Jump directly to the Content

The Subtle Snare of Soul-Saving

One of the greatest snares of modern evangelism is this apotheosis of commercialism manifested in the soul-saving craze. I do not mean God does not save souls, but I do believe the watchword "a passion for souls" is a snare. The watchword of the saint is "a passion for Christ."

The estimate of success has come imperceptibly into Christian enterprise, and we say we must go in for winning souls, but we cannot win souls if we cut ourselves off from the source, and the source is belief in Jesus Christ (John 7:37).

If we immediately look to the outflow—the results—we are in danger of becoming specialists on certain aspects of truth, of banking on certain things, either terror or emotionalism or sensational presentations—anything rather than remaining confident that "He must reign."

If we stand true to Jesus Christ in the midst of the fearful hour, we shall come to see that there is a lie at the heart of the fear which shook us. We are not called to be successful in accordance ...

May/June
Support Our Work

Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month

Homepage Subscription Panel

Read These Next

Related
We Need to Reset the Rules of Cultural Engagement
Places and Spaces
We Need to Reset the Rules of Cultural Engagement
The old, tried-and-true strategies don’t reflect the new world we live in. It’s time for an update.
From the Magazine
The Secret Sin of ‘Mommy Juice’
The Secret Sin of ‘Mommy Juice’
Alcoholism among women is rising. Can the church help?
Editor's Pick
What Christians Miss When They Dismiss Imagination
What Christians Miss When They Dismiss Imagination
Understanding God and our world needs more than bare reason and experience.
close