Today many people in the so-called Christian countries are so satisfied with their own religious beliefs and filled with all kinds of prejudices, that they resent, and are even hostile toward an evangelistic campaign that is not sponsored by their own church, and they therefore will not attend. We must also remember that Roman Catholics are taught that it is a mortal sin to listen to Protestant evangelistic campaigns, or even to read non-Catholic literature. Another important segment of nominal Christians are indifferent to evangelistic campaigns of any church. These people do not like to attend meetings where they think the preacher will attempt to impose upon them the acceptance of a certain religious creed. When this class of people read the name of Christ or anything else that identifies the advertising as propagating a religious belief, they will not attend because it annoys them.
Let me demonstrate. When I participate in a general conversation among a number of non-Adventists, everything goes along pleasantly and smoothly whether the subject be about politics, science, social problems, art, or world travel. But if I introduce a spiritual subject and speak of Christ as the only Saviour of mankind, there is immediately an embarrassing silence; they feel disturbed and the congenial spirit of friendship disappears.
How to Approach the Modern Mind
This strained attitude on the part of my listeners has brought me to the conclusion that this present age requires a new method of approach for the preaching of the message, but not a changed or diluted message. The message must always remain the same, for truth is eternal. Evangelists have realized this change of attitude toward religion during the past fifty years. The servant of the Lord tells us repeatedly that new and untried methods ought to be thought out and put into practice in order to appeal to those we want to reach. We must take people as they are and not as we wish they were. We must come down to their way of thinking, feeling, and doing.
In these days when the god of science is venerated more than the Creator, it is indeed difficult to attract a crowd to an evangelistic meeting that requires people, right from the beginning, to adapt themselves to our way of thinking, advertising, and preaching. To avoid this very reaction in his day, the apostle Paul had a wonderful method, which we find recorded in I Corinthians 9:19-22:
For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; and to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; to them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
If the apostle Paul were alive today, he would probably write: "To an agnostic I would be like an agnostic; to an atheist I would be like an atheist although I believe in God; to a Catholic, like a Catholic; to a Mormon, like a Mormon; to a Jehovah's Witness, like a Jehovah's Witness; et cetera." In 2 Corinthians 12: 16 he records: "Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile." In order not to awaken their prejudice but to win their good will and find a way of giving them the blessed message, the apostle Paul used very tactful methods. Like Jesus, he tried first to supply their immediate needs and after having gained their confidence he then began from their viewpoint and philosophy of life, little by little, to preach the message as they were able to understand it.
Christ's Methods
Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. He then bade them, "Follow Me."—The Ministry of Healing, p. 143.
The only way of success in soul winning is Christ's method. When the evangelist begins a campaign he ought first of all to be interested in supplying the urgent needs of the people. There may be some who are bereaved and need consolation more than the knowledge of who the number 666 represents. Again there may be a man with a family but without employment. He will need material help before he can listen wholeheartedly to the message. Perhaps there is a young man who is on the verge of an illicit love affair who first needs help on his special problem. Then there are others who feel that they are not wanted, and these will require understanding and loving counsel. Therefore it is imperative that in his first meetings the evangelist identify himself completely with the heterogeneous needs of these people, by sincerely trying to help them and by manifesting a keen interest in their welfare and happiness.
What are the things that psychologists today tell us the average person wants? Instead of disillusionment, he wants hope; instead of anxiety, he craves peace; instead of a guilty conscience, he longs to hear an authoritative voice of forgiveness; instead of unhappiness, he seeks for happiness; instead of poverty, he is ambitious for a better standard of living; instead of insecurity, he aspires to security and confidence; instead of indifference on the part of people, he longs for recognition and companionship.
The servant of the Lord says:
You need not feel that all the truth is to be spoken to unbelievers on any and every occasion. You should plan carefully what to say and what to leave unsaid. This is not practicing deception; it is to work as Paul worked. He says, "Being crafty, I caught you with guile."--Evangelism, p. 125.
Yes, the Lord wants the soul winner to use his mental powers to the utmost; this, together with prayer, will attract the attention of the people and induce them to accept the beauty of truth, which is for their happiness on earth and their future eternal joy. Satan is constantly devising plans and methods to seduce people and to carry them along with him to eternal destruction. The soul winner, who is the depository of eternal truth, should do no less but even more.
The Meeting Place
The place where the lectures are held is often a determining factor of a poor or a good attendance. A recent experience illustrates how careful the evangelist needs to be in choosing the hall. We rented a hall the size we wanted in a nice clubhouse in an ideal location. It was well recommended by some, but after we had begun the effort, a number of people said: "Why are you giving these fine lectures in a hall that does not have a good reputation?" We heard afterward that many would not bring their families to that hall. This has taught me to investigate more thoroughly the reputation of the hall under consideration.
It must also be remembered that a good Catholic, for instance, is prohibited by his church from going to any place where religious services that are contrary to his faith are held. It would not be wise, therefore, to hold meetings in a
Protestant church if we wish to interest Roman Catholics. Nor will they attend a meeting in a Masonic hall—that to them is a mortal sin.
Another important matter is to find out if there is sufficient parking space around the hall for automobiles. If there are too many restricted areas, it might militate against a good attendance.
The Advertising
The advertising ought to be done in a way that will appeal to the type of people we have been considering in this article. There are some things that many people resent today; for example, expressions such as "Evangelistic Crusade," "Hear Evangelist So-and-so," and "Hear what the Bible says." When a Roman Catholic reads them he will be aware immediately that the meetings are sponsored by the heretics of the church, by the adherents of Luther who revolted against the only true church. The advertising ought to be handled in such a way that it will not antagonize any group of people but rather will encourage them to attend because they feel it is the place where they will receive help in solving their daily problems.
In some places it would be unwise to advertise our meetings as being sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. We must remember that in general we are not so popular as some might suppose. So when we advertise the first meetings as being sponsored by us, it instantly raises a barrier of prejudice in the minds of some and will keep them away instead of drawing them in. The servant of the Lord has said: "Do not think it your duty to say at once to the people, We are Seventh-day Adventists."—Gospel Workers, p. 119. And in Evangelism, page 576 we read: "Angels of God see in the different denominations many who can be reached only by the greatest caution."
There are other ways of advertising. And if our advertising does not give the impression that the meetings are of a proselytizing nature, then many more people will be attracted to them, particularly from certain segments of the population.
Instead of calling the meetings an "Evangelistic Campaign" it would be better to say "Public Lectures" or some other title that would appeal to all classes. We give here three suggested titles for handbills:
The Lecture Hour Program
Considering the religious beliefs of the people of your community and the multitudes who are indifferent to religion, it is well, at least during the first five or six meetings, to keep a strict lecture atmosphere, avoiding public prayers (although we will pray behind the scenes more than ever), and congregational singing, as well as refraining from taking names and addresses and offerings. For the orthodox Catholic it is a sin to contribute to the "heretics" as well as to participate in Protestant prayer and congregational singing, but they will listen to choirs, solos, and instrumental music; in fact, they enjoy them.
Names and addresses should only be taken when the speaker has won the confidence of his audience. You may have to wait a week or two, but the names will then be worthwhile. Many will accept the saving truth of our Lord, join our church, and prepare for the eternal kingdom.
