Power to Witness

Romans 10:14-16

When I first went to Bible college, our church was planning a “soul winning trip” to help a small church in rural Missouri. To help us know how to win souls, a series of classes was held in advance to teach us a popular “soul winning” program developed by a well known evangelist.

We were taught that you started by asking a series of three questions related to being a Christian. The only one I remember was, “Have you ever thought about becoming a Christian?” Their answer was not really important, but in the process, you were to nod your head when you asked each question. You were then to explain how the Bible said all were sinners and ask if they understood that since all were sinners, they were a sinner. Again, we were to nod yes when we asked, because it is much harder to say no when the person asking is nodding yes. We were to then proceed through the “Romans Road,” asking if they believed at each step, and nodding. Finally we were to ask them if they’d pray after us, still nodding, and if they said yes, lead them in a simple version of the sinners prayer. It was a far more detailed plan than what I’d been taught.

Since I was the bus driver, I didn’t get to start as early as some of the others, and so selected a small group of older homes to start with. At the first house, was an older man who greeted me freely. After introducing myself, I started with the program, carefully following each step. After the second question, the man answered “yes” every time. When I started leading him in prayer, he suddenly asked, “What are you trying to do?” and I took time to explain. He wasn’t interested in becoming a Christian. Shocked, I realized he’d just been responding to the nodding head, not to what I was saying. I am so glad God made me aware that he still would not have been saved, even after completing the prayer.

Over the years, I have been in a number of sales training classes, and several have used similar psychological ploys to get people to say yes. One of the most common is to post confederates in the crowd to start the buying or keep it going. People tend to follow the example of others, even though they have no desire for the product themselves. We see these same techniques used to get professions in churches. Unfortunately it ignores God’s drawing, and faith. Simply praying the proper prayer will not automatically save them. This is the point of Paul’s next series of questions.

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:14-15)

A confession to a faith one doesn’t have is a false confession, just as confessing to a crime one didn’t commit is. It is a lie. If it were obtained by coercion or fraud, it must not be considered. Most states now allow a purchaser three days to change their mind after signing a sales contract in case they were unduly influenced. A confession without faith is worthless. How can a person who has never heard the gospel believe in Christ? He has no idea what to believe. How are they to learn without someone who is qualified to teach them? The teacher cannot teach what he doesn’t know himself.

Acts 1:8 advises, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” It is the power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to witness to others effectively. We are commissioned or sent on the basis of that power, as we see in Matthew 28:18-20. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, 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: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Some pupils refuse to learn unless they are forced to. Some people refuse to buy unless they are forced to. Some people will reject the gospel. The Catholic church got such a high percentage of members in many countries by killing those who didn’t join. Many Muslim countries do the same. That does not make them Christians. Matthew 7:14 tells us comparatively few will be saved. “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Paul mentions Isaiah’s questioning whether anyone believed.

“But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?” (Romans 10:16)

Paul describes what happens in I Corinthians 3:6-7. “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” If we have spoken through the power of the Spirit, the results are up to God. It is not our fault if they do not get saved. For those who do, it is aq wonderful thing.