Predestination And Evangelism
PREDESTINATION AND EVANGELISM
It is often argued that a belief in the Biblical doctrine of predestination will lead to a falling away in the area of evangelism. If the salvation of men has been predetermined, then why should I witness? If I teach that men's destinies have been determined by God, then will it not stop believers from their motivation to spread the gospel? An examination of Church History shows that this has not been the case. Men such as Calvin, Luther, Whitefield and Spurgeon give ample evidence from the past that an understanding of this teaching need not be a deterrent to evangelism. A modern-day example is seen in the president of Evangelism Explosion International, Dr. D. James Kennedy. The fact that God's sovereignty is not a deterrent to evangelism is understood when we realize that God has not merely predestined the END result of man's salvation, but also the means from which that end was obtained. God has predestined the evangelistic process just as He determines those who will respond to that process. Rather than being a hindrance, this can serve as a great impetus to evangelism.
Paul sets forth this principle in his last epistle to Timothy. He writes this epistle from a prison in Rome. He has been arrested and is awaiting trial before the Emperor Nero. He knows that he will soon be put to death. He has suffered great hardships for the cause of the gospel. In the midst of this situation, he writes of his motivation in enduring these sufferings:
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned. For this reason I endure all things FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE WHO ARE CHOSEN, that they may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. (2 Timothy 2:8-10).
Paul endured all of these things for the sake of those whom God had chosen. He saw himself as an instrument which God was using to bring those chosen ones to salvation. Thus we see that in the very context of his teaching on election, Paul proclaims his own responsibility in bringing men to Christ. But this is not all. Paul also realized that the message of the gospel would not be imprisoned just because he was now in a Roman dungeon.
Paul knew that God's plan would not fall apart just because Paul was not there to oversee it. He knew that God would not fail. He knew that God had planned for Paul's imprisonment and that, by enduring that imprisonment, the cause of the gospel would be furthered.
If it is true that God has predestined men to be saved and, if it is also true that God has ordained the means through which they will come to Christ (ie., the hearing of the gospel), then predestination is a guarantee that my faithfulness in the preaching of the gospel will bear fruit. The reason that the Lord can say that His word shall accomplish what He desires (Isaiah 55:11) is because He has determined the fruitfulness of the presentation of His gospel. This has a very practical application. It means that whenever I share the gospel, God has ordained both the fact of my being there to do that service, as well as the result which the gospel will have on those who hear. If I have a correct view of election, then I will realize that I have the guarantee of success in my presentation of the gospel. There is nothing that is more motivating to an evangelist than a guarantee from the God of the universe that his evangelistic effort will be successful.