"SOULWINNING" AND THE LOCAL CHURCH

According to the Bible, "Soulwinning" is not the main thrust of the church. In fact, nowhere in the Word of God is "Soulwinning" a command to the people of God. Yes, it is Scriptural, "He that winneth souls is wise."--(Proverbs 11:30). Yes, "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever."--(Daniel 12:3). Hence, there is a crown for those who turn "many to righteousness." And, "Let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."--

(James 5:2O). But nowhere in Scripture is there a command to win souls.

Without a doubt, the reason for the absence of such a command is because of the danger men fall into when they lose sight of themselves as being mere instruments in the hands of God, and begin to believe THEY have won the souls.

"How many souls did you win this week?" is quite a common inquiry to which an honest man would have to admit, "None, ’I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.’" (I Corinthians 3:6). Christians often play the part of thieves by stealing for themselves the glory which belongs to God alone.

But does the Bible command anything along these lines? Yes, most assuredly! Notice the Great Commission as it is given in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark.

Matthew 28:19,20--"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations," ("disciple all nations", for "how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard?"-- Romans 10:14. People must know OF Him before they can truly KNOW Him.), "baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: TEACHING THEM to observe ALL things whatsoever I have commanded you.... "

We are commanded to GO and to DISCIPLE. Now our English word "disciple" is from the Latin "discipulus" which means "a learner." And what is it they are to learn? "ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU." No wonder, therefore one of the qualifications for a pastor is that he be "apt to  teach."--I Timothy 3:2.

And where is this duty of preaching to every creature to be carried out? Everywhere-- but the local church is not PRIMARILY for this purpose. The church is primarily for the saints and not sinners. Yet, in the average, fundamental, Bible-preaching church, the Sunday

Morning Worship Service, and the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Service, and the Mid-Week Prayer Service are all geared with the sinner in mind. From the opening hymn and onward, all is aimed at the altar call and even this is with the sinner chiefly in mind. The sermon is the same sermon only with a different text. It is the same "laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."-- (Hebrews 6:1,2)

What then, is the purpose of the church? Turn with me in your Bible to the book of Ephesians, chapter four, and verses twelve through fourteen.

I. What is the purpose of the church? "To perfect the Saints."

II. Why worry about the "perfecting of the saints?" the reason is two-fold:

A. "For the work of the ministry."--(I.e., that the ministry does not suffer)

B. "For the edifying (or building up) of the body of Christ."

III. How long is this to be the purpose of the church? The answer is four-fold:

D. "unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

And, as if this burden weighs heavily upon the Apostle, Paul again returns to the reason for this duty of the church of "perfecting the saints," and adds--

"That we henceforth be no more CHILDREN, TOSSED to and fro, and CARRIED about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.... "

Could this abused emphasis be the reason for such gross immaturity in our churches today? May God give us the vision of catechizing (or teaching) the Word of God to our families and our flocks.

JULY

17, 1674--Isaac Watts is born today. He will become known as the "Father of the English hymn," perhaps even writing as many as Charles Wesley himself.

23, 1743--Aged 73 years, Susannah Wesley dies.

23, 1870—Mrs. James Hudson Taylor dies and is buried at Chinkiang beside her children who have died before her.

24, 1725--John Newton is born.

25, 1817--Rev. John Fawcett, pastor of the Baptist church in Wainsgate, England, for 52 years, dies. He has penned the words, "Blest be the tie that binds..." for his own congregation.

28, 1729--Jonathan Edwards marries Miss Sarah Pierrepoint. She is 19 years old. Their children will be distinguished for 4 generations as godly saints. A daughter will marry David Brainerd, the great Apostle to the American Indians. David Brainerd will die in their home.

28, 1750--Johann Sebastian Bach dies. His famous works include his St. Matthew’s Passion, St. John’s Passion, Christmas Oratorio, and Sleepers Wake. A Lutheran, he inscribed at the top of the music he composed, "To the Glory of God."

29, 1742--David Brainerd is licensed to preach the Word of God.