Evangelism: Calvinism style

English: Charles Grandison Finney (1792-1875) Português: O teólogo estadunidense Charles Finney (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

"A Calvinist evangelist? Calvinism undermines evangelism." This accusation has been repeated so many times. Never mind that some of the church's greatest evangelists have been Calvinists. One need only be reminded of men such as George Whitefield, David Brainerd, or "the father of modern missions," William Carey. "Yes," we are told, "these men were great evangelists and Calvinists, but that is because they were inconsistent." But is this true?

The fact of the matter is that Calvinism is not inconsistent with evangelism; it is only inconsistent with certain evangelistic methods. It is inconsistent, for example, with the emotionally manipulative methods created by revivalists such as Charles Finney. But these manipulative methods are themselves inconsistent with Scripture, so it is no fault to reject them. In order for evangelism to be pleasing to God, it must be consistent with the whole system of biblical teaching. But what does such evangelism look like?

Evangelism is the promulgation of the evangel. It is, the proclamation of the gospel. True evangelism is a plea for God–centered, in contradistinction to man-centered, evangelism.

God Himself is the author of evangelism, in that before the foundation of the world, He planned the salvation of sinners.

In the Great Commission, Jesus commands His followers to make disciples of "all nations." The scope of evangelism, then, is universal. The gospel is to be proclaimed to all. If we truly believe what Scripture tells us about the necessity of faith in Christ for salvation, then the urgency of evangelism will become evident. A number of heterodox theologies undermine the urgency of evangelism by teaching that unbelievers will get a "second chance" after death. There is, however, no biblical warrant for such teaching, and to assert it is pure presumption.

Our primary motivation for evangelism should be love of God and love of neighbor. Those who love God will joyfully obey His commission to evangelize and disciple. Those who love their neighbor will desire nothing greater for them than eternal life. Their aim will be to see God glorified through the salvation of sinners like themselves in order that the church would grow.

The God-ordained means of evangelism is His own Word. It is through the proclamation of God's Word that the Holy Spirit effectually works faith in men's hearts. The specific message of evangelism is the gospel. Paul summarizes this message in 1 Corinthians 15:3–5: "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve." When those who hear the gospel ask what they must do to be saved, Scripture tells us that the answer is: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:31).

We can proclaim the gospel with great hope, looking forward to seeing the fruits of our evangelism, a time when a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages will stand before the throne of the Lamb, clothed in white and crying out, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Rev. 7:9–10). May we fulfill the Great Commission in a God-glorifying manner.