The Four Spiritual Laws, an intellectual method of evangelism developed by Dr. Bill Bright in 1952, presents four spiritual laws governing one’s relationship with God. According to CampusCrusade.com, these laws are: (1) God loves you and has a remarkable plan for your life. (2) Sin causes humanity to be separated from God and unable to fully understand or experience His love and purpose. (3) Jesus Christ is the sole solution for mankind’s sins.
By accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, individuals can personally experience God’s love and purpose for their lives. This approach offers the benefit of starting with the uplifting message that “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life,” which may make non-Christians more receptive to the message. Due to sin, humanity is in conflict with God (Ephesians 2:13-16), resulting in a tendency to dismiss any messages about God without considering them. However, commencing with such a positive introduction may assist people in lowering their defenses and attentively listening to the Gospel.
Another advantage of the Four Spiritual Laws approach is its easy communication in print form, which makes it a useful tract, especially considering the positive opening law. However, one disadvantage is that individuals who come to Christ through this method may become disillusioned if they find that life’s struggles surpass their expectations of “God’s love and wonderful plan.” Christians can face challenging experiences such as tragedies, job loss, and persecution for their faith (John 16:33; 2 Timothy 3:12).
Regarding tactics that utilize some of the benefits of Christianity to attract non-believers, caution should be exercised due to their failure to present a comprehensive understanding of biblical truth. Additionally, the Second Law introduces a disadvantage by acknowledging the sinful nature of mankind without effectively persuading non-Christians of their own sin. This general statement may or may not align with their beliefs, leaving them without the necessary insight to grasp the profound depths of sin described as “exceeding sinful” (Romans 7:13) and respond appropriately to the Gospel.
Part TWO – Another approach to evangelism, known as Servant Evangelism, focuses on establishing relationships and addressing the needs of non-Christians in order to share the Gospel. This can be accomplished by providing services such as daycare, counseling, tutoring, or distributing complimentary bottled water. The goal of Servant Evangelism is to exhibit God’s love through acts of service. There are multiple benefits associated with this approach. Firstly, by demonstrating kindness and fulfilling practical needs, it has the potential to dismantle psychological barriers and win over hearts prior to introducing the Gospel (ServantEvangelism.com).
In addition, it is crucial to possess a humble attitude and be receptive to the idea of God. Matthew 5:16 (KJV) emphasizes that performing good deeds enables others to recognize God, stating “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” However, there are also drawbacks associated with this approach. One disadvantage is the uncertainty in effectively conveying the Gospel through this indirect method.
In addition, this method has drawbacks as it excludes individuals who are not in desperate need. For instance, a wealthy and young entrepreneur who enjoys life and lacks very little may never encounter the service-oriented actions. This is significant considering 2 Peter 3:9, which appears to convey that God desires all people to come to Christ – not just those facing emotional, financial, educational, and physical deficiencies. Part THRE”EE – Evangelistic Method #3 The Way of the Master is a confrontational method of evangelism that gained popularity through Evangelists Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron of Living Waters.
The “good person test” is a method that begins by inquiring if individuals perceive themselves as good people. It subsequently poses various questions, such as “Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen anything?”, which align with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-16). Following this assessment using two or three commandment-based inquiries, the individual is reminded of their answers and the associated categorization. They are also prompted to ponder whether God will deem them culpable on Judgment Day and determine their destiny of entering Heaven or Hell.
A concise presentation of the Gospel message is typically given, accompanied by an authentic encouragement to repent and have faith in the Savior. This approach initially utilizes the Law of God (Ten Commandments) to convince individuals of their need for the Savior. The method achieves two purposes: 1) It brings clarity to why humanity is guilty before God (Romans 3:23), and 2) it shows all people, irrespective of their beliefs, that they need a mediator—Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:24). However, one disadvantage is that this method can be quite time-consuming.
Engaging busy individuals or those on the move can be challenging, but tracts can aid in overcoming this hurdle. Another downside is that it may feel awkward or invasive to inquire strangers with a series of inquiries. Although not an integral part of the approach, Living Waters suggests initiating a discussion about current events or weather and offering them a tract, although this also entails relinquishing some control over the conversation to the individual receiving the Gospel.
Part FOUR – Application of These Methods to Your Own Life
Personally, I believe that the Servant Evangelism method is the most suitable approach out of the three mentioned. By utilizing this method, I am able to avoid confrontations while still fulfilling the biblical requirement of being a servant. In Mark 10:43-44, Jesus stated, “But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.” Jesus serves as the ultimate example in this aspect, and it is an honor for me to emulate his actions.
While Servant Evangelism is my preferred method, it may not be appropriate for all non-Christian individuals. ServantEvangelism.com states that “Servant Evangelism alone is insufficient for spreading the gospel.” This is especially evident when considering the varied situations of those we want to reach. For example, if someone is seriously ill and urgently needs salvation, there might not be enough time to engage in servant evangelism, and instead, the message of salvation must be directly proclaimed.
Moreover, it can be disheartening when acts of kindness are misconstrued as either mere adherence to general moral principles or having hidden negative intentions. Consequently, there may be circumstances where it is preferable to embrace the Way of the Master approach, which closely aligns with biblical teachings about God. This approach is evident in Jesus’ interaction with the Rich Young Ruler (Luke 18:18-24) and the Apostle Paul’s discourse on Mars Hill (Acts 17:22-31). While the other methods have their own merit, the Servant Evangelism approach seems to be the least intimidating and most pragmatic.
References
The Holy Bible, Authorized King James Version, is published by Thomas Nelson Inc.
Early, D., and Wheeler, D. (2010). “Evangelism Is: How to Share Jesus With Passion and Confidence.” Nashville, TN: B&H Academic Publishing Group.
Bill and Vonette Bright are the founders of Campus Crusade for Christ, International. More information about our founders can be found on our website at http://www.ccci.org/about-us/our-leadership/our-founders/index.htm.
The Four Spiritual Laws Approach is a method employed by Campus Crusade for Christ. For more information about this approach, visit their website at http://www.campuscrusade.com/fourlawseng.htm.
Servant Evangelism Approach, Servant Evangelism, http://www.servantevangelism.com
The website http://www.livingwaters.com presents the approach of Way of the Master, as presented by Living Waters.
Visit the official website of The Way of the Master Approach to discover more.
