True Evangelism: Winning Souls Through Prayer

Lewis Sperry Chafer penned True Evangelism: Winning Souls Through Prayer in 1911. One would expect a work nearing the century mark to be both wooden and no longer relevant in a world of constantly changing evangelicalism. Although there is much room for debate and conversation regarding some of Dr. Chafer's views, his book is as relevant today as it was when he first put ink to paper. It is impressive how he was able to succinctly present a biblical perspective of evangelism differing from the many other works that give step-by-step advice on how to knock on doors and solicit conversions in restaurants. In the first chapter, Dr. Chafer walks us through many of the errors and dangers that face the potential evangelist. He breaks these forces down into three categories: Men, Methods and Messages. This chapter resonates with wisdom concerning evangelism. The emphasis is not on an evangelist attempting to fulfill a numerical quota in order to demonstrate his or her effectiveness in ministry. Rather, the focus is on genuine conversion of the lost. Dr. Chafer clearly outlines the dangers of a pressured, public conversion experience that is often made under duress and in ignorance. This type of "evangelism" diminishes the work of the Spirit, and the promises of God. In chapter two, Dr. Chafer begins at the end. The goal of any evangelistic effort is to bring a lost person to a saving knowledge and relationship with Christ. Dr. Chafer explores the conversion experience, the sanctification process and the eternal glorified state of a believer. It is refreshing to read the emphasis that the author places on God's role in the salvation of the lost. It is not by the effort of any man that the lost come to Christ, but through the work of the Spirit. Going back to the false forces that were explored in the first chapter, Dr. Chafer addresses the role of the Spirit in the conversion process throughout this chapter. By using an evangelistic method that pressures someone into making a potential false decision, you are robbing the Spirit of the opportunity to work in the heart of the individual. He states that it is critical for the believer to give the Spirit the opportunity to convict the unbeliever. It is not the unbeliever that is seeking God, but the Spirit that pursues the unbeliever. This chapter contains the crux of Dr. Chafer's perspective on evangelism. He states it succinctly when he states "true soul-winning work is more a service of pleading for souls than a service of pleading with souls." Although many may take issue with Dr. Chafer's "name it and claim it" application of John 14:14 in this chapter, his overall point is well taken. Any evangelistic effort that is taken without serious time in prayer is an effort that is leaning tragically on the ability of man rather than the calling of God. In the final two chapters of this work Dr. Chafer engages in a discussion of both the importance of suffering with Christ for the l

A Critique of True Evangellism: Winning Souls through Prayer Lewis Sperry Chafer, Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1993, 106pp. Chafer (1871-1952), founder of Dallas Theological Seminary in 1924, previously a traveling evangelist 14 years, wrote this classic book to and for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ as an incentive and encouragement in, what he considers the truth that all Christians have the privilege to cooperate with the Holy Spirit and become involved with personal evangelism. His emphasis is not on skillful evangelists, methodology, or eloquent messages, but stresses the working of the Holy Spirit and intercessional prayer as the major factors of soul winning. He eloquently puts in plain words the objective of evangelism and explains that every Christian is a priest who is able to offer intercessory prayer and salvation to lost souls. To avoid defilement the "priest" must not maintain sinless perfection but an "attitude of willingness to meet every demand of God for the putting away of sin (p. 90). In his chapter on False Forces in Evangelism, one has to be amazed at the insight of one who never had the opportunity to witness a flashy evangelist on television utilizing hard-core methods, messages laced with heresy, and music that borders on frenzy to prod an audience to accept Christ as their savior, usually with the promise of great material gain. This writer concurs with the author that, "many who have resisted the personal appeal have been hardened or driven away (p. 23). Evangelism can be embraced by masses however, one heart at time, by personal choice and action of the will through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Shafer contends that man tends to disregard the work of the Holy Spirit and place undue emphasis on the human aspect of evangelism Chapter 2 delineates the objective of evangelism - salvation - succinctly and skillfully. This writer concurs with the author that the Spirit takes up permit abode in the believer at the moment he is saved, not as a "second blessing," at the moment he has passed from life to death (37). The crux of his argument is that the offer of salvation is conditioned only upon a person seeing his utter helplessness apart from God and the sacrifice of the cross, and this, in spite of the blinding and opposition of Satan who energizes him (p. 42). This writer is in complete agreement, and that God alone is sufficient to provide the necessary preparation of mind and heart. The author laments in chapter 5 that it is no longer common experience among Christians to carry a burden of heart for lost souls, and deems it the highest form of human suffering (73). That this suffering should be a natural part of the Christian's life, as well as a path to the reward of being glorified with Him, not as a qualification for salvation, but of identity with Christ, seems basic to this writer. Another basic truth in which she coincides is the contention that defilement in a believer adversely

True Evangelism by Lewis Sperry Chafer is a timeless gem in Christianity. Reading it almost a hundred years after Chafer wrote it in 1919, it still feels fresh, present, thought provoking, practical and life changing. His writing fills with scholastic and practical authority. They are shown in his profound doctrinal clearness as a scholar and Spirit depending agent as an evangelist by engaging in traveling evangelistic endeavors from 1901-1914. This book is practical, doctrinal and spiritual. He started his book by saying that this is the result of his evangelistic experience and study covering many years. His conviction has been changed from emotional and superficial methods to entirely dependent on the Holy Spirit in every phase of the work in soul-winning. His purpose, though seemingly critical, is to offer constructive advice to avoid spiritual death and formalism by the misguided and yet faithfully strived evangelism. Reading this book one can always sense his profound love for God, the believers and the lost. He says in his last chapter, his purpose is to allow his reader to gain new vision for God's soul-winning ministry through yielding to Him, so that every new understanding of divine Truth may become the abiding fruit to the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Six chapters along with the final appeal give insightful wisdom and doctrinal definition to many crucial areas in Christian life, especially in carrying out God's work. They are the knowledge of the ever-bounding grace of God and sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, the response of the genuine faith, partnership with the Holy Spirit through prayers, willingness to suffer with Christ and determination in living a pure life. Even though he mentions the acceptance of Christ as Savior by personal choice and action of the will, it is easy to see his overarching theological viewpoint throughout his book as a Calvinist, to whom salvation or regeneration is utterly the work of God. He quotes Roman 8:30 "Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them, he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." As a result, he focuses on the regeneration in the heart, not the outward confession as an exhibition in public. His first chapter, False Forces in Evangelism, regardless of its controversial position, it is indeed the most thought provoking and life changing to me. In the beginning, I tended to disagree with him due to my own experience, the prominent evangelical tradition and a widespread modernity mindset. As I chewed on his words as time went by, I started to re-evaluate my own experience, to give the proper definition to evangelism according to the Scripture and to re-build my belief system as a disciple called by God to accomplish His Great Commission. I had two confession experiences. The first one happened when I was 18 years old in a big evangelistic meeting. I rose up and went before the podium answering the call of

Lewis Sperry Chafer was a theologian, author, andthe founder of Dallas Theological Seminary. Several other books I am reading now are rather overweight considering their contents but this volume is slim, only 100 small pages, and filled with ideas to savor. The previous reviewer is correct in that when this book was originally published it received many scathing reviews from Christians. Why? Because Chafer take aim at manipulative forms of evangelism in the first chapter of his book called "False Forces in Evangelism. Chafer believes that only God changes peoples hearts and that it is harmful for Christian ministers to try to manipulate people into "coverting." He defend his views from the Scripture and does so skillfully yet briefly. Chafer particularly criticizes meetings which try to manipulate people into coming forward and preaching which make it seem as if salvation is dependent upon raising your hand in a meeting or kneeling at the altar. He also criticizes the view that evangelism is only for certain people, i.e. so-called "evangelists", and that it is best done only a specific season, the "revival" Chapter Two, "Salvation: The Objective in Evangelism," is theologically rich. Recognizing that the objective of evangelism is salvation, Chafer explores the elements of salvation. He speaks of salvation in "three tenses" on p. 29, "The believer was saved from condemnation . . . he is being saved from the habit and power of sin . . . and he will be saved from the presence of sin" and focuses mainly on the "first tense." I appreciated his seven-part summary of the changes that occur immediately a person comes to Christ, especially his reminder that one who believes is now clothed with the righteousness of God. Without such a reminder, it is easy to forget the real object of evangelism is not a simple conversation but salvation. Chapter Three, "Conviction by the Spirit," explores the central importance of the Holy Spirit in evangelism. All Christians whom I know acknowledge the necessity of the conviction of the Holy Spirit, but few of us take time to meditate on that truth. This chapter emphasizes how foolish the gospel is to an unbeliever and how impossible it is for him to belief through his own power. Chafer does not write to discourage people from attempting evangelism but to encourage them not to neglect their own spriritual lives and to rely on the Holy Spirit's conviction rather than their own persuasive skills. Chafer only gets better in Chapter Four, "The Prayer of Intercession." He is refreshingly scriptural and God-centered in its approach to prayer. His brief descriptions of the privileges given to the people of God to approach him in prayer for the sake of other people were inspiring to me. The idea of "intercession" is carried on in Chapter Five, "Suffering With Christ." Chafer develops the idea that we can share in the ministry of Christ by sharing in his sufferings. I thought it was helpful to be reminded that sufferin

Chafer depicts in this book an analysis from the Bible of the two most important things about witnessing for Christ. First the importance of sharing the correct information, that Christ being God became man, paid the penalty of the entire human race for sin on the cross by his spiritul death, and rose again to provide eternal life. This eternal life can be obtained by the simple act of belief in the savior. The second thing stressed in the book is the necessity of prayer for the unbeliever, for only God can bend the will of an unbeliever. If only the church would discard its gimmicks and rely on God's truth and focus on the accuracy of the message a great revival might occur. Chafer's book is a witness to this truth.