Literature Evangelism
“Most evangelicals today live as covert universalists. They must believe that in the end everyone will be saved. This constitutes the only charitable reason for our appalling failure to share the truth with others.” Ian Coffey
Martin Luther taught,
‘Man is not justified by love.’
By this he meant that people must hear and respond to the message of Jesus if they are to be right with God. Evangelism is helping a person to be open to the story about Jesus, sharing that story in as relevant a way as possible, and making it clear that a response is needed. It is relatively easy to be appreciated by others if we go out of our way to help them. What is more difficult is to communicate the Christian story, especially when we are pressed for time, or our relationship is too close. For these reasons we need ways, other than one to one discussions, with which to share the gospel. An invitation to hear a good preacher is one way, but sharing good literature can also be very effective.
Jean was a very attractive thirty year old young lady who had developed breast cancer. She had been told by a local surgeon that she would be best treated by having a mastectomy. The prospect of losing her whole breast disturbed her so greatly that she refused any treatment. Her General Practitioner sent her to my unit for a second opinion. She certainly needed some form of mastectomy but because of her state of mind, we opted for a subcutaneous mastectomy and immediate reconstruction. She was very pleased with the result. After the operation she admitted that she had seriously contemplated committing suicide prior to learning about the reconstructive options. I wasn’t sure how to respond to this news, given as a sort of complement. So I gently asked her,
‘Are you ready to meet God then?’
‘What do you mean?’ she replied.
‘Well, one thing we do know is that after a person dies they will have to face God. It is therefore vital that if you have thought about suicide, that you make certain you are ready for that meeting - and that you have been forgiven by him,’ I suggested.
‘I’ve never thought about that,’ she admitted.
That conversation went no further - enough had been said. The problem was how to help her understand that God loves her and that Jesus is the means of both her forgiveness and her security. As her surgeon I did not want to compromise the good relationship that we had.
The answer had to be to give her some good Christian literature that she could read in her own time. The following day therefore I returned to see her with a copy of David Watson’s booklet ‘Start a New Life’ in my pocket. After a short chat about her progress, I asked her if she would like to receive a booklet that explains the Christian story. She seemed pleased to receive it. Our relationship has not been spoilt by these discussions, if anything it would appear strengthened. During the following months we have only had very brief conversations about the Lord. She has read the booklet and now understands something of the gospel. Moreover she has met someone she respects who does love Jesus and wants her to know him too. She will be invited to an evangelistic supper in our home later, but at the time it did not seem right to press the claims of Jesus more directly. The point however is the need for that booklet to be available so that the gospel could be communicated with Jean.
Opening Gambits
Sometimes it is not easy to get into a conversation about spiritual matters. I learnt the value of books for this end very early in my Christian life. After a squash or tennis match my opponents were often invited back to my rooms for a refreshing drink. A good Christian book was deliberately left out in a noticeable position. When their eyes fell on the book I would casually ask,
‘Do you know this book?’
Invariably they would reply,
‘No. what is it about?’
This may sound contrived, and it was, but we should not be ashamed of ‘Set Piece Evangelism’. It enables us to talk about our Saviour in a natural way, covering ground that we have prepared. If rugby, soccer and hockey players need to know ‘Set Piece Moves’ why shouldn’t Christians?
No Time
A busy clinic is seldom the place to have in depth discussions about spiritual matters. Mary was a professional lady who had had a successful operation for breast cancer a few years ago. She returned because she was very worried about a further thickening. This turned out to be benign, and she was very relieved to hear this news. When asked if she had a faith that helped her through times like this, she immediately replied,
‘I wish I had!’
I smiled and briefly explained that I was a Christian and was convinced that Jesus’ claims were true. It didn’t feel right to say much more but I explained that I had nearly finished writing a book for people in her situation and asked her if she would like to receive a draft copy of ‘Cure for Life’. She was also asked if she could help with any corrections that were needed. The book was sent and two weeks later came a thrilling reply. After several helpful comments about the book she wrote the following sentence’
‘I have always thought of Jesus and God in a mythical way and have been bored by church services. But this book has given Christianity reality for me. I need to know more.’
Mary is still not yet a Christian but at our last consultation she admitted that she does want to ‘sort these things out’. Again it would not have been possible to communicate the gospel without having suitable literature available.
Too far away
When returning from a conference in Poland recently, I was on a train travelling from Posnan to Berlin. There were three ladies in the carriage, all of whom spoke good English. One of them was a Christian and the two of us had a great discussion in which the difference between church affiliation and a real personal faith was emphasised. One of the other ladies, who was a German student teacher, was asked whether she had thought of Christian things in this way. She said that several years before she had a friend who was a committed Christian and that she had always wanted to understand.
‘May I explain it to you?’ I asked.
We then spent the next hour explaining why we were Christians, what Jesus had done for us and what he was doing now. She seemed fascinated but was not ready to commit her life to Christ. The problem was how to follow up this conversation. It is a basic rule that every opening for the gospel must have a follow on point, so that if a person is interested they know what to do next. Fortunately I had another draft copy of ‘Cure for Life’ in my case which she enthusiastically accepted. When we arrived in Berlin the four of us went and had lunch together. The discussion on the train had gelled us together. She has not made contact again, but who knows whether we will meet in heaven. The book will hopefully remind her about Jesus and that there are people who know and love him.
Thomas was a German medical student spending a year in this country. Although he had no real connection with Christian things he did accept an invitation from a Christian student to come to a Christian Medical Fellowship Student Conference at Swanwick. He was bowled over to see several hundred Christian medics who were not only normal, but had ‘something special’ about them. We sat together one lunch time and discussed the reason for this. Again there was not time to explain the whole gospel, but he also was very pleased to accept a draft copy of ‘Cure for Life’. At the last evening Tom stood up in front of everyone and said how great an impression the conference had had on him and that he would like to see something like it in Germany! Two months later that I received a card from Tom. He had read the book and had opened his life to the Lord Jesus. I had tears in my eyes when I read that. We had only talked for about half an hour, although he did have several other discussions with the Christian students he came with. However it was a book that had clarified things for him.
Too Close
There is another group of people whom most of us find it difficult to explain the gospel to. Those are close family, friends and colleagues. It is counter-productive to keep up a verbal onslaught with the gospel. We are called to make disciples not enemies! Again this is where the use of good books can be very helpful, particularly when spiritual topics have been touched.
‘I have found this book very informative, could I lend it to you?’
Such an invitation is rarely received with animosity. So many people are disillusioned by what they think of religion, yet are often open to read a book on the evidence for Jesus and what he taught. Most of our peers find being taught face to face by someone close to them an embarrassing experience and will often counter by arguing. This is hardly the best way to help them consider the claims of Jesus with an open mind!
We all need to be able to explain clearly ‘the reason for the hope that is in us’, and describe what Jesus has done and is doing for us. Books can be no substitute for developing this skill. However we would be like a physician without his pills if we do not have a variety of really good Christian literature that we know well and can confidently use.
Casual conversations
When walking my dog I always try to remember to pray for an opportunity to talk about the Lord Jesus. A smile, stopping and saying ‘Hello’ is a simple way to start. Somehow the conversation then need to move on to something spiritual. The dog can give an easy way in.
“What a lovely dog, you have,” they often say.
I smile and will say something like,
“Well, she has to be as we often have visitors and children from the church in our home and if she didn’t like people our live would be very difficult.”
Sometimes I’m then asked,
“Which church do you go to?”
But if there is no response it is still easy to ask,
“Are you involved in a church anywhere or aren’t you sure about these things?”
However the conversation goes from there I always ensure I am not ‘pushy’ as that is likely to be counter-productive. At some stage I take take out of my pocket a folded sheet of paper with a brief article printed on it. The article is based on a talk I’d given that explains the gospel. I offer it to them and so far have never had this offer rejected. At the bottom this article has the name of our church and my email address at the bottom. If God is on their case they will read this when they get home and hopefully it may trigger an interest.
I always carry a couple of these short articles in my pocket for this very purpose.
Personally I tend only to give books to those who have expressed a real interest. Over the years I have used:
‘Start a New Life’ by David Watson, Kingsway (Good quality tract but out of print at present)
‘Journey into life’ by Norman Warren, Kingsway (Clear but very simple tract)
‘The Choice We All Face’ St Matthias Press (Very clear gospel tract based on ‘Two Ways to Live’)
‘A Fresh Start’ by John C. Chapman, Hodder (ISBN 0-34034330-3) (Very good gospel teaching but long)
‘More than a Carpenter’ by Josh McDowell, Kingsway (ISBN 0-86065-052-9) (Basic apologetics but limited gospel teaching)
‘Cure for Life’ by Bernard Palmer, Christian Medical Fellowship, (ISBN 1-9010-7407-2) (Clear gospel teaching with apologetics)
Remember, ‘There are some who are ignorant of God - I say this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15 v. 34)
