tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post5329205696838777510..comments2023-12-22T08:29:29.230-08:00Comments on WHAT IS TRUTH: The Biblical Mandate for House to House Evangelism, part 3Kent Brandenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13419354741455959191noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-3571020246849911452010-12-09T13:25:31.424-08:002010-12-09T13:25:31.424-08:00Dear Liam,
You are right that what one does is no...Dear Liam,<br /><br />You are right that what one does is not a marker that one certainly has genuine spirituality; however, one who has genuine spirituality will be obedient. Love for Christ will make us keep His commandments, John 14:15, and if one is not in a situation where death or the like is going to occur because of going house to house, churches and individuals should go house to house. By the way, the works of the church in the city of Laodicea were not the greatest, just as their insides were not the greatest.Thomas Rosshttp://sites.google.com/site/thross7noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-58228998034195971192010-12-09T09:27:32.628-08:002010-12-09T09:27:32.628-08:00I appreciate the answer - very informative. There...I appreciate the answer - very informative. There are some other reasons I asked it, which are as follows:<br /><br />1. too many churches - especially Baptists - erroneously believe that what one does for Christ is his spirituality or communion. Therefore, the more one does, the deeper his walk with God in comparison to others who do less. However, Song of Solomon 1 speaks the opposite with the Shulamite having kept the vineyards of others and in doing so neglected her own - also the account of Mary and Martha would come to mind, and the words of the Lord to Laodicea's church - known for works but not for spirituality.<br />2. There have been numerous examples throughout history of godly men, women, and children who never knocked on a single door, yet were godly, were used to bring revival, etc. Duncan Campbell gives a good account of the difference that Christians should put between even successful evangelism and true revival. Chief among the examples that I can cite is James Lainge, who never knocked on a single door, yet was a godly young man and an example of Christ's grace to the children of Dundee, Scotland.<br />3. Much as we dislike to admit it, most churches who press for their people to be knocking on doors in their communities anymore are plagued with carnality. The answer might be seen in Moule's "To My Younger Brethren".<br /><br />Again, appreciate the answer.<br /><br />WillLiam O'Briannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-42286470040268684362010-12-08T19:49:32.772-08:002010-12-08T19:49:32.772-08:00Liam,
It is Biblical to not risk one's life u...Liam,<br /><br />It is Biblical to not risk one's life unnecessarily; the Lord Jesus said to flee when people are going to try to kill you (Matthew 10:23). When, therefore, one is in a communist country, the BIblical pattern of house to house evangelism does not override the Biblical mandate to not throw your life away, so you don't need to go knock on the door of the police chief who will shoot you as soon as you tell him why you are there.Thomas Rosshttp://sites.google.com/site/thross7noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-54140365021344057952010-12-08T19:48:51.003-08:002010-12-08T19:48:51.003-08:00Dear Colin,
I put the footnote in because it is e...Dear Colin,<br /><br />I put the footnote in because it is evident that some of the Protestant commentators who I cited speak of ministers going door to door in those texts, and a variety of Protestants speak of ordination as being ordained to preach the gospel. I would be surprised if they officially stated that they were against evangelism by their members; that would be very difficult to defend, of course. I can't remember which Puritan writer said it, but in some Puritan book that I looked at in the past they speak of God sending forth ministers to preach the gospel to every creature, speaking of Matthew 28.<br /><br />Here is Matthew Henry on Matthew 28:19:<br /><br />This commission is given,<br /><br /> (1.) To the apostles primarily, the chief ministers of state in Christ's kingdom, the architects that laid the foundation of the church. Now those that had followed Christ in the regeneration, were set on thrones (Lu 22:30); Go ye. It is not only a word of command, like that, Son, go work, but a word of encouragement, Go, and fear not, have I not sent you? Go, and make a business of this work. They must not take state, and issue out summons to the nations to attend upon them; but they must go, and bring the gospel to their doors, Go ye. They had doted on Christ's bodily presence, and hung upon that, and built all their joys and hopes upon that; but now Christ discharges them from further attendance on his person, and sends them abroad about other work. As an eagle stirs up her nest, flutters over her young, to excite them to fly (De 32:11), so Christ stirs up his disciples, to disperse themselves over all the world.<br /><br /> (2.) It is given to their successors, the ministers of the gospel, whose business it is to transmit the gospel from age to age, to the end of the world in time, as it was theirs to transmit it from nation to nation, to the end of the world in place, and no less necessary. The Old Testament promise of a gospel ministry is made to a succession (Isa 59:21); and this must be so understood, otherwise how could Christ be with them always to the consummation of the world? Christ, at his ascension, gave not only apostles and prophets, but pastors and teachers, Eph 4:11. <br /><br />Matthew Henry (erroneously) states here that the Great Commission is given to ministers, when it is given to the assembly of immersed believers.Thomas Rosshttp://sites.google.com/site/thross7noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-23588243143392430812010-12-07T11:40:20.831-08:002010-12-07T11:40:20.831-08:00I have this question, and just for clarity - in so...I have this question, and just for clarity - in some places, such as China, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, etc, or even in Israel, evangelising is prohibited. However, missionaries in those countries - particularly in China - have found a way to get around those laws, namely by teaching the Bible as ESL (English as a Second Language) or with history, science etc. that the Bible contains. Would men in those countries be "not showing a Christ-like love for the unconverted" or "hindering revival?" (see Duncan Campbell's definition on the differences between revival and successful evangelism).<br /><br />WillLiam O'Briannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-54643220331643640382010-12-06T10:44:17.435-08:002010-12-06T10:44:17.435-08:00Hi Colon,
Thomas Ross wrote this (he also writes ...Hi Colon,<br /><br />Thomas Ross wrote this (he also writes now on What is Truth), so I'll let him answer it, but it is a very good question. I'll look forward with you for his answer.Kent Brandenburghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13419354741455959191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-47105995587015925022010-12-06T03:31:15.356-08:002010-12-06T03:31:15.356-08:00Hi Kent,
Can you quote any of the Protestant comm...Hi Kent,<br /><br />Can you quote any of the Protestant commentators who believe that "only ministers were given the Great Commission and are responsible to preach the gospel?" I accept that there are many Protestant denominations who will only allow ordained men into their <i>pulpits</i> to preach, but I have never come across any who have limited evangelism (taking preaching in the widest sense of the word) nor the Great Commission only to those who are formally designated ministers. Who do you have in mind? <br /><br />Regards,Colin Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02632698769785766168noreply@blogger.com