Located in Washington DC, the Smithsonian Institute boasts 11 world-famous museums and galleries on the National Mall. These impressive buildings house art, artifacts, and sculptures that tell many stories of days gone by. One tourist website claims "There are 20 museums AND the National Zoo. You can’t possibly see everything there is to see. In fact, if you spent 1 minute at each exhibit it would take more than 258 years to see them all, but we’re to help make sure you see the highlights." (1)
As such, many visitors rush from building to building, dashing to take in as much as possible in their short time there. However, in that hustle and bustle, visitors may forget something else. The Smithsonian Institute also cares for 13 gardens in the area, each one with unique layouts, displays, and history. In the rush to see it all, there is a tendency to miss these smaller attractions.
“Many eyes go through the meadow, but few see the flowers in it.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
In the Bible, God sometimes refers to his people as a garden he has tended and cared for.
(Is. 58:11; Je. 31:12) This shows his attention, his care, and his joy in watching his people grow and flourish.
As Christians, we've been given "The Great Commission." This is the beginning, and the everything, for how people come to, and grow in, God.
Jesus worded it as follows in Mark 16:15:
"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
This "Gospel" is the good news of Jesus Christ for all people to be rescued from destruction.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16
Neglecting that truth also has severe consequences.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 6:23
As such, any serious Christian should feel an urgency to preach the Gospel and to draw souls to Jesus. We've experienced his grace, we should have a passion to help others experience it also.
However, as sometimes happens, since we are human, a zeal, untempered by wisdom, leads to some strange and dangerous places.
One testimonial wrote the following:(2)
"I am also one of those converts of Jack Hyles bus ministry back in 1981. I was in the Navy stationed at Great Lakes NTC, when approached by two men form Hyles Church. They "whizzed" me through the Scriptures, and kept asking, "do you believe"? I said yes out of politeness, but it was all so fast. It seemed like we went through the salvation plan in less then three minutes, then all the sudden we were praying and I was told I was going to go to Heaven. Wow! I felt like I had been dragged to salvation. I had no clue what I had just agreed to! I even went to the church and was baptized that Sunday, I don’t ever remember saying or agreeing I should do this, but I found myself in this long line of men being baptized. I remember saying to myself, you better get baptized, and you would not want to hurt anyone’s feelings. It was all at a very manic pace."
But this phenomena is not limited to the past, nor to the ministry of a long-dead (but still influential) pastor.
At a recent VBS meeting I was privileged to be a part of, one altar worker refused to take a Bible when dealing with the children about salvation. when pressed as to why, she claimed "she couldn't flip to the Scriptures fast enough," and only wanted to use a little preprinted card with a handful verses printed on it. Sadly, not only her own training, but the terrible schedule of the event itself, promoted the speed of getting a profession over anything else. In fact, the event ended mere minutes after giving the altar call, meaning buses and parents would be awkwardly waiting with nothing to occupy them while the child was being talked into in the nearby corner of the loud and distracting room. Several children made professions of faith through that event, but as far as I know, none showed any spiritual fruit, or even faithfulness to attend that church.
Sadly, this approach is common because it's what is promoted by misguided men. According to one man, "IFB Evangelist Dennis Corle bragged to me that he could win a soul in five minutes. According to him, all a soulwinner had to do is follow the script. Follow the script, use proper technique, and you too can be a great soulwinner like Dennis Corle." (3)
Contrast that with the far wiser approach of the church I grew up in. Instead of dashing for professions, the church staff selected trained and proven individuals to deal with children. These workers were to show children from the Bible what salvation was and meant for them. The altar call was near the beginning of the event, allowing nearly an hour of uninterrupted quiet time in a side room when questions could be asked, doubts addressed, and details explained if needed. Workers were clearly told to take as long as necessary, and though professions were obviously desired, it would be common for children to talk to workers two or three nights in a row before making a profession. Through that, the church could always count on new bus riders after the event, as well as several families joining the church thanks to the impact made by that deliberate and careful approach.
I've heard tales of pastor who sat down and talked for hours and hours with people, only to finally see them come to Christ. Imagine if that pastor gave up because they didn't accept Christ after blazing through half a dozen verses on a card. Imagine also the number of folks who think they are saved because they said yes to a few half-understood questions who simply have no idea what salvation truly is. Yet, like a vaccine, they have just enough religion to make them resistant to the real thing.
Way back in college, one of my professors asked the class to raise their hands if they made more than one profession of faith. The vast majority of the class raised their hand. Some didn't remember the first, some only uttered some words they never meant, some only went down to please somebody else. I wonder how many could have been prevented, how much confusion and doubt could have been avoided, had those around them simply slowed down and took their time to correctly address this life-changing message.
Salvation is a wonderful, beautiful, life-changing decision. As important and urgent as it is, like any big life choice, it should be entered in intelligently and carefully and with plenty of understanding. Even more than bankers dealing with cash, or even fast food cooks making sure the food is ready, we should be careful and deliberate in presenting the gospel. Improperly cooked food can lead to sickness, or even death. Confusion about salvation allows them to continue in spiritual death and could make them harder to reach in the future.
We're dealing with the lives and well being of precious souls. Let us yearn to lead them to Calvary, but let us do it well. There are no shortcuts to Heaven. Rather than lean into a rushed sales tactic, or dashing through an emotional experience, let's take the time to actually explain the Gospel, and ensure they actually understand the Gospel. That takes time. If somebody has never heard the Gospel before, I promise you, that takes more than 5 minutes to explain.
Let's take time to do things right.
(2) A email sent to Biblical Discernment Ministries in November of 2001. http://jbeard.users.rapidnet.com/bdm/exposes/hyles/testim.htm
(3) https://brucegerencser.net/tag/dennis-corle/
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