Biblical Evangelism             Edited from a study guide by Harold Comer

There are many biblical extremes that are sinful. We move out of the realm of biblical evangelism when we loosen or modify a law that God has given. Some preachers think that if they water down their distinctive doctrines that they will appeal to a broader range of people. This fails because the group loses its conviction as it becomes too broad. We can also sin when we write a law that God did not make. This often happened in New Testament times. Either extreme removes you from the sphere of biblical evangelism.

Brethren also move out of the realm of biblical evangelism when they justify so many fears and create so many obstacles that they never can do anything because they don’t know if it is an expedient option or a sinister, seductive, new innovation. They are afraid of anything new. For a people who should know the Book which commands them to be greatly evangelistic, they are gridlocked and unevangelistic, because they don’t know about filmstrips (i.e., video, mac), seminars instead of gospel meetings, computers, “expensive” TV preaching, better literature, or a hundred other fears and uncertainties. People who clearly know the law should also clearly know the expediencies and options. Otherwise, they don’t really know the law. Biblical evangelism is so important that it must not be ruled by non-biblical suppositions and fears. If it is biblical, it must be guided by clear biblical command, inference, or example. Also, it is guided by the command to tell the “Good News.” It must get the job done.

Other problems that brother Comer mentions that keep us from biblical evangelism are being too busy and too secular so that we are just not interested in the excited urgency of spreading the gospel. (After all, we only have so much energy and time in each day, right? mac)We can be too lazy to be interested in learning how to proclaim truth, or learning about those around us so that we can share with them in a more relevant way. Immorality, profane speech, or other personal issues can keep us from being effective and biblical communicators.

Finally, the godly man is not ruled by fear (Rev. 22:8; Acts 18:9, “Do not be afraid...” and 2 Timothy 1:6-8). Much potential evangelism is stopped because of the fear of good people who have not learned to trust and plow on. Evangelism that is limited by “fear” is certainly not biblical evangelism. New Testament preaching was “bold” and it was not deterred by death, travel difficulties, dangerous localities, or any fear. We need to move up to the excitement of biblical evangelism and the brave proclamation it produces.