Evangelism by the Book

The online dictionary called Wikipedia defines slavery as, “a social-economic system under which certain persons— known as slaves — are deprived of personal freedom and compelled to perform labor or services. The term includes the status or condition of those persons who are treated as property of another person.” For hundreds of years this was the face of our world. Even yet today there are places where people are treated like property.

It’s hard to imagine how it must feel to wake up in the morning and not think, “What kinds of things sound interesting today?” “I wonder what’s playing at the local theater.” “A brisk walk sounds like a good idea!” Most people when they wake up enjoy the time when they can put their day together and do those things that make them happy.

This is not the life of a slave. From the time that they open their eyes, until the moment that they close them in the evening, they are on constant call. They must do whatever act that their master deems necessary for them. Their life is not their own. The Apostle Paul writes, “Once you were slaves of sin, but you have obeyed with all your heart the new teaching God has given you. Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness.” Romans 6:17-18 (NLT) This is the awesome story of salvation.

When someone shares the Good News of salvation with someone who has never heard, it is like setting free a slave. In his book, Evangelism by the Book, Tom Stebbins writes, “Evangelism might be defined as the exciting task of bringing the message of emancipation to enslaved people.” What an exhilarating idea, the thought of setting someone free for life. Slaves on this earth have a terrible life, but our time on this planet is temporary. When one considers setting someone free for eternity by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ it makes it all the more important. The thought goes from 70 or 80 years to eternity.

Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ is worth the effort. The world desperately needs to hear that there is a Savior and His name is Jesus.