Summary and Suggestions

The healing model of salvation encompasses the purpose of Christ. His mission found its fullest expression in saving, healing and delivering sinners from sin. In order to be like Him, our evangelistic thrust must take on the nature and the same driving force that empowered Christ.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.   For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.   Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.   This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.   Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.   But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” John 3:16-21.

This perspective does not absolve us from the obligation to defend the gospel when it becomes necessary. Subversive agents continually work to undermine and corrupt God’s Word. This is the reason that many fundamentalists have had to assume a com­bative posture. Truth has been under modernism’s attack for many years. If it were not for ministers who loved the Bible and poured themsel­ves into its defense, the church would have taken huge losses.

Yet, we must avoid the opposite danger of getting locked into a com­bative mode and forgetting that love motivated Jesus, not hatred. A belligerent mood in presenting the gospel—-even in our evan­gelistic programs—-causes us to sow the wrong spirit into our converts. Many new converts would never know about the fights and bitter struggles of the past if those who participated in them would let the matters drop. It’s one thing to defend a household with a shotgun; a love affair with the weapon is a different story.

How can “Healing Evangelism” make a difference in you and in your church? While this book is not intended to be a outline for a comprehensive church program, here are some suggestions that will bring a new outlook on the task of reaching the lost.

Please note that these are not suggestions to get out the maps and set up canvas­sing campaigns or to shuffle paper and fill in the blanks. Plenty of books have been written to help a church in these areas. Rather, these suggestions address the hearts of prospective soulwinners. They are called suggestions, not direc­tives, because each soulwin­ner is different and each soul to be won is different. Neither are these the only suggestions that can be made. Look at them, put them in your own words, and come up with ones tailor made for you. Witnessing must be intensely personal as well as a church-wide activity.

1. Consider prayerfully and carefully the theme of this book.

This is a book for the attitudes, not for specific actions. It will not work if the basic attitude toward soulwinning is not affected. Submerge yourself in the ideas contained here. Get a deep understanding of your mission in terms of healing the souls of men.

2. Learn the testimonies of the saints around you.

Almost without exception, every person who has been saved in your church came in because he/she desperately needed help. Divorce, addiction, jail, bankruptcy, depression and other problems lay behind each conversion. Learn as many of these testimonies as you can. First, they will confirm what you have read here. Second, they will provide you with true stories to share with hurting people.

3. Refuse to engage in polemic or combative witnessing.

Every time you “set somebody straight,” you lose a potential convert. An honest discussion of the scripture with a sincere person is fine, but taking on someone who disagrees with you and defeating them in a debate accomplishes little for eternity. It is far better to be seen as the helper, the caregiver, and the one who con­tinually reaches out to the pain in people’s lives.

4. Learn to detect spiritual pain.

Smiles, light conversation, anger, rudeness and many other kinds of behavior helps people hide their pain. Cultivate a keen sensitivity to these signs and minister to hurting people.

5. Continually portray the gospel as a positive power.

Talk about Jesus as your friend. Talk about your deliverance from pain and heartache. Lift Jesus up as the greatest thing that has ever happened to you. Squelch all negative and complaining talk.

6. Discover new ways to put substance into your witness.

Meet basic needs of people whenever necessary. Food, clothing and shelter outweigh the words of a witness in the mind of the sinner.

7. Be a spiritual paramedic.

Prepare yourself to bear the burdens of others. Teach a home Bible study. Pick people up and bring them to church. Sit with people in church. After service, don’t run to your friends first and spend precious time talking with them to the exclusion of others. Make your way to the visitors, the sinners and the back­sliders.

8. Incorporate soulwinning into your daily and weekly routine.

Schedule in outreach. Plan to do it. Make it as much a part of your life as eating and sleeping. Always be on call. Go out of your way to talk to someone about God.

9. Re-think and re-word your witness to begin with the sinner, not yourself.

Witnessing is not about you. It is about the sinner and Jesus. Refer to yourself only when it becomes relevant to the process. Your opinion is worthless to the sinner until you have gained much credibility. Until then, keep the discussion on the person to whom you are witnessing, not yourself.

10. Structure your church’s ministry to meet the needs of hurting people.

Seeker’s services are deliberately designed for visitors. They will help to reach out to people without confusing them with issues that have meaning only for church members. Serial Bible studies that deal with problems that the individuals in today’s society are facing will give people a good, solid reason for coming to church. A wide range of ministries to reach people who have specific needs or are members of specific groups such as addicts, students or single parents will help to focus in on certain people.

The pulpit must be free to evangelize the lost in every service. This means that the church should never tire of hearing the fundamentals preached or taught. Church members must always be ready to minister to seekers. They also must be ready to teach home Bible studies. They must sacrificially give of their time to reach and win the lost.

Whenever the church sees herself as a caring, helping healing extension of Christ into this world, and whenever the world at large sees the same in us, we will effectively reach the lost.