On September 23-26, 1991, I debated Brother Mac Deaver on the subject of church benevolence. The first two nights of the debate Brother Deaver affirmed: "The Scriptures teach that a local church may grant benevolent aid to alien sinners." In Brother Deaver's third affirmative he introduced this argument: "... the Bible teaches that benevolence when rendered to non-saints is an evangelistic vehicle."

For generations the Salvation Army, Methodist Church, and other liberal denominations have sought to win converts by first caring for their material needs. This leads to an important question. By what means shall we lead the lost to Christ?

Men's Answers

Brother Deaver accepted as scriptural "Church of Christ" hospitals and church "soup kitchens." In fact, every form of benevolent work and every recipient of benevolent aid is inherent in this argument.

Similarly, in the Nashville Meeting in December, 1987, in which institutional and noninstitutional preachers from churches of Christ met to discuss their differences, Brother Lewis G. Hale argued that anything which helped get the lost to hear the gospel was scriptural as an aid to evangelism. Of course, this argument includes such popular recreational activities as church camps and "family life centers" (gymnasiums) as authorized activities. Thus, in the two arguments, every form of social gospel activity that denominations engage in is justified as an aid to evangelism.

Nature of Authority

Are benevolence and recreation means of evangelism? In the first place, the argument itself demonstrates ignorance of the nature of authority. Benevolence and recreation are two kinds of works, and evangelism is another work, just as singing is one kind of music and playing is another. One work (benevolence or recreation) is no more authorized as a means to another work (evangelism) than one kind of music (playing) is authorized as a means to another (singing). Papers, radio programs, pulpit preaching, and home Bible studies are means (methods) of evangelism (taking the good news of salvation in Christ to the lost); but benevolence (material assistance to the needy) and recreation are other works.

Contradicts Scriptural Teaching

Furthermore, Jesus, our perfect example, refused to use benevolence as an enticement to the lost. He miraculously fed five thousand men besides women and children as proof of His claims (John 6:1-14). But when they sought Him for bread the next day, He refused to feed them and exhorted them to seek everlasting life rather than perishable bread (John 6:26-27).

The apostle Paul observed, "for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17). Kingdom blessings are spiritual, not material. The Lord’s church is not a glorified Red Cross. We must not lead people to believe otherwise by enticing them with benevolent aid.

The New Testament limits the benevolent work of the local church to the relief of needy saints (Christians) (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35; 6:1-4; 11:27-30; Romans 15:25-26; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:4; 9:1,12-13; 1 Timothy 5:3,9-10,16). We dare not violate this divine pattern (Colossians 3:17; 2 Timothy 1:13; 2 John 9).

Recreational activities as enticements to hear the gospel are an even grosser corruption of God’s plan. The Lord appeals to our higher natures, our spirits, through reason and expressions of love, whereas Satan appeals to our flesh (Romans 8:5-8). When we use fun and frolic as lures to the lost so we can preach to them, we are making carnal appeals. We are helping Satan. The church of Christ is not a sanctified YMCA.

Are We Different?

If we rely on fun, food and frolic to attract sinners to hear some gospel, what do we offer that is any different from denominations? How do we make the Lord's church distinctive from churches of men? How can we expect to compete in giving material help and recreation to sinners? If we offer hamburgers, the wealthy denominations will give steaks. If we offer a retreat (camp out), the denominations will send them on a ski trip to Vale. We have only one thing to offer that no denomination does - the truth that leads to salvation (John 8:31-32).

God's Answer

The inspired apostle announced the theme of the Roman epistle, perhaps the greatest treatise ever written on the plan of salvation, when he declared, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek" (Romans 1:16).

Men have many so-called means with which to try to reach the lost, but God has but one power to save - the gospel.

And how are we to take this message of salvation in Christ to the lost? "For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21).

If we are to reach the lost, we must proclaim Christ "publicly and from house to house" (Acts 20:20). There are many methods of evangelism - pulpit preaching, home studies, classes, radio and television preaching, papers, newspaper articles, correspondence courses, circulars, debates, lectureships, etc., and these and others are all authorized generically by the directive to take the gospel to the lost (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19).

But the divine means of reaching the lost remains ever the same - the preaching of the gospel.

Example of First Century Church

The first century church evangelized the entire world in one generation (Mark 16:15; Colossians 1:5-6,23). How did they accomplish so daunting a task? They "went everywhere preaching the word" (Acts 8:4) If we will do the same, we can have the same results.

Conclusion

How shall we reach the lost for Christ in our generation? Men have many answers. But God's answer alone will work (Isaiah 55:8-11; Jeremiah 10:23; Romans 11:33-36). What is the divine answer? "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).