True Evangelism: Winning Souls Through Prayer

by Lewis Sperry Chafer

Dr. Chafer's work has long been recognized as a classic. In six concise chapters he offers a clear biblical treatment of man's sin, God's salvation, and the believer's responsibility. He expounds on the meaning of genuine evangelism by explaining its false forces, its objective, the role of the Holy Spirit, the importance of intercession, suffering with Christ, and the cleansing of the priests. Thorough indexes by subject and Scripture reference are included.

Genres: Evangelism, Theology, Christian, Nonfiction

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1911

About the author

Lewis Sperry Chafer was an evangelist and educator, founder and first president of Dallas Theological Seminary (originally Evangelical Theological College), and an influential proponent of Christian Dispensationalism and vehement opponent of covenant theology.

Reviews

[Neil R. Coulter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prior to founding a seminary, Lewis Sperry Chafer traveled the country and took part in revival meetings and Bible conferences, working with other pastor–teachers such as Dwight L. Moody. Though the seminary Chafer started had no affiliation to a denomination or officially to the Fundamentalism movement, it represented (and continues to represent) conservative American evangelicalism. Readers familiar with all of that might find True Evangelism surprising.

Written in 1911, thirteen years before founding the seminary, the book gives Chafer space to consider what evangelism means and how it happens. He affirms that though some Christians may be specifically called to an evangelistic ministry, evangelism is really the calling of every Christian. But it is expressly not a ministry that can be strategized, manipulated, and controlled. Rather, evangelism “is wholly a work of God, since its every phase depends upon a power that surpasses the whole range of human strength” (66). The work of evangelism is not coercing a “personal decision” for Christ; it’s a desire to remove the blindness to our utter helplessness to save ourselves. Every person is different, and so every pathway out of this blindness will be its own story, not a prepackaged presentation by a preacher. “Who is sufficient for these things?” Chafer asks. “Surely not the eloquent preacher or the pleading evangelist! God alone is sufficient; and He has fully provided for the necessary preparation of mind and heart in the all-important conviction of the Spirit” (67). And the message that brings that conviction is simply the Bible’s story of salvation. “How helpless, then, in true soul-saving operation with God, is that person who has a heart of unbelief toward the blood of the Cross, or whose message has been beguiled away from the way of life by Christ Jesus, to an appeal for morality, or religious ceremonials, which are the result of human energy and expediencies!” (90–91).

What might surprise some readers is Chafer’s utter reliance on the Holy Spirit, not human activities, to bring about salvation. He says the most important part of evangelism is not the tools or outlines a person might have ready for conversation, but prayer:

The Divine order is to talk to God about men, until the door is definitely open to talk to men about God. Any service which He may appoint after believing prayer has been offered will be wonderfully blessed by Him. But to intrude upon strangers, unless positively led to do so, or to implore unwilling and unprepared men, is to display a zeal without knowledge, and is fraught with peril to immortal souls. Such boldness is often urged and commended as being a high form of Christian service; yet no Spirit-filled person can rush ahead of the movements of God without a deep sense of protest from the Spirit Who indwells him. It is not altogether due to personal diffidence that true believers often find it difficult to speak to the unsaved about their need of Christ. There is a restraint upon such service; for if the unsaved are not prepared by the Spirit, any attempt to force a decision will be a violation of the Divine order. (117–118)

I think some people may assume that an integral part of conservative evangelical living is to corner someone and initiate a “gospel conversation” that may lead to a decision for Jesus. I love Chafer’s calm assurance that we don’t need to force these moments. Our job is to pray, to be ready to talk about our faith, and to trust the Spirit to work.

Chafer lamented that that kind of confidence was lacking among Christians of his day (and I’m sure he’d say the same thing today). “[T]his Divine burden for the lost is a very uncommon experience among believers to-day” (130). What he seeks among his fellow Christians is not a competitive, number-counting, data-crunching, strategic approach to evangelism. Instead, he wants to find more people praying, truly caring about the souls they see all around them, wanting all people to shed their spiritual blindness and find abundant, joyful life in Jesus. It’s not a personal win-or-lose scenario for Christians; it’s about entering into the lives of other people and living out, however stumblingly and imperfectly, the life God calls all people to enjoy.

I found True Evangelism to be a brilliant and thought-provoking, but not easy, book to read. Chafer’s somewhat archaic style of writing, paired with Bible references from the King James, add some distance to the book for readers now. But pressing on and finding my way through some tortuous sentences and now-uncommon words turned out to be very worthwhile.

[Randy Corn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book back in 1980, the first quarter of my time at MABTS. I had picked it up while a student in Bible College and was required to read a book about evangelism for a seminary class. This is probably not what the professor had in mind. My assumption was that Dr. Allison wanted us to get fired up for the task of witnessing, but this book sort of pours water on that.

Essentially, this book is an argument that most of modern evangelism is man centered. Chafer makes an argument for greater dependence upon the Holy Spirit and less on what might be considered arm twisting or emotional appeals to make some sort of public decision which may or may not be a genuine spiritual transaction. I remember reading when in Bible College that John R. Rice had a real dislike for this book. I understand he protested its publication and tried his best to get the publisher to cease printing it. He may have been on to something.

One interesting aside to this is that the author advocates for the interpretation that the people mentioned in Hebrews 6:4-6 are not really saved, just under conviction. I have heard that some believed that, but this is the first book I have ever come across where that idea is championed.

This is an interesting book. I can see both the value of it and how its message might well be misunderstood. I don’t think I will be recommending it to any of my friends lest they be led astray by it or draw a wrong conclusion about me.

[David Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good book that shows Chafer's depth of thought on the topic of salvation and evangelism, as wells his deep felt passion for it. I disagree with the degree of emphasis laid on the responsibility of the one sharing the gospel to do the work of intercession and to share the gospel. It seems to create a confusing contradiction with his emphasis on the primacy of GOd's work in opening the eye of the blind. To his credit, he is merely expounding what he believes Scripture teaches on the matter, in their plainest sense—a heritage he left to the school he founded and presided over.

[Cole Ragsdale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, dense read on Evangelism. Strong Biblical support + inspired get before God on behalf of people, rather than before people on behalf of God.

[David Wise · Rating 4 out of 5]

The King James and old English made it a bit of a difficult read for me; however, the author's insight into the spiritual process of evangelism was both biblical and helpful.

[Reginald C Mayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational

I enjoyed the in depth examination of evangelism with the many Scriptures in support of the arguments. I will recommend it to other on our ministry team.

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chafer is easily one of the most non Charismatic Christian writer that really made Holy Spirit driven Christian life understandable to me. In this short but dense book, he makes it so cleared that True Evangelism is all about depending on God and not our own efforts. It is a must read if you are serious about sharing your faith but have always felt it awkward. Ok, you will probably still feel awkward after you read it but at least you will be really convicted to pray for people and let the Spirit unleash his power!

[Brent Dore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite book; I've never been a big fan of Chafer's writing style and general approach to God at times. I appreciated how rooted the book's argument was in scripture and he does challenge the reader to consider deeply the role of prayer and God in evangelism. It's dated but does have some valuable lessons. It wasn't my favorite but there is definite worth in this short book.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on personal evangelism I've read in a long time. It emphasizes reliance upon the Holy Spirit for the work of evangelism, rather than any particular method or technique. Highly recommended.

[Jeromy Peacock · Rating 2 out of 5]

5 stars = Yearly re-read
4 stars = Re-read eventually
3 stars = Very Good
2 stars = OK
1 stars = Pass on this one.
0 stars = Couldn't finish it.