FAITH Sunday School Evangelism

[DaveBj]

(I debated briefly about whether to put this under Apologetics or here, but I decided this has more to do with "them" than with "us," so here it is.

On a previous thread I mentioned that I was going to post some information about the Southern Baptist Convention’s FAITH Sunday School Evangelism program. Some of you who live among a heavy concentration of Baptists may be faced with this from time to time, and I wanted to tip you off about some serious holes in the presentation.

FAITH Sunday School Evangelism was developed by Bobby Welch, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Daytona Beach, Florida. It appears to be a sort of take-off on D. James Kennedy’s Evangelism Explosion. The program’s purpose is two-fold–to bring the interviewee to the point where he/she realizes his/her need to accept Christ as his/her personal Savior, in the Baptist sense of the word, and to get the interviewee enrolled in a Sunday School class at that church. Frequently these interviews will start as a survey, as was mentioned in that other thread.

Aside: My personal method dealing with “surveys” that smell fishy to me is to inform the so-called interviewer, “If this is a genuine survey, I’ll be happy to answer your questions, but the instant it turns into a sales presentation, you’re out of here. Not only that, but I will follow you around the neighborhood and tell whoever answers the door that you’re lying.” Works every time.

Anyhow, the presentation consists of introductions (getting to know each other) and finding something about the interviewee’s interests to comment on. Then the conversation turns to spiritual involvement–church background, where they’re going now, etc. One of the visiting team gives a testimony about the benefits of participation in Sunday School, and another member gives a brief testimony of his/her conversion experience, without giving away the answer to the question that’s going to come next.

The next step is the inquiry, where the memorized Key Question is presented: In your personal opinion, what do you understand it takes for a person to go to heaven? Possible answers fall into four different categories: an answer of faith, an answer of works, an unclear answer, and no opinion. If the answer is one of faith, the interview is terminated in a friendly manner and every parts on good terms as brothers and sisters in Christ. However, if one of the other categories of answers is given, the interviewer turns the corner into the presentation with the statement, “I’d like to share with you how the Bible answers this question, if it is all right.” Assuming the interviewee answers in the positive, the presentation continues with the five points.

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[DaveBj]

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The presentation is based on the word FAITH, which is actually an acronym in this case. The F stands for Forgiveness: “We cannot have eternal life and heaven without God’s forgiveness.” The supporting Scripture is Eph. 1:7a: “In Him [meaning Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (All quotations are NKJV.) Here is the first hole in the presentation: It is certainly true that we cannot have eternal life without God’s forgiveness, but the supporting Scripture does not say that. All it says is that we have forgiveness of sins in Christ. The support for this assertion is a non-sequitor.

The A stands for Available: Forgiveness is available for all. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) However, A also stands for the fact that forgiveness is not Automatic: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 7:21a, Jesus is speaking) No problem here.

The I stands for Impossible: It is Impossible for God to allow sin into heaven. Yes, God is love (John 3:16, above), but God is also just. It is here that the real logical problems begin. The proof text for the claim that God is just is allegedly James 2:13a, “For judgment is without mercy.” However, the full text of that verse reads, “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (Emphasis mine) First, the last part of the verse contradicts the part that is supposedly the proof text for this part. Second, someone who knows himself to be a person who a merciful person could point that out–“I am merciful to others; therefore judgment will not be without mercy to me.” Third, someone could also point out that the book of Psalms says frequently that God’s mercy endures forever (every verse in Psalm 136). It is certainly true that God cannot allow sin into heaven; however, not only does this verse not prove it, but the verse has been twisted to say the opposite of what it means. Under this point it is also argued, besides “God is love” and “God is just,” that man is sinful: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom.3:23) No problem here. Next is the question, “How can a sinful person enter heaven, where God allows no sin?”

The T stands for Turn (which is what “repent” actually means in the New Testament). One must Turn from something, sin and self: “But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:38) This verse is lifted out of its context, which is that Jesus was prophesying to the Jews what was going to happen to them if they as a nation didn’t repent, comparing it to an act of Roman abuse and to the disaster of the collapse of a tower. This prophecy was fulfilled in the 70 A.D. destruction of Rome. It’s application to humanity in general is uncertain.

“Turn” also means to turn to someone, meaning to trust Christ only: “Christ died for our sins according to the Sctiptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” (I Cor. 15:3b-4) This is certainly true, but again it is a non-sequitor–the verse does not support the assertion. Also, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9) Again, a non-sequitor; this verse has nothing to do with repentance, nor and it leaves the listener with the false impression that all that is necessary for salvation is faith and verbal confession of Christ as Lord.

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[DaveBj]

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Ending the presentation part, H stands for Heaven, eternal life starting Here (“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly,” John 10:10b) and Hereafter (“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also,” John 14:3) How can a person have God’s forgiveness, heaven and eternal life, and Jesus as personal Savior and Lord? By another FAITH–Forsaking All, I Trust Him.

Finally, the invitation. Inquire (“Understanding what we have shared, would you like to receive this forgiveness by trusting in Christ as your personal Savior and Lord?”), Invite (to pray to accept Christ), and Insure (make sure the person actually believes that he/she is now saved).

There is 16 weeks of training that goes into learning this presentation. The presenter basically recites it from memory, and therefore unexpected questions can derail the whole thing. There are several ways to confront this presentation. Usually the presentation is made as a followup to a church visit or some other way that the “prospect” has made contact, but it is possible that some congregations could be using it on cold calls. The prospect can 1) terminate the interview right from the start by refusing he visit, 2) give a faith answer to the Key Question, or 3) giving a negative answer when the visitor asks to share how the Bible answers the question. Someone who’s feeling up for a debate can listen to the presentation and point out the holes in the logic. Or someone who is an expert Catholic apologist can really start a debate; however, I’m not there yet.

I had the full course of training in this program earlier this year. I had been studying Catholicism and had run into a roadblock over certain doctrines that I have come since come to accept. In January I transferred my membership to a large Southern Baptist church here in town, and threw myself into congregation life, including choir and taking training in this evangelism program, which I had heard was the best way yet to present the gospel. However, I was dismayed when I discovered the huge logical holes in the argument, and disappointed when I continued to hear the presentation given the same way, even after I had pointed out the problems. I eventually came to see this as yet another example of the worst in individual interpretation of Holy Scripture, and I eventually resumed my study of Catholicism, leading to my decision to come into the Catholic Church.

DaveBj

[DaveBj]

...and right on cue Jim Blackburn posts the perfect answer to the Key Question in the AAA Forum:

"As the Bible says, I am already saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5–8), but I’m also being saved (1 Cor. 1:8, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 2:12), and I have the hope that I will be saved (Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15). Like the apostle Paul I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), with hopeful confidence in the promises of Christ (Rom. 5:2, 2 Tim. 2:11–13)."

Thanks, Jim!

DaveBj

[La Chiara]

DaveBj--Thanks for sharing that with us. As I was reading it, it reminded me of when we were in Salt Lake City and took a "tour" of the Mormon Temple buildings. Very subtle but very clear evangelizing. I refused to give them my address and phone number. It really is important to be able to see through the well-rehearsed and choreographed script.