What is success in evangelism? Is it when the person you witness to comes to Christ? Certainly that’s what we want to happen. But if this is success, are we failures whenever we share the gospel and people refuse to believe? Was Jesus an “evangelistic failure” when people like the rich young ruler turned away from Him and His message? Obviously not. Then neither are we when we present Christ and His message and they turn away in unbelief. We need to learn that sharing the gospel is successful evangelism. We ought to have an obsession for souls, and tearfully plead with God to see more people converted, but conversions are fruit that God alone can give. In this regard we are like the postal service. Success is measured by the careful and accurate delivery of the message, not by the response of the recipient. Whenever we share the gospel (which includes the summons to repent and believe), we have succeeded. In the truest sense, all biblical evangelism is successful evangelism, regardless of the results.

— Donald Whitney (b. 1954), Theologe, Pastor und Autor

Occasions: Encouragement, For Reflection

Donald Whitney

Donald Whitney (* 1954) ist ein US-amerikanischer reformiert-baptistischer Theologe, Pastor und Hochschullehrer, der über viele Jahre am Southern und Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary lehrte. Er steht für eine biblisch begründete Frömmigkeitspraxis und wurde vor allem durch seine Schriften über geistliche Disziplinen wie Schriftbetrachtung, Gebet und Fasten bekannt. Bibellesern vermittelt er praktische Anleitungen, wie biblische Texte – insbesondere die Psalmen – als direkte Struktur und Orientierung für das persönliche Gebet dienen können.

All quotes by Donald Whitney (93)

Donald Whitney

More on this topic