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THE
SOUL WINNER A Book Review by Massimo Lorenzini Spurgeon, Charles Haddon. The Soul Winner. Introduction Charles Spurgeon is a very familiar name to most
conservative evangelical Christians. Even if one has not read anything he
wrote, one is sure to have heard Spurgeon referred to by numerous preachers.
Spurgeon is known for being a very influential Baptist preacher from 19th
century The material for this book was collected from a variety of oral presentations: lectures to his college students, addresses to Sunday-school teachers and open-air preachers, and several sermons that centered on the subject of soul-winning. Summary The closest thing to a thesis of the book is found in the preface which appears to be written by an editor. It states that Spurgeon purposed to publish this collection of lectures “for the guidance of all who desired to become soul-winners, and with the hope also of inducing many more professing Christians to engage in this truly blessed service for the Saviour” (11). The contents of the book cover the spectrum of teaching on “soul-winning” (Spurgeon’s term for evangelistic ministry, both personal and corporate). In the first chapter, “What is it to Win a Soul?”, Spurgeon makes clear that soul-winning is not about getting people to join your church who are already church-goers somewhere else, nor is it about “hurriedly inscribing more names upon our church-roll, in order to show a good increase at the end of the year” (17). Spurgeon was concerned about the danger of receiving into church membership those who had not given evidence of being regenerated. Spurgeon cautioned against what has been termed “decisionism.” That is, pressuring people, however well-intended, to make an outward “decision” for Christ just so we can boast in how many converts we have (19). Spurgeon explains soul-winning as “instructing a man that he may know the truth of God” (21). Soul-winning is not hype, emotionalism, or trickery of any kind. Rather, it is setting forth is reasoned order those aspects of the gospel that one must believe in order to be saved (21-22). The gospel must be presented in the context of man’s sinful and lost condition as the solution and presented in a way that forcefully impresses upon the hearer his great need to be born again. Spurgeon also offers signs that ought to accompany those who are regenerated—conviction of sin, simple faith in Christ, unfeigned repentance from sin, real change of life, true prayer, and a willingness to obey the Lord’s commandments. In the next two chapters, Spurgeon covers the qualifications for soul-winning both toward God and toward man. Spurgeon emphasized the soul-winner’s character and private spirituality as foundational to the ministry of soul-winning. Here Spurgeon is primarily addressing preachers and says that preachers must be spiritually alive and that what goes on before the sermon is what gives life to the sermon, meaning the preachers personal spirituality. Spurgeon discussed how humility is needed and facing hardships in life and ministry is good for us because it teaches us humility. Also needed are preachers who truly believe with conviction what they preach and that God has truly called them to preach. They must do this with great earnestness, simplicity of faith, and complete surrender to God. The qualifications toward man include a few of the same mentioned previously (sincere belief and earnestness), but also evident love for the hearers. To have much influence with people, they must warm up to you by your evident love for them which includes unselfishness. Spurgeon emphasized strongly the need for tenderness. He wrote, “if there is an unpleasant thing to be said, take care that you put it in the kindest possible form” (84). In the next chapter, Spurgeon focused on what kinds of sermons are likely to win souls. They must be the kind that are “distinctly aimed at the conversion of the hearers” (90). To accomplish this, Spurgeon advised gaining the interest of the hearers and using plain “market language.” The language must be such that it sticks in the minds of the hearers (“always put a knot in your thread,” 95). The sermon must have substance or content that instructs the hearers and it must be presented in a way that makes an impression on the hearers, or is felt. “The kind of sermon which is likely to break the hearer’s heart is that which has first broken the preacher’s heart” (101). Probably because preachers often have more material than is necessary, edifying, or possible to cover, Spurgeon advised taking out everything that is likely to divert the hearer’s mind from the central thrust and purpose of the sermon. Lastly, sermons likely to win souls must be full of Christ, appeal to the hearts of the hearers, and be prayed over. Next, Spurgeon presented obstacles to soul-winning. The first, and most difficult, is the indifference and lethargy of sinners. He seems to suggest a sociological dynamic involved with this as he noted that places that are in decline with business and industry are the most difficult for soul-winning. Another obstacle that almost seems like it goes without saying is unbelief. Spurgeon placed very little confidence in argument being able to overcome the obstacle of unbelief. It seems he might not have seen much use for apologetics. He put more confidence in the power of Christians expressing their faith by their personal holiness to be able to win “infidels” (115). Other obstacles to soul-winning include delay (he suggested pressing for “a speedy decision”), carnal security (due to soft preaching), despair, the love of sin, self-righteousness, worldliness (materialism), and finally, in one category he named “habits, and resorts, and company” (122). Spurgeon then goes on to address the difficult challenge of “how to induce our people to win souls.” Spurgeon calls for patience here (126). He counsels that you will often have to begin alone and if you can expect to have to do the ministry yourself you will not be disappointed when nobody helps (127). He goes on to suggest that in leading others to engage in soul-winning you should not teach any particular method since an approach that might be good in one situation might not be best in another. He suggested you try addressing the congregation or a group to begin the work, but if that doesn’t work then just begin with one or two others. Spurgeon gets real practical here and suggests building the ministry upon prayer and holding regular prayer meetings. He goes on to suggest being a good example in the work, cultivating “sharp-shooters” (135) who know how to be on the look out for needy souls (especially after the preaching services), and also cultivating an atmosphere in the congregation that is “favorable to soul-winning” (136-142). He gives extended attention to this final thought. In the chapter “How to Raise the Dead” Spurgeon addressed children’s Sunday school teachers. Using Elisha and the raising of the Shunammite widow’s son from the dead as an analogy, Spurgeon advised that we must realize what we’re up against in preaching to the spiritually dead. It takes a miracle that only God can do to convert them and God is glorified in doing so. He encourages those who do not see success by suggesting they not cease the work but change the method (150). Spurgeon then gives practical advice on ministering to children by striving “to adapt yourself as far as possible to the nature, habits, and temperament of the child” (155) and “so far as possible, enter into childhood’s joys and griefs.” In the chapter “How to Win Souls for Christ” Spurgeon shares a powerful insight about knowing the subject of your sermon very well to be able to exercise emotions in preaching. We are to be bold and earnest in our preaching pleading for our hearers and that kind of freedom in the pulpit comes from feeling at home with your teaching (170-71). He continues in the chapter with practical suggestions including giving attention not only to our preaching but also to the private talks with the unconverted giving pointed personal warnings and encouragements (180), having a tract ready (“do not go out without your tracts,” 181-82), and writing a letter to an individual (182). Various other noteworthy insights are as follows: For those who have not succeeded in soul-winning, Spurgeon advises them to “look steadily over their motive, their spirit, their work, and their prayer, and then begin again” (195). In the chapter “The Soul-Winner’s Life and Work” Spurgeon reminds the reader that “we must not think so much of what we already are as to forget what the Lord may accomplish by us for others” (203). This is an echo of what he will drive home in the chapter on “Instruction in Soul Winning” where he talks about becoming fishers of men. Spurgeon gives the kind of insight that can only come by an experienced soul-winner when he says that we must studiously vary our approach to various kinds of people (219). This requires wisdom and in the doing of it God grants wisdom (220). Those who truly love men’s souls learn the art of dealing with them and God grants them to love sinners even more intensely (221). In “Soul Winning Explained” comes this Spurgeon gem on joy in witnessing: “Even if I were utterly selfish, and had no care for anything but my own happiness, I would choose, if I might, under God, to be a soul-winner, for never did I know perfect, overflowing, unutterable happiness of the purest and most ennobling order, till I first heard of one who had sought and found a Saviour through my means” (231). Another on compassion: “I believe that much of the secret of soul-winning lies in having bowels of compassion, in having spirits that can be touched with the feeling of human infirmities” (238). Spurgeon goes on in this chapter to describe a ministry for motivated laymen to invite people to church and also to seek out those in the congregation who need to be counseled about their souls. Spurgeon declares “there is fine hunting ground here” (243). In “Soul-Saving Our One Business” Spurgeon sounds like a missiologist commending the contextualization of Hudson Taylor and others who adapt to another culture to win those in the culture (269-70). In “Instruction in Soul-Winning” Spurgeon gives an extended meditation on the verse in Matthew 4:19, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” Spurgeon shines in this chapter, which I consider the best in the book. He writes that “When Christ calls us by His grace, we ought not only to remember what we are, but we ought also to think of what He can make us....We should repent of what we have been, but rejoice in what we may be” (273). “If you are yourself saved, the work is but half done until you are employed to bring others to Christ. You are as yet but half formed in the image of your Lord” (274). Christ gave us something to do, “Follow Me” and He promised to do something in us, “I will make you fishers of men.” In the final chapter, Spurgeon offers “Encouragement to Soul Winners” based on the text in James 5:19-20. He admits this has nothing to do with evangelism, but feels justified in making application to soul-winners that it is a monumental thing to be an instrument in another’s conversion and so save another from eternal hell. He also offers practical instruction and encouragement in evangelizing children saying “it is highly propitious to the growth of well-developed Christian character, that its foundation should be laid on the basis of youthful piety” (315). Evaluation In The Soul Winner Spurgeon had set out to compile various lectures and sermons “for the guidance of all who desired to become soul-winners, and with the hope also of inducing many more professing Christians to engage in this truly blessed service for the Saviour” (11). An endorsement on the cover by Billy Graham reads, “No one can read this book without being stimulated to go out and win others to Christ.” I agree with this observation. There were many times I felt compelled to enter the harvest. I also found many pearls of wisdom that I can take with me into the work. However, this book would probably not meet the publishing standards of today as it reads like hastily compiled lecture and sermon manuscripts rather than a unified book. It needs organization into a single purpose. And although it contains many precious jewels of insight for soul-winners, it could be pared down to half the size with a good editor. The book contains almost no Bible exposition with the exception of the sermon chapters. The majority of the chapters issue from Spurgeon’s “Bibline” mind and rich experience in ministry. There’s nothing that I found to be in error, but the style of writing I found a bit pedantic. I felt as though I was pushing along until I found the next good insight, rather than reading something that was building a case and had a logical flow to it. Conclusion The book has some value for the many good insights, but I
feel that its weaknesses outweigh the strengths and cause me to say it is a
good book, but there are many other books on evangelism that
are more effective “for the guidance of all who desired to become soul-winners,
and with the hope also of inducing many more professing Christians to engage in
this truly blessed service for the Saviour” (11). |
