Evangelism & the Sovereignty of God | J. I. Packer | Nothing Is Excluded From God's Sovereign Rule

Evangelism & the Sovereignty of God | J. I. Packer | Great treament of touchy subject

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Evangelism & the S...

	Evangelism & the Sovereignty of God J. I. Packer InterVarsity Press, 1991 - 126 pages average customer review:based on 33 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Noted scholar and writer J.I. Packer shows that a right understanding of God's sovereignty is a powerful incentive for evangelism.

Nothing Is Excluded From God's Sovereign Rule

There are those who think that if a person believes in 'The Doctrines Of Grace' that this will either be a hindrance to,or completely erode ones evangelistic zeal. In truth it is a defective understanding of 'The Five Points...'(or the inability to comprehend how God can be Sovereign yet man is still completely responsible for all of his actions)that can have an adverse effect on our evangelistic mindset.
The purpose of this book is to try and reconcile and bring Biblical light to bear upon these truths.
Mr.Packer sees the problem as an antinomy("...a contradiction between conclusions which seem equally logical")the problem being how God can be in control over everything and yet man is still accountable for all of his actions.
I think the authors explanation and insight are right on the money when he writes on p.18"for the whole point of an antinomy -in theology ,at any rate-is that it is not a real contradiction,though it looks like one.It is an apparent incompatibility between two apparent truths."
There is much in 'Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God'that is hepful on evangelism in general:including an excellent definition of evangelism,the manner and proper attitiude with which evangelism should be conducted and the motives for evangelism-1.God commands it.2.Love for our neighbor necessitates it 3. the unspeakable privilege to serve and speak for the living God and gratitude for what the Lord has done for us should fuel our evangelistic fires.
In the last two chapters there is some brief historical analysis as to how we have arrived where we are in the present generation with regard to our evangelistic practices. A great deal that is defective in modern evangelism is exposed. I think that a proper understanding of God's Sovereignty cannot help but have this effect.
If the believing readers evangelistic zeal has waned this book can help rekindle the evangelistic flame. Any misconceptions concerning how to measure the sucess of ones evangelistic efforts should be cleared up as well.
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God should not only clarify any concerns with reconcilling the Sovereignty of God and how it relates to mans responsibility but there is much help in the areas of evangelistic methodolgy and exortation with regard to evangelistic duty.
First publihed in 1961,if it is not already considered a modern Christian classic by many,it should be.

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Great treament of touchy subject

Recommend: Yes

Genre: Evangelism

Introduction:

There is no doubt that in my mind -- from both personal experience and observation of those around me -- that there seems to be a tension with the thought of God being completely sovereign in the affairs of man, namely salvation in this context, and the thought of God requiring us to share the truth that we have with those who don't know it. "If God is truly sovereign over who gets saved and how they get saved," so the argument goes, "then there is really no point in me going out of my way in witnessing the gospel of Christ to unbelievers. God is in charge . . . and if they're going get saved with or without me then there is really no point in investing my time in evangelism."

Though sad to admit, this has become the pervasive thought of many Christians today. One of the many charges leveled against Calvinism and its emphasis on the sovereignty of God in salvation is that which I just brought up. "It doesn't make sense," they say.

Despite the arguments and the critiques, Scripture clearly presents both of these truths -- the sovereignty of God in saving sinners and the duty of Christians to evangelize (to share the gospel message of Christ and His saving work accomplished on the cross, received on the basis of faith). It is natural for the human mind to want to smooth out all the rough edges, as it were, to make it more comprehensible. Wanting to do this many err on either side. On the one hand you have those who emphasize the duty and responsibility of man to evangelize and they tend to leave God out of the equation in the process of salvation, as if salvation if all about man picking himself up by the bootstraps and gathering all the willpower to be saved. That of course has some real problems when you stop and ponder the biblical picture of man -- man without God -- and how utterly unable and unwilling they are to choose Christ in and of himself (e.g., Eph. 2:1-3; Tit. 3:3; Jer. 17:9, etc.).

But then we have those who overemphasize the sovereignty of God; so much so that we end up with a fatalistic system where man is seen simply as a robot, with no self-desire -- a mere puppet in the hands of a puppeteer. This, again, has some serious Bible to deal with. Passages are replete which emphasize the call to repent of sins, to turn to Christ, to come and choose life (e.g., Acts 17:30-31; Matt. 11:28-30, etc.). But within the context of evangelism, no passage is more clearer than Matthew 28:19-20 (NASB), which has been commonly referred to as the "Great Commission":

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

With such a controversial subject, J.I. Packer seeks to deal with it head-on, using the Bible as his guide and source. Though a short treatment of the subject, it doesn't lack in content. Packer has a way with words unlike many men whom I have read, which makes his ability to communicate effective and winsome.

Book Structure:

The book follows a simple outline. Packer first deals with the issue of divine sovereignty and how both Arminians and Calvinists find common ground on this issue. "On our feet we may have arguments about it, but on our knees we are all agreed" (p. 17).

In chapter two the core issue is dealt with, divine sovereignty and human responsibility. He admits the apparent contradiction -- which Packer defines as an antinomy (def. "an antinomy . . . is an observed relation between two statements of fact. It is not deliberately manufactured; it is forced upon us by the facts themselves . . . We do not invent it, and we cannot explain it. Not is there any way to get rid of it, save by falsifying the very facts that led us to it" [p. 21]) -- and concludes that there is a certain mystery to this subject, but the Bible nonetheless teaches these two truths. Far it be from us to cast aside any of these truths which the Bible makes so clear.

Packer then addresses evangelism in chapter three with four questions which he answers throughout the chapter: 1. What is evangelism?; 2. What is the evangelistic message?; What is the motive for evangelizing?; 4. By what means and methods should evangelism be practised? This is a meaty chapter which is very enlightening.

And finally in chapter four, Packer goes back once more and talks about divine sovereignty and evangelism. Suffice it to say that Packer does a superb job in dealing with such a intricate and mysterious subject, such as this one, simply and effectively. In his final lines, Packer sums up the effects of the sovereignty of God in our evangelistic efforts:

"Not only does it undergird evangelism, and uphold the evangelist, by creating a hope of success that could not otherwise be entertained; it also teaches us to bind together preaching and prayer; and as it makes us bold and confident before men, so it makes us humble and importunate before God" (p. 125).

Notable Quotes:

* "While we must always remember that it is our responsibility to proclaim salvation, we must never forget that it is God who saves. It is God who brings men and women under the sound of the gospel, and it is God who brings them to faith in Christ. Our evangelistic work is the instrument that He uses for this purpose, but the power that saves in not in the instrument: it is in the hand of the One who uses the instrument" (p. 27).
* "Evangelism is man's work, but the giving of faith is God's" (p. 40).
* "...It was the news about Jesus of Nazareth. It was the news of the incarnation, the atonement, and the kingdom-the cradle, the cross, and the crown-of the Son of God. It was the news of how God `glorified his servant Jesus' by making Him Christ, the world's long-awaited `Prince and . . . Savior'. It was the news of how God made His Son Man; and how, as Man, God made Him Priest, and Prophet, and King; and how, as Priest, God also made Him a sacrifice for sins; and how, as Prophet, God also made Him a Lawgiver to His people; and how, as King, God has also made Him Judge of all the world, and given Him prerogatives which in the Old Testament are exclusively Jehovah's own-namely, to reign till every knee bows before Him, and to save all who call on His name. In short, the good news was just this: that God has executed His eternal intention of glorifying Hos Son by exalting Him as a great Saviour for great sinners" (p. 47).
* "Regarded as a human enterprise, evangelism is a hopeless task. It cannot in principle produce the desired effect. We can preach, and preach clearly and fluently and attractively; we can talk to individuals in the most pointed and challenging way; we can organize special services, and distribute tracts, and put up posters, and flood the country with publicity-and there is not the slightest prospect that all this outlay of effort will bring a single soul home to God. Unless there is some other factor in the situation, over and above our own endeavours, all evangelistic actions foredoomed to failure. This is the fact, the brute, rock-bottom fact, that we have to face" (p. 109).
* "We may not trust in our methods of personal dealing or running evangelistic services, however excellent we may think them. There is no magic in methods, not even in theologically impeccable methods. When we evangelize, our trust must be in God who raises the dead. He is the almighty Lord who turns men's hearts, and He will give conversions in His own time. Meanwhile, our part is to be faithful in making the gospel known, sure that such labour will never be in vain. This is how the truth of the sovereignty of God's grace bears upon evangelism" (p. 117-8).

Conclusion:

Conclusion is that Packer has given a great gift to the church is dealing with this issue and presenting a biblical (and logical, though mysterious) answer a question which often plagues the believer.

A great blessing is in store of the man that picks up this book. Need I add more?

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A must read for the evangelist

J. I. Packer's proposition is found in the introduction: most people may believe effective evangelism means pretending that God is not sovereign, but that is simply not true, and Packer aims to show why. Packer writes that God's sovereignty is the very doctrine that undergirds the entire enterprise of evangelism (p. 10). In developing this proposition, Packer deals briefly with the sovereignty of God, extensively with the nature and composition of evangelism, and finally with how those two interact. It is a persuasive book, and one that could be considered a definitive doctrinal statement on evangelism.

In the opening chapter, Packer briefly explains what he means by the term "divine sovereignty." The answer is succinct; he means the traditional, reformed, Calvinistic view of God's relation to creation. Noting that no Christian would glory in himself over his own salvation, and that all Christians pray for the salvation of others, Packer concludes that all Christians secretly believe in divine sovereignty. "On our feet we may all have arguments about it, but on our knees we are all agreed" (17).

The books stated purpose is to explain how this secret belief shared by all Christians is actually the basis of evangelism. The most substantial (and helpful) portion of the book is Packer's thorough treatment of the nature of evangelism. He defines its basis: the glory of God, the greatness of salvation, and the commands of God. He defines its content: the nature of sin, the truth of Christ, belief and repentance. He gives the motivation: the glory of God and the love of the lost. He describes the method: proclaiming God's truth to our friends and acquaintances. The most helpful part was his description of the goal of evangelism: primarily it is to glorify God by proclaiming his truth; not to make converts. Beyond that, he also notes that true evangelism is not a call to merely believe in Jesus. Beyond the need for a decision, true evangelism is primarily a call to become a disciple of Christ and a servant of God.

The key to his description of evangelism is his statement that its goal is to glorify God. Weather Packer is willing to say so or not, his book is written polemically against the cartoon-illustrated, seeker-oriented, user-friendly evangelism prevalent in the occidental and American church. Most who drink at that shallow well justify their methods by claiming that the motive and goal of evangelism is to produce converts. Packer's point, and thus his antidote to the illness their view of evangelism causes, is that the goal of evangelism is to glorify God. The number of converts is left to God, and our job is to be used by God in proclaiming his truth.

Packer is both thorough and precise in his treatment of evangelism. Even though it is short, it is a substantial defense of the true nature of evangelism. He uses the Westminster Catechism with authority, giving the impression that his view of evangelism is nothing new. He quotes famous evangelists from history, showing that his view is shared by them. It adds an air of credibility demanded by those skeptical of the use of `evangelism' and `sovereignty' in the same sentence.

I read this book shortly after I became a Christian, and it largely shaped the way I view both evangelism and the sovereignty of God. It was good to reexamine it, as I found that the system of beliefs and theology that I have formed since then are in accord with its words and admonitions.

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Mission Active

'All theological topics contain pitfalls for the unwary, for God's truth is never quite what man would have expected.' pg 18

Advice for parishioners and missionaries comes in biblical sound-bytes from a theologian - admissibly one of the church's best. With this sound warning Dr Packer then adroitly manoeuvres between the issues that others get bogged down in, with determination to resolve issues and not let them stand. And, yes, theologians have practical experience and are able to afford genuine insight into the grind of common mission life - this book is light enough to remind us that it serves that purpose.

'Wherever, and by whatever means the gospel is communicated with a view to conversion, there you have evangelism. Evangelism is to be defined, not institutionally, in terms of the kind of meeting held, but theologically, in terms of what is taught, and for what purpose.' pg 57

Oh yes! I might mention that controversy, paradox and duplicity are honestly discussed between these pages.

'An antimony exists when a pair of principles stand side by side, seemingly irreconcilable, yet both undeniable.' pg 18

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Nice work on the Great Commission

I recently determined to read some books on evangelism because it is both an area of conviction and personal weakness for me. I am ashamed to admit that most of my evangelism to date has been done electronically on my blog site or in the comments section of other people's blogs or discussions. But there is a growing burden on me to share the gospel with the people God has placed in my life, and it is a burden I am praying God increases until there is no escaping it within my conscience.

"Evangelism & The Sovereignty of God" is the first of a handful books I have purposed to read to strengthen my resolve. I liked this little book by J.I. Packer. It was not overly long or verbose, about 125 pages in length. It is broken up into four chapters:

1) Divine Sovereignty
2) Divine Sovereignty & Human Responsibility
3) Evangelism
4) Divine Sovereignty & Evangelism

Packer begins with the premise and presupposition that God is sovereign, which may or may not be a point of contention for some. I liked the way he dismantled any argument against God's sovereignty in the first few pages of the book, and I appreciated the little story about Charles Simeon's account with a conversation he had with John Wesley in December of 1784. I won't take the time to reprint it here. I enjoyed it all the more because I picked this book up and started reading it just a few days after a friend of mine from church related the story to me; I believe he had heard it on the Way of the Master radio program.

Packer focuses on the Apostle Paul and what we can learn from him concerning evangelism. Chapter 3 points out some of the different ways that Paul referred to his role of an evangelist: steward, herald, ambassador, preacher, and teacher. Packer gave some insight into the Greek words and meanings inferred, which I found pretty interesting.

The last chapter really made the book, though. He gave several scripture references along with his explanation of man's sinful and spiritually dead state, and drove home the point that even if we are saved and sharing the gospel like we have been commissioned, we are still incapable of producing results by our own efforts. That does not mean that we should not make an effort, but it underscores both the underlying and overriding need for God to perform the work of bringing the dead to life. He does a good job of demonstrating both our responsibility and God's sovereignty in the work of evangelism, and he also makes an excellent point that our evangelistic efforts need to be sustained and steeped in prayer. He writes:

"For about a century now, it has been characteristic of evangelical Christians (rightly or wrongly--we need not discuss that here) to think of evangelism as a specialized activity, best done in short sharp bursts (`missions' or `campaigns'), and needing for its successful practice a distinctive technique, both for preaching and for individual dealing. At an early stage in this period, Evangelicals fell into the way of assuming that evangelism was sure to succeed if it was regularly prayed for and correctly run."

He adds a bit later on how we should be empowered by a proper understanding of God's sovereignty, and that it should result in our being more bold, patient, and prayerful. He speaks to each one of those briefly but powerfully. In speaking of patience, I think he touched on something that is perhaps the most challenging work of true evangelism in our society today. Packer writes:

"We need to remember that we are all children of our age, and the spirit of our age is a spirit of tearing hurry. And it is a pragmatic spirit; it is a spirit that demands quick results. The modern ideal is to achieve more and more by doing less and less. This is the age of the labour-saving device, the efficiency chart, and automation. The attitude which all this breeds is one of impatience towards everything that takes time and demands sustained effort. Ours tends to be a slapdash age; we resent spending time doing things thoroughly. This spirit tends to infect our evangelism (not to speak to other departments of our Christianity), and with disastrous results. We are tempted to be in a hurry with those whom we would win to Christ, and then, when we see no immediate response in them, to become impatient and downcast, and then to lose interest in them, and feel that it is useless to spend more time on them; and so we abandon our efforts forthwith, and let them drop out of our ken. But this is utterly wrong. It is a failure both of love for man and of faith in God."

He goes on to say, "The idea that a single evangelistic sermon, or a single serious conversation ought to suffice for the conversion of anyone who is ever going to be converted is really silly." He discusses the need for persistence and patience with those whom you are evangelizing. But persistence and patience by themselves are still not sufficient; there must be prayer. As the last chapter draws to a close, Packer writes:

"We said earlier in this chapter that this doctrine does not in any way reduce or narrow the terms of our evangelistic commission. Now we see that, so far from contracting them, it actually expands them. For it faces us with the fact that there are two sides to the evangelistic commission. It is a commission, not only to preach, but also to pray; not only to talk to men about God, but also to talk to God about men. Preaching and prayer must go together; our evangelism will not be according to knowledge, nor will it be blessed, unless they do."

Good book. I have a few others in the same vein to read, but I will most likely come back to this and read it again because I'm sure I will benefit from a second time around.

Peace & Blessings,
Simple Mann

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

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