He has the ability to have hundreds in his church. The excuse is that no one is interested in the gospel. The real truth is that the pastor is not interested enough in the lost to step out of his box. He holds the idea that all promotion to get people to church is wrong.

 

I have heard more than one pastor say, “If you give someone something to get them to church, you must keep giving it to them to keep them coming.” That statement is foolish and inaccurate. I have used every kind of promotion over the years to reach the lost. Many have been saved, and it did not require a continuation of the gift to keep them coming. In fact, after 30 years, some are still coming. That criticism is nothing more than a self-righteous excuse to not use “all means” to reach the lost. I also think it has a ring of, not incurring the wrath of other pastors who hold the same view.

 

Most lost people do not come to church because of what you like about your church. There are multiple reasons why they come, and you should do some skull work to find out what lost couples believe they need. Jack Hyles used the trotline illustration in the matter of soul winning. A trotline is stretched across a stream or river. Hooks are tied to it at about four foot intervals. The more hooks you have in the water, the more opportunities you have to catch fish. Pastor, how many outreach hooks do you have in the water? What are the “means” you could be using to attract young families to attend your church? Paul would use “all means.”

 

 

 

GLORY TO GOD!!!

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 By Ken Blue

 

 

When I received the note and picture from Pastor Murphy, I bowed my head and wept for joy. I hope you can rejoice with the great people at Open Door. Here is the message Pastor Murphy sent me.

 

Pastor Blue,

This is a picture from last Sunday night “special recognition service” We had 31 people join the church and 22 people baptized last Sunday night. We had a total of 68 go through the discipleship classes. (Sunday evening).

 

Praise the Lord for what he is doing at Open Door it truly is a miracle on 44th ave in Lynnwood Wa. Warren Wiersbe said, “If you can explain it, than God is not in it”. I am thankful that I cannot explain it. Thanks again for laying such a great foundation at Open Door; it truly has made my job much easier. Feel free to post this picture on your blog and write anything you want to go with it.

Thanks

Pastor Jason Murphy

Open Door Baptist Church

Lynnwood, WA

425.743.4922

 

Pastors, one of the purposes of my ministry is to encourage you, and get you to believe God wants your church to grow. Great sermons, Bible Conferences, A soul winning night, or the kind of music you may have will not do it. It takes more.  I believe God can do the same for you and your church. Contact Pastor Murphy, and discover what they are doing that God is blessing. You will be glad you did.

EASY BELIEVEISM

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By Ken Blue

 

“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:8,9.

Little has changed since the days of our Lord. The Pharisees are still out in full force to get one convert to themselves. It matters not the subject, these cotton picking, nitpickers will distort it so no one will hear you.

One matter I have never understood is what some call “easy believeism.” Do these preachers and teachers purposely make it difficult for the sinner to believe? As I understand the Bible, God has made it easy for the lost to believe Him. Read the following and see how simple and easy it is to get saved. Romans 10:6-9. “But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” That sounds rather easy to me.

If you have a full proof procedure, perhaps you would be will to share it with us. I think the sarcasm about easy believeism is an excuse by those who are not getting any believers. Until then, we will K.I.S.S.