WHAT does total evangelism mean? Certainly it means more than just programming evangelism on high denominational levels. It is relatively easy for experts to map strategy, but the success of any evangelistic thrust depends upon committed individuals in every strata of church organization.
Far too often total evangelism is interpreted to mean the total involvement of just the select few who by training and experience are qualified to address large audiences. This is a mistaken idea.
Much as in spectator sports, we are prone to revel in some super gospel star and flock to watch him perform. Doing this generates a false sense of achievement as we sit around waiting for the next star to perform, whereas for our own soul's sake and the sake of others we should be involved in the game ourselves.
When it comes to spectator sports, experience teaches that sitting on the side lines and cheering a select team may raise blood pressure but that when persisted in, such noninvolvement also contributes marvelously to flabby muscles. Could it be that our flabbiness of evangelistic spirit is due to an obsession of watching others per form what we should be doing ourselves?
Chief Business of the Church
Total evangelism means that the entire church is possessed with a burning passion to proclaim the gospel, a consuming zeal to persuade men to accept the gospel, and a compassionate concern that constrains members to remain true to the gospel. If this is not the chief business of each conference, each department, each church, each institution, each minister, each administrator, each church officer, and each church member, then just what is their particular business in the church?
The church of Jesus Christ with its related departments and institutions has only one commission that commission is set forth in Matthew 28:18-20. It rules out any concept of the church as a comfortable suburban rest home, or a cultural urban recreation center, or, still further, as a philosophical debating society that consumes time ascertaining what is religiously relevant or irrelevant for our day.
Neither are the related institutions and departments of the church organized for the purpose of competing with their counterparts in secular society. When any organization within the church succumbs to the temptation to accommodate to the philosophies and practices of the day, you can be sure that the accommodation will be at the expense of the contribution that particular organization should be making to the total evangelistic program of the church.
Consider the fact that the Seventh-day Adventist denomination operates 437 colleges and secondary schools; 4,411 elementary schools, 137 hospitals and sanitariums; 175 clinics and dispensaries; and 44 publishing houses. Why do these institutions exist? Subordinating your personal opinion and mine, let us permit an authoritative voice to answer this question. The servant of God says: "God is to be recognized in the institutions established by Seventh-day Adventists. By them the truth for this time is to be represented before the world with convincing power." --Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 220.
Whatever else one may deduct from this statement, this much stands clear institutions established by Seventh-day Adventists are evangelistic agencies. They are an extension of the church's evangelistic pro gram and by them the truth for this time is to be represented before the world with a convincing power.
Identify with Church Institutions
Coming to the defense of these institutions, let me say that rather than standing on the sidelines and criticizing their operation, the time has come for qualified Seventh-day Adventist church members to identify themselves with the church's institutions. It is a tragedy and a rebuke to the founding fathers who started these institutions to find some of them staffed with a large number of people not of our faith.
How can we expect these institutions to fulfill their God-given purpose while church members refuse to become involved because they love the easy and contented practices of an affluent society? Should not pastors encourage more of our people to staff these institutions? Surely the "convincing power" will be revived when both management and personnel throb with the one grand design that God has for His institutions. Let us do our part to make this possible, for without these institutions total evangelism is not possible.
What about the layman and his part in total evangelism? We live in days when more laymen are being involved in the structuring and formulating of church policy. This is excellent and long overdue, but at best this involves only a few. We cannot all be chiefs; there must be some Indians if the battle is to be won. On the local church level more and still more lay men should assume and effectively dis charge church responsibilities so the pas tor will be free to engage in a well-rounded evangelistic program.
And what about the churches where hundreds gather each Sabbath to be spoon-fed only to return home and await the next Sabbath's spoon feeding? Observing this recalls a paraphrasing of a well-known hymn:
"Like a mighty army mills the church of God; Brothers, we are treading where we've always trod."
How can we change the direction of God's great army and get it moving "where the saints have trod?" Our laity constitutes the greatest evangelistic potential in the church. Consider that on the Sabbath day more than 2,239,000 Seventh-day Adventists gather in 15,000 churches and 28,463 Sabbath schools. Here you have more of God's children gathered together in the same place, for the same purpose, than on any other day of the week. One does not require much faith to imagine what could happen if these churches, Sabbath schools, and church members were galvanized into total evangelistic action.
Organize Members
The counsel of God is that "if there is a large number in the church, let the members be formed into small companies, to work not only for the church members, but for unbelievers. If in one place there are only two or three who know the truth, let them form themselves into a band of workers. Let them keep their bond of union unbroken, pressing together in love and unity, encouraging one another to advance, each gaining courage and strength from the assistance of the others. Let them reveal Christlike forbearance and patience, speaking no hasty words, using the talent of speech to build one another up in the most holy faith. Let them labor in Christlike love for those outside the fold, for getting self in their endeavor to help others. As they work and pray in Christ's name, their numbers will increase; for the Saviour says: 'If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven' Matthew 18:19." --Ibid., vol. 7, p. 22. Here is counsel which if implemented will help to get us off dead center and pose the prospects of a finished work in our day.
There is still another area where a conference president and pastor should involve their laymen. In all conferences we have dark counties. At various church councils resolutions are adopted regarding these counties, but in spite of the resolutions they still remain dark.
How can these areas of earth be lighted up? God tells us how. In Testimonies, volume 7, page 22, we read: "In humble dependence upon God, families are to settle in the waste places of His vineyard. Consecrated men and women are needed to stand as fruit-bearing trees of righteousness in the desert places of the earth. As the reward of their self-sacrificing efforts to sow the seeds of truth, they will reap a rich harvest. As they visit family after family, opening the Scriptures to those in spiritual darkness, many hearts will be touched."
And what about the youth of the church? Total evangelism is not possible if the youth are not involved. Their strength, energy, and enthusiasm is needed if the church's message is to make an impact upon the world. The coming World Youth Congress in Zurich, Switzerland, will focus anew the tremendous potential wrapped up in the youth of the church. Unlike the frenzied youth of the age who are demanding that the world do something for them, Adventist youth are presenting themselves to the church and saying, "Here we are; what can we do for the church?" Let this youthful commitment be utilized for the total evangelistic program of the church.
Mass Media
Total evangelism needs the mass media to reach unbelievers. The conventional methods used years ago are entirely too slow and ineffective. Present day radio, television, and newspapers offer sweeping possibilities for cooperative evangelism. Under all circumstances the work of any mass media must be climaxed with person-to-person contact by cooperating churches and individual members.
Likewise, the book and magazine field is a sleeping giant waiting to be used effectively in total evangelism. To be effective, our publications need to stop talking to themselves in what they produce for publication today. We need to publish solid material in the way of Christian apologetics and prophetic affirmations aimed at non- Christians and then make every attempt to market what we print in such a way that it will reach the unbeliever.
In addition, a much greater army of literature evangelists is needed to canvass from door to door and persuade people to accept our publications. Without the proper and effective use of this mighty agency given us by God, there can be no such thing as total evangelism. In essence, literature evangelists comprise the commando troops who establish beachheads for any type of evangelism that follows. Wherever conference administrators and pastors encourage men and women to take up this noble and exciting work, excellent evangelistic results follow.
A Mighty Army
This brings us to the workers who are actually employed by the denomination. Statistics reveal that the church has credentialed 61,274 such workers. What a mighty army! What tremendous evangelistic possibilities are wrapped up in its effective deployment!
Why are they credentialed? Is it merely to obtain gainful employment, prestige, or status? If this is all we seek, I am sure there are better ways to realize these superficial goals than by clogging up the ranks of an army geared for war. If revival and total evangelism are ever to grip the church, they must first grip the leaders of the church. No one who bears denominational credentials can claim exemption from evangelistic involvement. Our assignment is not a comfortable job but a disturbing passion the passion to reach men everywhere with God's last message for mankind.
We may not be able to spark revival and total evangelism into existence by council resolutions alone, but let us be sure of this one thing, we can all work at it. Unfortunately, too many of us believe that if we pray long enough God will somehow step in and bring the attention of the third an gel's message to sinners miraculously while we ourselves remain at ease.
Many would like to have it happen this way, but let us settle it right now that it will not. Although prayer and the presence of the Holy Spirit are indispensable, these two mighty agencies of God do not operate in a vacuum. God still proposes to use human agents ministers, laymen, teachers, medical workers, literature evangelists, institutional workers, and youth to bring about the greatest spiritual confrontation and revival in history.
Will the 61,274 credentialed workers of the Seventh-day Adventist Church accept the challenge? Will they collectively rise up and lead the organized church of God into total evangelism? Will they each set the example by engaging in personal and public evangelism?
In this manner let each leader, each minister, and each institutional administrator sound the command for the mighty remnant church of God to arise and proclaim anew, under the banner of "the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus," the saving grace of the crucified, risen, and soon-coming Saviour.
To be sure, such a command will be opposed by the enemy and his agents. When that happens, keep in mind that the best defense is a strong offensive for God, and never question whether such a move will be successful. For our encouragement, God has stated the following:
"We shall not be stinted for means if we will only go forward trusting in God. The Lord is willing to do a great work for all who truly believe in Him. If the lay members of the church will arouse to do the work that they can do, going on a warfare at their own charges, each seeing how much he can accomplish in winning souls to Jesus, we shall see many leaving the ranks of Satan to stand under the banner of Christ. If our people will act upon the light that is given in these few words of instruction, we shall surely see of the salvation of God. Wonderful revivals will follow. Sinners will be converted, and many souls will be added to the church. When we bring our hearts into unity with Christ, and our lives into harmony with His work, the Spirit that fell on the disciples on the Day of Pentecost will fall on us." --Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 246.
By God's grace, let us move into total evangelism in 1969!
