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 While
visiting with brother Bob Craig (from near-by Austin) some time
back, our conversation somehow worked around to our talented “pickin’
and grinin” brethren and the entertainment sessions they have
been known to provide at various social gatherings. “Trouble
is”, Bob said, “by the time they get through with all that
tunin’ up, it’s time to go home!” Having had the pleasure
(and the time) to observe a few such sessions, I had come to the
same conclusion. Not that I don’t believe in preparation — I’d
just like to see a little more performance, even at the risk of
its being a trifle “off-key”.
It
occurred to me that much of what we refer to as “personal work”
may be failing for a similar reason. We seem to be forever
preparing but seldom performing! And prepare we should, in
every possible way. For instance, it is helpful to study good
books on the subject, such as Let’s Go Fishing
For Men by Brother Homer Hailey. Some churches have
conducted special classes that have proved profitable and
motivating along these lines. And, most importantly, gaining a
good knowledge of the Scriptures is indispensable in the work of
personal evangelism. So, preparation in this work of saving
souls must not be discounted. But let’s be practical. Adequate
preparation does not require perfection. It is not necessary
that we know everything just to teach something. There comes a
time when implementing should take priority over supplementing
— especially when the latter threatens to become a substitute
for the former. Like the man in the ad says, it’s performance
that counts.
So,
while it does take some knowing,
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it takes the going too! In fact, the
whole point of preparation is performance. Why more “getting-ready”
when those already ready won’t work? Isn’t it about time to
leave the classrooms in favor of the fields we know to be white
unto harvest? For too long now most of us have been on our
marks, and getting set, set, set, without ever getting out of
our starting blocks with the gospel. As Jesus might ask, “Why
stand ye here all the day idle?” Yet, we continue to
complacently stand by — prepared but idle; tuned-up but
silent. And while we thusly stand by, some of. our out-of-Christ
friends die that way. Others come under the influence of false
teaching and still others we know are becoming more hardened in
sin with every passing day. Still we stand by; ready but
reluctant. Why? Do we not know God’s will for us in the
matter? Do we know, but not care? Do we know and care but not
have the time for such urgent work? Whatever the reason, the
plain and _painful truth is that most Christians simply
are not relating themselves to the work of personal evangelism —
not even those who are best prepared to do such work.
Brethren,
it is time that we quit excusing ourselves from such important
work! Being like Christ means being concerned for lost souls.
May faithful elders and preachers keep on reminding us of that.
May we receive such reproof, rebuke and exhortation that we will
never be comfortable in just “standing by” --that we may “by
all means save some” (1 Cor. 9:22). May God help each of us to
do something for lost souls. Now. Dan S. Shipley
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