The Bible does not command door to door soul-winning

[Binaca Chugger]

just gonna toss my hat in the ring here.  Lots of points have already been made - so just stating:

Why would anyone be against speaking to another concerning the Gospel whether it be a neighbor for whom you rake leaves, a hungry person who needs food, or a stranger on whose door you knock?

We have a responsibility to share the Gospel.  Period.  Why argue over which method is most effective for me?  Just share the Gospel!

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Obviopusly, I'm not against door to door...we use it.
However, it isn't the most effective way of evangelism TODAY, measured by any criteria.

As to the OP, the question I have for the door to door 'proponents':
If a church has many evangelistic outreach programs/methods i.e....baptizes and disciples people regularly by various ministries....radio, TV, computer...social media etc..., food pantry, Public school Bible Clubs...etc...etc....

Would that church be wrong or sinful if it did not use door to door as one of her methods?

 

[Binaca Chugger]

Obviopusly, I'm not against door to door...we use it.
However, it isn't the most effective way of evangelism TODAY, measured by any criteria.

As to the OP, the question I have for the door to door 'proponents':
If a church has many evangelistic outreach programs/methods i.e....baptizes and disciples people regularly by various ministries....radio, TV, computer...social media etc..., food pantry, Public school Bible Clubs...etc...etc....

Would that church be wrong or sinful if it did not use door to door as one of her methods?

Why abandon a good tool, just because you have more tools?  Most carpenters still carry a hammer, even though they have a compression nailer.  Why attack such a method of introducing the community to your church and the Gospel?  Why NOT seek to personally invite strangers?  This is a great method to reach out to a community with personal care and concern - hospitality - and invite people you might never see at work or in the restaurant or out shopping.

What I don't get, is the desire by many today to not only abandon but also criticize a very effective tool.

 

[rsc2a]

[quote author=Binaca Chugger]Why abandon a good tool, just because you have more tools?  Most carpenters still carry a hammer, even though they have a compression nailer.  Why attack such a method of introducing the community to your church and the Gospel?  Why NOT seek to personally invite strangers?  This is a great method to reach out to a community with personal care and concern - hospitality - and invite people you might never see at work or in the restaurant or out shopping.

What I don't get, is the desire by many today to not only abandon but also criticize a very effective tool.[/quote]

I believe it is a method. I also believe that it cheapens the Gospel, is primarily good as a works-based structure whereby one (falsely) believes they can earn God's favor, and propagates the idea that one can evaluate how "Christian" something is by how many numbers one can put up. Furthermore, it results in people believing they are "saved" because they said a little prayer, resulting in a lot of false converts who have an assurance of salvation that is based on nothing more than a little prayer they said one time. - rsc2a

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Obviopusly, I'm not against door to door...we use it.
However, it isn't the most effective way of evangelism TODAY, measured by any criteria.

As to the OP, the question I have for the door to door 'proponents':
If a church has many evangelistic outreach programs/methods i.e....baptizes and disciples people regularly by various ministries....radio, TV, computer...social media etc..., food pantry, Public school Bible Clubs...etc...etc....

Would that church be wrong or sinful if it did not use door to door as one of her methods?

Why abandon a good tool, just because you have more tools?  Most carpenters still carry a hammer, even though they have a compression nailer.  Why attack such a method of introducing the community to your church and the Gospel?  Why NOT seek to personally invite strangers?  This is a great method to reach out to a community with personal care and concern - hospitality - and invite people you might never see at work or in the restaurant or out shopping.

What I don't get, is the desire by many today to not only abandon but also criticize a very effective tool.

It has not been my intention to criticize door to door and we have not abandoned it....just use other, many other methods which give more 'fruit' or better results in sharing Christ and our church ministry.

Your answer to my question would be NO, I assume.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

[quote author=Binaca Chugger]Why abandon a good tool, just because you have more tools?  Most carpenters still carry a hammer, even though they have a compression nailer.  Why attack such a method of introducing the community to your church and the Gospel?  Why NOT seek to personally invite strangers?  This is a great method to reach out to a community with personal care and concern - hospitality - and invite people you might never see at work or in the restaurant or out shopping.

What I don't get, is the desire by many today to not only abandon but also criticize a very effective tool.

I believe it is a method. I also believe that it cheapens the Gospel, is primarily good as a works-based structure whereby one (falsely) believes they can earn God's favor, and propagates the idea that one can evaluate how "Christian" something is by how many numbers one can put up. Furthermore, it results in people believing they are "saved" because they said a little prayer, resulting in a lot of false converts who have an assurance of salvation that is based on nothing more than a little prayer they said one time. - rsc2a
[/quote]

I agree....but....
Not everyone uses door to door to get people to pray a prayer in just a few minutes.
We use door to door many ways....for Easter we are blitzing neighborhoods around our property to share invite cards given personally or left via door hangers. We sometimes prayer walk a neighborhood and later return going door to door offering church tracts, which sometimes leads to sharing the Gospel.

Again, maybe we need to define door to door....we all have Pre conceived notions as to what it entails.

 

[Binaca Chugger]

I believe it is a method.

Good.  We agree.

I also believe that it cheapens the Gospel,

The Gospel is not cheap.  The cost was Christ himself.  If the Gospel is presented - it is not cheap.

is primarily good as a works-based structure whereby one (falsely) believes they can earn God's favor,

OR......the soul winner has a burden to share the Gospel with his neighbor in obedience to Christ.

and propagates the idea that one can evaluate how "Christian" something is by how many numbers one can put up.

Interestingly:  It is this anti-numbers group that promotes how inefficient door-to-door is........which is a numbers based argument.

Furthermore, it results in people believing they are "saved" because they said a little prayer, resulting in a lot of false converts who have an assurance of salvation that is based on nothing more than a little prayer they said one time. - rsc2a[/i]

Okay.  There is some debate there.  I have come across these also.  I do not appreciate the "soul winner" who basically tells people to repeat a prayer, I will tell you you are going to heaven and then leave.  I wish we could put an end to the "just pray with me so I can feel good about myself and stop annoying you" mentality.

However, that does not mean that all who go door-to-door are performing this ritualistic religion.

 

[rsc2a]

[quote author=Binaca Chugger]

I also believe that it cheapens the Gospel,

The Gospel is not cheap.  The cost was Christ himself.  If the Gospel is presented - it is not cheap.[/quote]

Yet it's being peddled presented like a certain type of delicious cookie sold by little girls? (BTW: I'm only referring to samoas and thin mints. Everything else is a waste of good flour that could be used to make samoas and thin mints.)

[quote author=Binaca Chugger]

is primarily good as a works-based structure whereby one (falsely) believes they can earn God's favor,

OR......the soul winner has a burden to share the Gospel with his neighbor in obedience to Christ.[/quote]

It can be. I've found that those who advocate this method generally are closeted prosperity-gospelites, even if they don't recognize it.

[quote author=Binaca Chugger]

and propagates the idea that one can evaluate how "Christian" something is by how many numbers one can put up.

Interestingly:  It is this anti-numbers group that promotes how inefficient door-to-door is........which is a numbers based argument.[/quote]

One could make an argument from an inefficiency standpoint. One could also make argument from an efficacy standpoint. One argument accepts the underlying presupposition the "soul-winner" is using. The second things the presupposition is fundamentally wrong. (I'll bet you can guess which camp I belong to. )


[quote author=Binaca Chugger]

Furthermore, it results in people believing they are "saved" because they said a little prayer, resulting in a lot of false converts who have an assurance of salvation that is based on nothing more than a little prayer they said one time. - rsc2a[/i]

Okay.  There is some debate there.  I have come across these also.  I do not appreciate the "soul winner" who basically tells people to repeat a prayer, I will tell you you are going to heaven and then leave.  I wish we could put an end to the "just pray with me so I can feel good about myself and stop annoying you" mentality.

However, that does not mean that all who go door-to-door are performing this ritualistic religion.[/quote]

Does the person who isn't "performing this ritualistic religion" following up any "conversions" with acceptance, friendship, and mentoring? Are they walking beside the individual who was "converted" as they learn to rely on God? Are they offering their time, money, and prayers for the person who was just "converted"?

 

[rsc2a]

[quote author=Tarheel Baptist]I agree....but....
Not everyone uses door to door to get people to pray a prayer in just a few minutes.
We use door to door many ways....for Easter we are blitzing neighborhoods around our property to share invite cards given personally or left via door hangers. We sometimes prayer walk a neighborhood and later return going door to door offering church tracts, which sometimes leads to sharing the Gospel.

Again, maybe we need to define door to door....we all have Pre conceived notions as to what it entails.[/quote]

I consider this to be largely advertising (less the prayer walking) for your church, not "soul-winning". Granted, I think there are better ways to do this, but I'm not opposed to it (much...depending on circumstances ).

 

[Binaca Chugger]

okay rsc2a,

Sounds like you are not against sharing the Gospel with anyone we can through various methods.  However, you are against conning a person into repeating a prayer and never seeing them again while boasting of how much God needs you.

If this is the case - we agree.

However, if you think that we should never share the Gospel but rather simply show people Christian charity without ever speaking of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ - we are vastly different.

Personally, I believe we should do both.  The fruits of the Spirit prepare the soil to receive the seed.  We should show Christian charity and seek opportunity to testify of Christ and salvation.  Sometimes, this is all done in the same meeting with a stranger and the stranger will trust Christ.  Sometimes, another's decision for salvation does not occur until decades of Christian charity and testimony have been showered upon him. 

It is never my responsibility to cause a person to trust Christ.  It is my responsibility to share the Gospel in a manner that can be understood so that the Holy Spirit can convict and draw the person to Christ.  The individual must then make a decision of faith or rejection.

 

[rsc2a]

*nods*

 

[wtyson]

Looking forward to going soul winning in the Dominican Republic tomorrow!

The Gospel works in any language, in any country and for any sinner!

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

[quote author=Tarheel Baptist]I agree....but....
Not everyone uses door to door to get people to pray a prayer in just a few minutes.
We use door to door many ways....for Easter we are blitzing neighborhoods around our property to share invite cards given personally or left via door hangers. We sometimes prayer walk a neighborhood and later return going door to door offering church tracts, which sometimes leads to sharing the Gospel.

Again, maybe we need to define door to door....we all have Pre conceived notions as to what it entails.

I consider this to be largely advertising (less the prayer walking) for your church, not "soul-winning". Granted, I think there are better ways to do this, but I'm not opposed to it (much...depending on circumstances ).
[/quote]

Depends on what you consider to be or how you define soul winning.
To me, soul winning or evangelism, if you will, is usually a process and not a 1-2-3 pray after me one time 'event'. The process of evangelism begins with establishing a relationship....advertising....giving out a flyer....having a block party....the goal is to begin a relationship with the goal of presenting the Gospel, resulting in heir trusting Christ.
Tomato...tomahato!

 

[Frag]

Would that church be wrong or sinful if it did not use door to door as one of her methods?

YES!!!


A church would be WRONG to discard the only valid way to obey Christ's command to reach every creature and SINFUL to discard a divine method of ministry exampled for us by the abounding church in the book of Acts.

Yep, I said it....

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Would that church be wrong or sinful if it did not use door to door as one of her methods?

YES!!!


A church would be WRONG to discard the only valid way to obey Christ's command to reach every creature and SINFUL to discard a divine method of ministry exampled for us by the abounding church in the book of Acts.

Yep, I said it....

Yes you did.... :

 

[Torrent v.2]

just gonna toss my hat in the ring here.  Lots of points have already been made - so just stating:

Why would anyone be against speaking to another concerning the Gospel whether it be a neighbor for whom you rake leaves, a hungry person who needs food, or a stranger on whose door you knock?

We have a responsibility to share the Gospel.  Period.  Why argue over which method is most effective for me?  Just share the Gospel!

Right.

Our church does door to door. And it does Somali literacy classes for the two 20 story apartment buildings across the street with Somalis in it.  And it has an auto repair ministry, and a thrift store mininstry, and dozens of others, all designed to reach out ot people in the varied way that people are gifted, so that they can share the gospel.

People who think door to door is the only authorized way can not support it biblically.

 

[wtyson]

just gonna toss my hat in the ring here.  Lots of points have already been made - so just stating:

Why would anyone be against speaking to another concerning the Gospel whether it be a neighbor for whom you rake leaves, a hungry person who needs food, or a stranger on whose door you knock?

We have a responsibility to share the Gospel.  Period.  Why argue over which method is most effective for me?  Just share the Gospel!

Right.

Our church does door to door. And it does Somali literacy classes for the two 20 story apartment buildings across the street with Somalis in it.  And it has an auto repair ministry, and a thrift store mininstry, and dozens of others, all designed to reach out ot people in the varied way that people are gifted, so that they can share the gospel.

People who think door to door is the only authorized way can not support it biblically.

I don't know anyone who would say that door to door soul winning is the only authorized way to reach people.

 

[Torrent v.2]

just gonna toss my hat in the ring here.  Lots of points have already been made - so just stating:

Why would anyone be against speaking to another concerning the Gospel whether it be a neighbor for whom you rake leaves, a hungry person who needs food, or a stranger on whose door you knock?

We have a responsibility to share the Gospel.  Period.  Why argue over which method is most effective for me?  Just share the Gospel!

Right.

Our church does door to door. And it does Somali literacy classes for the two 20 story apartment buildings across the street with Somalis in it.  And it has an auto repair ministry, and a thrift store mininstry, and dozens of others, all designed to reach out ot people in the varied way that people are gifted, so that they can share the gospel.

People who think door to door is the only authorized way can not support it biblically.

I don't know anyone who would say that door to door soul winning is the only authorized way to reach people.

Ah, but they do, in a way. They say that if you are not doing it, you are not following God's plan for the church.

 

[prophet]

just gonna toss my hat in the ring here.  Lots of points have already been made - so just stating:

Why would anyone be against speaking to another concerning the Gospel whether it be a neighbor for whom you rake leaves, a hungry person who needs food, or a stranger on whose door you knock?

We have a responsibility to share the Gospel.  Period.  Why argue over which method is most effective for me?  Just share the Gospel!

Right.

Our church does door to door. And it does Somali literacy classes for the two 20 story apartment buildings across the street with Somalis in it.  And it has an auto repair ministry, and a thrift store mininstry, and dozens of others, all designed to reach out ot people in the varied way that people are gifted, so that they can share the gospel.

People who think door to door is the only authorized way can not support it biblically.

I don't know anyone who would say that door to door soul winning is the only authorized way to reach people.

Ah, but they do, in a way. They say that if you are not doing it, you are not following God's plan for the church.

Any attempt to preach the pure gospel to a creature is acceptable.  Any overlooked possibility is a failure.  We all have failed.

Anishinabe

 

[lnf]

Well said, Prophet!