TRAINING PERSONAL WORKERS—By Thomas Nelson
TRAINING PERSONAL WORKERS---By Thomas Nelson TRAINING PERSONAL WORKERS
Thomas Nelson Page
Condensing into a five-minute speech a series of rules for training personal workers is almost as prodigious a task as undertaking to review the Bible in the same limited time. Nevertheless, I had the temerity to accept this challenge, feeling sure that my auditors would fully sympathize with my plight.
There is no point in talking about training personal workers unless there is first a spontaneous desire to save the souls of others. Indeed, the chosen disciples of Christ did not wait until they were “properly” trained to begin their personal evangelism. The very first day of their contact with Jesus found them irresistibly seeking others and bringing them to Christ. After all, men do not have to attend training classes to learn how to propose marriage to the girl of their dreams. Perhaps a little training might help, but love overcomes all obstacles, as many of you can testify. This is, or should be, characteristic of every soul that is saved. His contact with the Savior has been so gracious he will not be content until he has found someone with whom he can share this new life. His passion for the souls of men will be so great it will overcome any lack of training in the art of saving souls. Personal work cannot be reduced to a series of mechanical rules which, if followed, will guarantee success to the worker. Love for lost souls is a primary requisite.
There are, however, certain practical procedures that one would do well to consider in converting others to Christ. Jesus himself suggests some of these in one of his typical interviews. In the account of Jesus’ contact with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well (John 4:1-42), there are several noteworthy considerations. He shows us how to begin an interview. First, gain a point of contact, something you hold in common with the prospect. The one thing that Jesus had in common with this woman was the water they both needed (verse 8). He next sought to link this natural want to her spiritual needs. He lifts her thoughts from the water in the well to the “water of life” (verse 10). Further, Jesus also found this woman’s real hindrance or besetting sin (verse 18). He was not too polite to discuss and diagnose her condition. As in the lives of most, her problem was moral and not of the intellect. And when she sought to divert his attention from the real issue to a discussion of less personal matters, that is, over the relative merits of worship in Samaria and Jerusalem (verse 20), he never permitted her to lose sight of the essential point of their interview. The climax, of course, was reached when she was brought face to face with the knowledge that she had been speaking to the Christ (verse 26). Unless the one we are trying to convert is caused to see Jesus, in our discussion, all our efforts will be in vain. He should be brought face to face with Christ. Then, perhaps, as with the Samaritan woman (verse 28), all resistance will vanish and another soul will have been won.
I have a little parable on “fishing” that was suggested to me by one of the elders of the church back home. Jesus said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” It’s wonderful to go fishing with Jesus. I am told that all true fishermen never cease to pursue their hobby. “Once a fisherman, always a fisherman.” And because of his keen interest he never allows himself to become impatient with the results, though he might fish for a week before any will bite. In fishing for men patience is one of the prime essentials. It is never wise to become impatient with the results, thus prematurely deciding that your efforts have been wasted. Some of the biggest “fish” are caught only after infinite and patient endeavor.
Good fiishermen soon learn that fish cannot be caught in every stream. Some are polluted and kill off the fish, while others may be covered with moss and leave no place for the fish to breathe. There are such streams in the lives of man. A saloon or beer parlor, night club or dance hall, are polluted streams that have poisoned and destroyed the souls of millions. Habitats of these places would hardly be considered as prospects for conversion.
Then there are those who are wise and wealthy in this world’s affairs. These are usually well insulated against the life-giving appeal of the gospel. Paul declares, “not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called” (1 Corinthians 1:26). The wise will spend precious little time in “fishing” such “streams.”
There are certain seasons when fishing is better than others. There are periods in the year when certain fish will not bite at all. This is true in the lives of people. There are times when they are more susceptible to the gospel than others. This is often true in the time of serious illness, sorrow, or death. It is just such seasons in our lives that cause us to think reflectively and to realize how utterly helpless we are without God. This is a Christian’s open door to a person’s heart. This is the time for him to ‘‘cast his line,” for no better opportunity will come his way.
I am told that fish strike at a baited line for one ior two reasons. They are either hungry or angry. To get a person angry just for the sake of seeing him stew in his own religious dilemma is never justifiable. But sometimes a person will become angry with himself when he finds that he is out on a theological limb without any Bible support. If he has any respect for the Word of God, his anger might open his eyes and cause him to see how he was duped into believing religious error.
Fishermen know that all fish are not alike. Some are found near the surface, while others swim at greater depths. It becomes necessary, therefore, to know your fish; their habits, interests and their nature. The simplest approach and most rudimentary gospel teaching will reach the majority of prospects. For these it is a waste of time to delve into the philosophical ramifications of certain Biblical doctrines, such as the atonement, the trinity, etc. But others are like fish that swim at great depths. It will require a wider knowledge of the Scripture and an ability to think in their realm. Paul at Athens is a good example of this. He possessed a thorough knowledge of Grecian religions and philosophies, and so could discuss intelligently their point of view (Acts 17).
Sometimes a fisherman can have too many lines in the water at one time. He cannot concentrate on them all, and thus he runs the risk of losing those that need his attention. A personal worker would do well to limit his efforts to a few at a time. They will require all the attention and skill he possesses. It is better to concentrate than to broadcast. The most crucial periods for a fisherman are when setting the hook and when lifting the fish out of the water. It is at this time that many become impatient, and in their haste do not land but lose their catch. A thoughtless word or undue pressure brought to bear on the prospect may cause him to reject your efforts to convert him. He may be all but converted but due to your over-anxiousness may never be baptized.
Sometimes fish are caught by leaving hooks set where fish may find them later. This can be translated into the personal workers’ program through the distribution of appropriate tracts and other religious literature. These will be fishing for you while you’re fishing elsewhere. The last point in this little parable has to do with the care of the fish after they are caught. While fishing for still others it is possible to lose those already brought in. The joy of catching more and more might result in the neglect of the fish already caught. Too many times newly won converts are lost after their baptism because of personal neglect. This is the most crucial period in their entire spiritual life. And unless they are coddled and kept in proper spiritual environment they may die soon after their spiritual birth. The mortality rate of “babes in Christ” is much too high. Is this not a serious indictment of our efforts to preserve those that are saved?