Les Lanphere: Why evangelize if God predestines?
Posted: March 10, 2010 Filed under: Series | Tags: Calvinism, Christ, Christianity, evangelism, Jesus, Theology 3 Comments »
As a Calvinist, this is the biggest question I receive from people. My argument has always been that we preach as if all are elect and pray that God saves them. This may be hard for some people, possibly because they want their work to be “worth it” rather than simple obedience to God’s command to evangelize.
Les Lanphere of KillerRobotNinja.com puts it very well:
If you believe that the offer is simply made to all men, but God isn’t working to irresistibly save His chosen people, the catalyst to salvation then lies in your words. You must be convincing, you must be smooth, you must be a better salesman than the Buddhist, and Jehovah’s witness that your audience has heard philosophies from. And anything that isn’t chalked up directly to what the preacher says, is in the hands of the hearer. They must be spiritually sensitive, and innately willing to have faith like a child. When these two human traits (salesmanship and receptiveness) kiss, magic happens… right?
This is the gospel according to the flesh. The gospel of sinner’s prayers and decision cards. No matter how much lip service is offered up to the Holy Spirit working in these situations, He is discredited as unable to make you do anything against your will. Man is the deciding factor.
Worst of all, this kind of philosophy, mixed with a zeal to save lots of people, produces a bad gospel. As anyone who has preached the bloody Christ of scripture quickly learns:
“…the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing…” -1 Corinthians 1:18
When your main task becomes convincing someone to “make a decision for Jesus”, you have no choice but to remove the offense. You need to water down the sin, blood, wrath and Hell of scripture, or remove them completely. That kind of offensive talk has no place in the seeker-friendly gospel. When it’s about your words, and not strictly dependent on the Holy Spirit’s work in the sinner’s heart, the flesh will always compromise the message.
No, my friends, salvation is not a cooperation between lovable men and a lonely God that just wants you to choose Him. Salvation is of the Lord, and the Lord alone!
For the rest of his article, read it here.
“My argument has always been that we preach as if none are elect and pray that God saves them.”
I actually like to say the exact opposite, and it certainly relieves some of that tension.
I preach as if everyone I preach to is elect. I preach expecting men to respond by the power of the Holy Spirit. We never give up on anyone, because they could repent on their death bed.
I think I know what you’re saying, but it might be better for your mentality (optimistic that people will be saved), and the Arminians you talk to, to take the positive spin.
Thanks for the blog love brother. :) SDG!
I’m actually going to revise this because I did mean “all” and not “none” and completely agree… I don’t know why I typed that.
I am not a Calvinist so I do not agree with you on your application of election. But you have nailed it on the head when it comes to the disgusting treatment of scripture by many so called men of God. My side of the isle has forgotten that Jesus said, this gospel of repentance shall be preached. Whip us more. Thank you sir may I have another.