SOME HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS
There are a few general suggestions to be made that will prove helpful
to the worker.
1. _As a rule choose persons to deal with of your own sex and about your
own age._ There are exceptions to this rule. One should be always
looking to the Holy Spirit for his guidance as to whom to approach, and
He may lead us to one of the opposite sex, but unless there is clear
guidance in the matter, it is quite commonly agreed among those who have
had large experience in Christian work that men do, on the whole, most
satisfactory work with men, and women with women. Especially is this
true of the young. Many unfortunate complications oftentimes arise when
young men try to lead young women to Christ or vice versa. Of course, an
elderly motherly woman may do excellent work with a young man or boy,
and an elderly, fatherly man may do good work with a young woman or
girl. It is not wise ordinarily for a young and inexperienced person to
approach one very much older and maturer and wiser than themselves on
this subject.
2. _Whenever it is possible, get the person with whom you are dealing
alone._ No one likes to open his heart freely to another on this most
personal and sacred of all subjects when there are others present. Many
will from pride defend themselves in a false position when several are
present, who would fully admit their error or sin or need, if they were
alone with you. As a rule it is far better for a single worker to deal
with a single unconverted person, than for several workers to deal with
a single inquirer or for a single worker to deal with several inquirers
at once. If you have several to deal with take them one by one. Workers
often find that when they have made no headway while talking to several
at once, by taking individuals off by themselves they soon succeed in
leading them one by one to Christ.
3. _Let your reliance be wholly in the Spirit of God and the Word of
God._
4. _Do not content yourself with merely reading passages from the
Bible—much less in merely quoting them, but have the one with whom you
are dealing read them himself that the truth may find entrance into the
heart through the eye as well as the ear._
5. _It is ofttimes well to use but a single passage of scripture, drive
that home and clinch it_ so that the one with whom you have been dealing
cannot forget it, but will hear it ringing in his memory long after you
have ceased talking. Dr. Ichabod Spencer once in dealing with a young
man who had many difficulties kept continually quoting the passage “now
is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation.” The young man
tried to get Dr. Spencer on to something else, but over and over again
he rang out the words. The next day the young man returned rejoicing in
Christ and thanking the doctor that he had “hammered” him with that
text. The words kept ringing in his ears during the night and he could
not rest until he had settled the matter by accepting Christ. It is a
good thing when a person can point to some definite verse in the word of
God and say “I know on the authority of that verse that my sins are
forgiven and I am a child of God.” There are times, however when a
powerful effect is produced by a piling up of passages along some line
until the mind is convinced and the heart conquered.
6. _Always hold the person with whom you are dealing to the main point
of accepting Christ._ If he wishes to discuss the claims of various
denominations, or the question of baptism, or theories of future
punishment or any other question other than the central one of his need
of a Saviour and Christ the Saviour he needs; tell him that those
questions are proper to take up in their right place and time, but the
time to settle them is after he has settled the first and fundamental
question of accepting or rejecting Christ. Many a case has been lost by
an inexperienced worker allowing himself to be involved in a discussion
of some side issue which it is utter folly to discuss with an
unregenerated person.
7. _Be courteous._ Many well–meaning but indiscreet Christians by their
rudeness and impertinence repel those whom they would win to Christ. It
is quite possible to be at once perfectly frank and perfectly courteous.
You can point out to men their awful sin and need without insulting
them. Your words may be very searching, while your manner is very gentle
and winning. Indeed, the more gentle and winning our manner is, the
deeper our words will go, for they will not stir up the opposition of
those with whom we deal. Some zealous workers approach those with whom
they wish to deal in such a manner that the latter at once assume the
defensive and clothe themselves with an armor that it is impossible to
penetrate.
8. _Be dead in earnest._ Only the earnest man can make the unsaved man
feel the truth of God’s word. It is well to let the passages that we
would use with others first sink into our own souls. I know of a very
successful worker who for a long time used the one passage, “prepare to
meet thy God,” with every one with whom she dealt, but that passage had
taken such complete possession of her heart and mind that she used it
with tremendous effect. A few passages that have mastered us are better
than many passages that we have mastered from some text book.
The reader of this book is advised to ponder, upon his knees, such of
the passages suggested in it as he decides to use until he himself feels
their power. We read of Paul that he “ceased not to warn every one night
and day, with tears.” (Acts xx. 31.) Genuine earnestness will go farther
than any skill learned in a training class or from the study of such a
book as this.
9. _Never lose your temper when trying to_ _lead a soul to Christ._ Some
persons are purposely exasperating, but even such may be won, by
patience, forbearance and gentleness.
They certainly cannot be won if you lose your temper. Nothing delights
them more, or gives them more comfort in their sins. The more extremely
irritating they are in their words and actions the more impressed they
will be if you return insults with kindness. Often times the one who has
been most insufferable will come back in penitence. One of the most
insulting men I ever met afterwards became one of the most patient,
persistent and effective of workers.
10. _Never have a heated argument with one whom you would lead to
Christ._ This always comes from the flesh and not from the spirit. (Gal.
v. 20, 22, 23.) It arises from pride and unwillingness to let the other
person get the best of you in argument. Refuse to argue. If the one with
whom you are talking has mistaken notions that must be removed before he
can be led to Christ quietly and pleasantly show him their error. If the
error is not essential refuse to discuss it and hold the person to the
main question.
11. _Never interrupt any one else who is dealing with a soul._ You may
think he is not doing it in the wisest way, but if you can do it any
better, bide your time and you will have the opportunity. Many an
unskilled worker has had some one at the very point of decision when
some meddler has broken in and upset the whole work. On the other hand,
do not let others, if you can help it, interrupt you. Just a little word
plainly but courteously spoken will usually prevent it.
12. _Don’t be in a hurry._ One of the great faults of Christian work
to–day is haste. We are too anxious for immediate results and so do
superficial work. It is very noticeable how many of those with whom
Christ dealt came out slowly. Nicodemus, Joseph, Peter and even
Paul—though the final step in his case seems very sudden—are cases in
point. It was three days even after the personal appearance of Jesus to
Paul on the way to Damascus before the latter came out into the light
and openly confessed Christ. (Acts xxii. 16.) One man with whom slow but
thorough work has been done, and who at last has been brought out
clearly for Christ, is better than a dozen with whom hasty work has been
done, who think they have accepted Christ when in reality they have not.
It is often a wise policy to plant a truth in a man’s heart and leave it
to work. The seed on rocky ground springs up quickly but withers as
quickly.
13. _Whenever it is possible and wise, get the person with whom you are
dealing on his knees before God._ It is wonderful how many difficulties
disappear in prayer, and how readily stubborn people yield when they are
brought into the very presence of God himself. I remember talking with a
young woman, in an inquiry room, for perhaps two hours and making no
apparent headway; but, when at last we knelt in prayer, in less than
five minutes she was rejoicing in her Saviour.
14. _Whenever you seem to fail in any given case go home and pray over
it and study it to see why you failed._ If you have been at a loss as to
what scripture to use, study that portion of this book that describes
the different classes we meet and how to deal with them and see where
this case belongs and how you ought to have treated it. Then go back if
you can and try again. In any case you will be better prepared next
time. The greatest success in this work comes through many apparent
defeats. It will be well to frequently study these hints and suggestions
to see if your failures come through neglect of them.
15. _Before parting from the one who has_ _accepted Christ, be sure to
give him definite instructions as to how to succeed in the Christian
life._ The following are points that should be always insisted upon.
(a.) Confess Christ with the mouth before men every opportunity you get.
Rom. x. 9, 10; Matt. x. 32, 33. (b.) Be baptized and partake regularly
of the Lord’s supper. Acts ii. 38, 42; Luke xxii. 19; 1 Cor. xi. 24‒26.
(c.) Study the Word of God daily. 1 Pet. ii. 2; Acts xx. 32; 2 Tim. iii.
13‒17; Acts xvii. 11. (d.) Pray daily, often and in every time of
temptation. Luke xi. 9‒13; xxii. 40; 1 Thes. v. 17. (e.) Put away out of
your life every sin, even the smallest, and everything you have doubts
about, and obey every word of Christ 1 Jno. i. 6, 7; Rom. xiv. 23; Jno.
xiv. 23. (f.) Seek the society of Christians. Eph. iv. 12‒16; Acts ii.
42, 47; Heb. x. 24, 25. (g.) Go to work for Christ. Matt. xxv. 14‒29.
(h.) When you fall into sin don’t be discouraged, but confess it at
once, believe it is forgiven because God says so and get up and go on.
1 Jno. i. 9; Phil. iii. 13‒14. It would be well to give these
instructions in some permanent form to the one whom you have led to
Christ. You can write them out or get a little tract called the
“Christian Life Card” published by Jno. C. Collins, Bureau of Supplies,
New Haven, Conn. This contains them and some other matter.
16. _When you have led any one to Christ, follow him up and help him in
the development of his Christian life._ Many are led to Christ and then
neglected and get on very poorly. This is a great mistake. The work of
following up those who are converted is as important as the work of
leading them to Christ, and as a rule no one can do it so well as the
person whom God used in their conversion.