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Soul-Winner?
A few weeks ago I read in a book the common evangelical term “soul-winner”. I put the book down and thought, “soul-winner… that is really unbiblical”. We are not the winner of souls nor are we slot machines that jackpot converts. The majority of “evangelists” I have met keep up with the number of converts they have “won” to Christ. Many pastors keep up with the number of baptisms during the time of their ministry. How ungodly! Our lives are to be devoted to the service of Christ, not the upkeep of our supposed spiritual efficiency. Every man and woman that has ever been saved was saved by the hand of God; not by soul-winning Reverend Joe. Do you think the apostles tallied up the number of repenting sinners during their preaching? God wrote about the growth of the church, but I’m sure His apostles weren’t keeping up with it for their own reputation. I think Paul would have been ashamed if he was introduced before his audience as the winner of over 5,000 souls. Glory in God, not man.
August 10, 2007 at 2:12 pm
In your post you stated, “God wrote about the growth of the church, but I’m sure His apostles weren’t keeping up with it for their own reputation.” - Amen, I hope they weren’t!
I hope that Pastors like my own who do count the number of baptisms per year aren’t doing it for their own reputation either. And knowing my Pastors for over 12 years, I can say that I believe whole heartedly they aren’t.
If any Pastors are counting for their own glory, and not the Lord’s, may they be anathema. But I can’t say what the bible doesn’t say, namely, that keeping count is wrong or unbiblical. God cares about numbers because each number represents a soul that has been brought into His glorious kingdom. May this be the heart of all Pastors, both those who count and those that don’t.
You know, we even have a book of the bible called “Numbers.”
So I don’t think is that opposed to them. But He is opposed to those who think they represent their own glory!
August 10, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Thanks for commenting Steve. My biggest question for those who keep up is “why?” Why do men and women count? Some in the ministry use it for their resume. Some missionaries use it show that they have effectively been spreading the gospel. Some Christians use it for their own glory. Yet all claim to do it for the glory of God. I don’t think keeping count is unbibilical, but the term “soul-winner” is very anti-scriptural since it emphasizes the one evangelizing and not the Savior. I have not heard of a just reason for keeping count. What is the purpose of counting? God knows the number. Why should we keep count? Attaching a hypothetical number to our name/ministry opens too many avenues for pride or man-centered praise.
August 11, 2007 at 4:40 am
I’m sure everyone who does count would have various reasons for doing so. So I don’t think we can truly establish motives here via comments. I can tell you as someone who ran the baptism ministry for a few years along side an Associate Pastor at a mega-church in Chicago, that we kept track of who got baptized for discipleship reasons primarily.
We wanted to make sure that each of these individuals was actively being mentored and discipled thru one on one mentoring, small group care, etc. These are not bad reasons for keeping track of who got baptized.
As far as the term “soul-winner”, again, the bible doesn’t prohibit its use, so I can’t either. Are there better terms, probably. But the people I know who use the term only use it with the purest of motives. They care deeply for the souls of men. It’s hard to fault them for that.
Is the term mis-used? Yeah by some, but not all. One thing to keep in mind is this. Jesus told his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them …”. Is it wrong to say that the disciples did just that. I don’t think so. We know theologically that the Lord saves people. But we also know theologically that man cannot believe unless he hears (from man), and he won’t hear (from man), unless men are sent.
Thanks for allowing me to share!
August 11, 2007 at 9:29 am
I’m always glad to have people share.
I have no problem with the Great Commission. In fact, it’s a commandment. To call people wrong for evangelizing was not was what I was suggesting. We are to witness and baptize as Christ has commanded.
I’m very familiar with mega-churches using the term “soul-winner”. It does not occur in Scripture nor is it prohibited. But break down the implications of the term and you wil see why I dislike it’s use.
Like you said we cannot bring all sides to a unanimous opinion from these comments. One question: Do you not agree that the keeping count of those getting saved and baptized could lead to an avenue of pride and man-glorification for the church, congregation, or readers of church statistics? Maybe it started with pure motives, but it could quickly turn sour. How many times have we heard how a church’s attendance, conversions, and baptisms dropped/increased with a new pastor? This is bordering man-glorification. We must witness, but the results are in God’s hands.
August 11, 2007 at 1:47 pm
“One question: Do you not agree that the keeping count of those getting saved and baptized could lead to an avenue of pride and man-glorification for the church, congregation, or readers of church statistics?”
It could, and the key word is could. But the sin wouldn’t be in the methodology, it would lie where all sin lies, in the heart of man.
I also believe we could sin by judging our brothers unjustly, without knowing motives, by saying that those who use numbers are wrong. Let’s be careful to maintain unity in the Spirit on matters that are unclear in scripture.
As I believe Wesley said, “Where God has chosen to close His holy mouth, I’d better not open mine.”
Good chatting!
August 11, 2007 at 2:44 pm
It was good talking Steve. Please come back to the Isle of Hope. Though we feel strongly about this issue, there’s nothing wrong with cordially disagreeing. Peace be with you.
John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
August 14, 2007 at 9:49 pm
I have never thought of the term “soul-winner” that way. I wonder what you think of C.H. Spurgeon and his book The Soul-Winner? Maybe this is a case of reading too much into it. Just my idea though, keep blogging!
Magnus
August 14, 2007 at 11:10 pm
Great post, the Lord elects those to salvation-not we ourselves!
August 20, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Thank you for your comments Magnus and Fred.