A Modern World and an Old Jerusalem Gospel: Part 2

Allen Webster

Topic(s): Evangelism, Gospel

Links to this entire series:

• A Modern World and An Old Jerusalem Gospel: Part 1
• A Modern World and An Old Jerusalem Gospel: Part 2

Publication: Solomon’s words appear prophetic of our generation: “Of making many books there is no end” (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Even average Americans can afford to publish books today if they desire (in quantity, less than $10 per copy for a paperback). Tracts and Bible lessons can be printed for less than a dollar each. Small quantities can be reproduced on photocopiers and scanners for pennies. Magazines and direct mail pieces can be published and sent to targeted groups or mass-mailed directly into homes for the cost of a daily newspaper or cup of coffee.

What a great time to be a Christian! What a marvelous time to be a preacher! What an exciting time for the church of Christ!

These principles urge us to do all we can in evangelism:

• “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also” (Romans 1:15). One with an all out approach to evangelism is constantly looking for a better way; he is excited to hear of a new resource; he is enthusiastic in support of other workers and their applied talents.

• “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). There is an English proverb that says, “Some men go through a forest and see no firewood.” When we are constantly looking for opportunities to do good, we find ways to match needy souls with the gospel. Paul saw the Lord’s hand in opening doors for evangelism (1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 4:3). Milton Berle said, “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.”[1]

• Like the friends of the crippled man (Mark 2:4), evangelistic Christians find a way to get the gospel into difficult places. “If there be first a willing mind” (2 Corinthians 8:12; 8:3; 1 Chronicles 28:2; Psalm 110:3), then amazing things can happen. When forbidden to knock doors in gated communities and apartment complexes, we mail the gospel in or put it on television. The gospel went behind the Iron Curtain before it came down, and now teaching flows freely and constantly. The gospel goes into Communist China and into Muslim Africa. We send it in care packages; we drop it from train windows; we put it on the Web and searchers come and get it. The devil cannot keep the gospel from the lost—when we are willing to fight him. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

• If Satan’s servants can use magazines, books, television, phones, and the Internet to spread his kingdom, then we should use them to expand our Master’s kingdom. “And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light” (Luke 16:8). Won’t it be wonderful when someone “googles” any religious subject and the first listing is the truth from one of our Websites instead of false doctrine or a porn site? Imagine giving TV viewers the choice to turn from the inane and sexual exploitative programming to see gospel shows any time they tune in, day or night, weekday or weekend! Think of making constant mailings into every home in our state to give people reading materials that will save the soul instead of corrupting the mind.

• Paul was willing to “spend and be spent” (2 Corinthians 12:15; cf. 2 Timothy 2:10) on behalf of souls. Christians in this generation are willing to spend to save souls. Perhaps never in the modern history of the churches of Christ have members been more generous and elders more ready to spend on evangelism. We are investing in the equipment and paying for the services that it takes to reach people. And thousands are being reached! Many churches are getting past holding the Lord’s money back for a “rainy day”—and moving beyond spending the majority of it on a building that God is one day going to burn to the ground—and the ground under it! (cf. 2 Peter 3:10). Christians in this generation are also willing to be spent for souls. Thousands of Christians are right now diligently working at teaching their neighbors one-on-one. Many have left home and family to carry the gospel to foreign fields and difficult stateside areas—and with tremendous success! A sizable number of “pew Christians” take vacation time to go on mission campaigns every year—sometimes at their own expense. Some churches have undertaken huge works that literally cost millions and enable millions to hear the truth. Quality materials that have never been seen before in our brotherhood are coming out at a prolific rate. Evangelistic books, CDs, and DVDs are being made available at nominal prices to help get the word out to as many people as possible.

• “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word” (Acts 8:4).

It seems to me we are obligated to use all the scriptural means God affords to do our utmost to see every person has an opportunity to be saved. We do not want to go to the Judgment having left any tool unused, any dollar unspent, any rock unturned. How would we answer when God asked, “Why did you not use the means I provided? Why did you not spend these funds? Why did you not reach these souls? What were you waiting on?”

When all has been said and done, and the Lord looks back at the work of His people at the beginning of the twenty-first century, we hope He will be able to say of us as He did of Mary (John 12:3): they have “done what [they] could” (Mark 14:8).