I have realized recently that I have no control over my life.  I had medical tests done and I had bad reports for both—possible uterine cancer and a growth in my breast.  I thought about the people who had died within a matter of months of finding out that they had a rapid spreading cancer— do I have this type of cancer?

I cried because I thought I only had a few months to live.  I thought about how I would not see my first grandchild or that I would not be there to see my youngest son graduate from high school or to see my sons get married.  Is this what it’s like to face death?  I was powerless—I can’t stop whatever it is in my body.  All I could do was ask God for His mercy and to hope that He will allow me to stay on earth to share those life changing events with my children.

I thought about the daughter of Jephthah in Judges 11.  She grieved for two months.  How will I spend the last few months that I have?  I saw what it’s like for people who are about to die— they struggle with intense pain so they are heavily medicated and are not aware of what is going on around them.  It happens so quickly—one day they are there, and the next day they are gone.  Life goes on without them—to me it’s like a train that drops off passengers then rapidly continues along the track.  Will I be forgotten?

Even if I had chemo and radiation, it was ultimately God’s decision—His will be done!  I don’t know how much time I have on earth, but I know I should live it better.  I should spend quality time with those that I love.  I should relish the sunrise and really take notice of the bright green of the trees and grass, and how it contrasts with the blueness of the sky.  Even if the second set of medical tests shows that I do not have cancer, this experience should be a “wake up” call to appreciate my life more and to always be thankful for what God has done for me.  He gave me a loving husband, and four beautiful children.  He gave me salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.  He has met all my needs and has even met some of my wants.  Maybe God will grant me more time and will allow me to die as a very old lady.

“So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows…
run from all these evil things, and follow what is right and good.
Pursue a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.”
I Timothy 6:8-11

It is a good thing to be financially successful, but when we focus simply on making money and accumulating wealth, we risk losing the things that are most valuable to us—our love for God and our love for our families. The Bible tells us that everything comes from God (Hosea 2:8; 1 Corinthians 11:12; 1 Chronicles 29:14). It is God who gives people their success. We must keep in mind that our pursuit should not be for money; instead we are to pursue God and attain His attributes for ourselves.

Copyright © 2009 M. Teresa Trascritti

(written for Ohio Christian University, Entrepreneur Basics)

“The purpose of these proverbs is to teach people wisdom and discipline, and to help them understand wise sayings. Through these proverbs, people will receive instruction in discipline, good conduct, and doing what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will make the simpleminded clever. They will give knowledge and purpose to young people. Let those who are wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. And let those who understand receive guidance by exploring the depth of meaning in these proverbs, parables, wise sayings, and riddles” (Proverbs 1:2-6 NLT).

A person may have extensive business knowledge, but it is nothing without God’s direction and intervention. In addition to reading the latest business articles and books, the wise entrepreneur will also read the Bible. God’s wisdom is timeless, and His Word provides the guidance and instructions that is needed to live each day. The book of Jeremiah explains it this way:

“This is what the LORD says: ‘Let not the wise man gloat in his wisdom, or the mighty man in his might, or the rich man in his riches. Let them boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who is just and righteous, whose love is unfailing, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD, have spoken!’” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

Copyright © 2009 M. Teresa Trascritti

(written for Ohio Christian University, Entrepreneur Basics)

“The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.”Romans 8:3 (NLT)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

God is the ultimate planner. He planned the creation of the universe from nothing.
God did not leave anything to chance. It may seem that salvation through Jesus Christ was a “Plan B,” but it was actually the established plan that God followed from the very beginning of our human existence.

Planning is described as, “a method for achieving an end; a procedure; and a detailed formulation of a program of action” (http://www.merriam-webster.com). Plans allow us to stay organized and focused. When we plan, we are emulating God. He is the One who showed us that planning is good because it prevents disastrous results and paves a way to the future.

Copyright © 2009 M. Teresa Trascritti

(written for Ohio Christian University, Entrepreneur Basics)

“Son of man, how does a grapevine compare to a tree?
Is a vine’s wood as useful as the wood of a tree?
Can its wood be used for making things, like pegs to hang up pots and pans?
No, it can only be used for fuel, and even as fuel, it burns too quickly.
Vine branches are useless both before and after being put into the fire!”
Ezekiel 15:2-5

An evaluation is defined as, “To ascertain or fix the value or worth of… to examine and judge carefully; appraise” (dictionary.com). In this passage from the book of Ezekiel, we see that there is an evaluative process taking place. In the same way, we evaluate various things in our lives: other people, situations and our personal plans.

It is easy to fall into the pattern of evaluating the things around us and neglecting the evaluation of our own spiritual condition. In Psalms 34:8 it states, “Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who trust in Him!” Evaluate your relationship with God and make the necessary adjustments. God should be our main concern in life—everything else is secondary to Him.

Copyright © 2009 M. Teresa Trascritti

(written for Ohio Christian University, Entrepreneur Basics)

“With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble–all of these in large quantities… But who am I, and who are my people,

that we should be able to give as generously as this?

Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”

I Chronicles 29:2, 14

In the passage above King David speaks to the people of Israel prior to the building of the Temple. The main point of his address is that all possessions are really God’s; nothing really belongs to us. Yes, we work hard for the things we have, and we do well at work and get promoted, but the blessings of a promotion or possessions are inevitably from God. Note David’s statement, “Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand” (2 Chronicles 29:14). 

In a prior verse, David says, “Riches and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is at your discretion that people are made great and given strength” (2 Chronicles 29:12). If all things are from God, then He has entrusted us with our jobs, our material things and even our families. We are to manage them well since it all belongs to Him. 

Copyright © 2009 M. Teresa Trascritti

(written for Ohio Christian University, Entrepreneur Basics)

Genesis 19

Genesis 19 is the account of Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction.  Prior to the destruction, Abraham asks God to spare the cities, and after much deliberation on Abraham’s part, God agrees to spare it if ten righteous people can be found in it.  Lot, Abraham’s nephew, lives in Sodom with his wife and two daughters. 

After reading Genesis 19 in the New Living Translation, and reviewing Matthew Henry’s interpretation of the chapter, I was struck with several thoughts.

1. Why would God spare Lot? 
2. How could Lot offer his daughters to the angry mob of men looking to have sex with the angels?
3. How could Lot’s daughters sleep with their father?

Lot reminded me of a lukewarm Christian—someone who knows the Word, has experienced or witnessed God’s work, but lives life by his or her own strength.  Christians who live this way try to fix things themselves instead of relying on God to fix it.  This is what it looks like Lot was doing when he offered to throw his daughters out to the angry mob.  When the angels finally decide to destroy the place, Lot seems to procrastinate leaving.  The angels had to physically drag him out of the place and ordered him to take refuge in the mountains, to which Lot had the nerve to ask for asylum in a close-by town of Zoar, instead.  For fear of his life in Zoar, Lot takes his daughters to the mountains anyway.  While there, the daughters intoxicate their father, Lot, and impregnate themselves. 

Isn’t it amazing how God included the story of Lot in the Bible?  Now we can look at this story and say, “Wow, Lot (and his daughters) were real scum bags!”  We can get disgusted with Lot’s actions and think, “How could he have been so dumb?” But, how are we different from Lot?  Don’t we live each day through God’s grace?  If we are truly honest with ourselves, we are all scum bags.  We see in Genesis 16:2 and Genesis 20:2 that even Abraham (Abram) was a scum bag (and for that matter, so were Sari and Hagar)!

Genesis 19 shows us that no one is perfect, we all mess up, and we are nothing without God.  I stopped looking at Lot and his faults and started to look at my own—how have I fallen short?  How am I like a scum bag?  If we do not look within ourselves, then we can never ask God to forgive us.  How can we ask for forgiveness if we do not know what we did wrong?  How can God change us if we are blind to our faults?  I thank God that He saved Lot even though he did not deserve it, because it shows me that He can do the same for me; and I know that God can change me from the scum bag that I am to the righteous person that only He can create (Romans 2:29).  He is an awesome God!

Copyright © 2009 M. Teresa Trascritti

This is a devotional (see below) that I often share with my students midway through the course.  It is written for students, but perhaps it will encourage you to continue your journey through life.

_____________________________________________________________

Endurance & Perseverance

M. Teresa Trascritti

Have you ever felt like giving up? Does it sometimes seem that you have too many things to do and so little time to do them? Have you ever thought about dropping out of school to concentrate on other life matters?

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 says, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going” (NLT).

“Perseverance” is a “steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement” and “persistent determination” (dictionary.com).

I believe God has a plan for all of us. I also believe that God allows things to happen in our lives because it causes us to rely on Him more. Hardships are an opportunity for us to grow. It’s hard to believe that a painful or difficult situation helps us, but it does. We have to be mindful of two things, (1) we will all encounter troubles, and (2) we must see trouble from a different perspective.

James tells us, “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything” (James 1:2-4 NLT).

God has you at this school for a reason. Don’t give up, instead rely on Him more.

Question: What kind of troubles and hardships are you going through right now? How can you see it as an opportunity for growth?

Read 2 Timothy 2:3-13

Copyright © 2008 M. Teresa Trascritti

This interview was conducted during the 2004 SBC Convention in Indianapolis, IN.

Autobiography of Paige Patterson

Paige Patterson is a native of Texas. He was born in 1942 while his father, T.A. Patterson, was completing his Th.D. degree under the guidance of W.T. Conner at Southwestern Seminary. Dr. Patterson was ordained to the ministry at age 16 by First Baptist Church of Beaumont (Baptist Standard 2003). He became a legendary figure among Southern Baptist conservatives when his and Judge Paul Pressler’s plan to topple the liberal leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention succeeded in 1979—the beginning of the Conservative Resurgence (Sutton 2000, 74, 99). Dr. Patterson was then elected as president of the SBC for two consecutive terms in 1998 and 1999 (Baptist Standard 2003).

He is currently the eighth president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. His twenty-eight years of experience include 17 years as president of The Criswell College and 11 years as president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Dr. Patterson is intensely committed to evangelism on a global level. He is a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University, and completed Th.M. and Th.D. degrees at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He was elected as president of the Southern Baptist Convention twice, serving during 1998-2000. It was during his time in office that he appointed a committee to revise the Baptist Faith and Message.

During his time at New Orleans Seminary, Dr. Patterson was a pastor of a church, but it was through the coffee-house ministry that he was able to witness to gangsters, homosexuals, prostitutes and runaway teens. Dr. Patterson served as pastor to several churches in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas and helped to plant churches in New Hampshire and other states. He and his wife have traveled to 85 countries and have witnessed to several “heads of state,” Yasser Arafat and Menachem Begin to name a few.

Due to Dr. Patterson’s love of scuba diving and hunting exotic animals, he started a sportsman banquet ministry. Through this ministry he is able to express the importance of the father in a boy’s life, and through Dr. Patterson’s witness during these banquets, he has come to see over 2,000 men accept Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

Dr. Patterson is married to the former Dorothy Kelley, a professor of theology in women’s studies at Southwestern. The Pattersons have two children- Armour, their son who is married to Rachel and residing in Arizona, and Carmen, their daughter who is married to Mark Howell and residing in Arkansas. Dr. and Mrs. Patterson have two grandchildren- Abigail and Rebekah Howell. They are also “parents” to a black Labrador, named Noche (SWBTS 2004).

Autobiography of Dorothy Patterson

Dorothy Kelley Patterson is the wife of Paige Patterson. She is a homemaker, mother, grandmother, author, lecturer and Bible teacher at women’s conferences. She is also the sister of Chuck Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. She is a professor of theology in women’s studies at Southwestern, but sees her most important role as that of wife, mother, and grandmother. She studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (Th.M.), Luther Rice Theological Seminary (D.Min.), and the University of South Africa (D.Theol.) (Good News & Crossway 2004). Mrs. Patterson authored several books, including Where’s Mom: The High Calling of Wife and Mother in Biblical Perspective (Crossway Books, 2003), A Handbook for Minister’s Wives (Broadman and Holman, 2002), Should Women Serve as Pastors? (Magnolia Hill, 2002), The Family: Unchanging Principles for Changing Times (Broadman, 2001), BeAttitudes for Women: Wisdom from Heaven for Life on Earth (Broadman, 2000), and A Woman Seeking God: Discover God in the Places of Your Life (Broadman, 1992). Her memberships include the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, Council for National Policy, Eagle Forum Council, Evangelical Theological Society, Society of Biblical Literature, Adjunct Panelist of Television Broadcast- American Religious Town Hall, Baptist World Aid Committee- Christian Ethics Commission Baptist World Alliance, and the Board of Directors- Middle Creek Bible Conference in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Patterson resides in Texas with her husband and their dog, Noche (SWBTS 2004).

The Interview

The interview was conducted in the morning of June 14, 2004—the day prior to the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana. It took place in a large vacant room adjacent to the exhibit hall, where Jason Duesing, Dr. Patterson’s personal assistant, said would provide us more privacy. The questions were initially directed solely at Dr. Paige Patterson because Mrs. Dorothy Patterson was delayed at a book-signing venue.

Q: What are your duties at the SBC during the year?

PP: Seminary presidents are required to serve in the Executive Committee and attend the meetings, serve on the board and council of presidents, the historical society, great commission council (along with entity heads of NAMB, WMU, etc.). Attend state conventions (five to six seminary presidents are to represent the SBC), and there’s also the influence factor, so we do a lot of consulting.

Q: Where do you see the SBC in the next 10 years?

PP: I have some concerns about the next ten years. We have a 45-60 year old gap of pastoral leadership training. The good leadership that we have in that age group are not biblically based because of the seminaries. If we can survive the next few years, we can get good leaders that are coming out of our seminaries. There is a price to be paid though, leaders can’t be selfish. They need to vote, serve and attend boring meetings—they just have to pinch themselves to get through it. Some of the other concerns are the question of the efficiency of the Bible, should it be the rule? There’s also the gender issue and where women should serve. Mrs. Patterson started a women’s studies MDiv at Southeastern. Other seminaries have followed the same format. Women are going to go to school so we can either curse the darkness or light a candle. We need women bible teachers who are going to teach the Bible.

Q: Do you see an Armenian/Calvinism divide in the future of the SBC and how could we avoid it?

PP: The Armenian/Calvinism debate can’t be avoided. Armenianism isn’t an option for Southern Baptists. Moody was the last one in fact. There’s actually two things that feed into the SBC—Charleston (who are reformed) and Sandy Creek. What we need to do is tolerate each other to make it work. Reformed theology scares the bejabbers out of me. It frightens me very very much. Of course I believe in election, but what does it mean? Knowing the mind of God…but who knows the mind of God? There are a good number of Southern Baptists who are Sandy Creekers. Sandy Creekers terrify me too because of wanting numbers. They’ll water down the message to increase their numbers. Charleston and Sandy Creekers are a good balance and are helpful to each other.

Mrs. Patterson joined the interview.

Q: How difficult were the early days during the Resurgence on your marriage and family?

DP: It was hard for me personally during the Resurgence. People who were our friends would not speak to us in public. They’d send notes, but they’d never talk to us in public. It was hard for our children because you don’t want your children to see Christians act like the world. They would act one way in public and another in private. It left scars on them.

Q: How were you able to support your husband during that time?

DP: I encouraged my husband by giving him a scripture plaque. It was an idea I got from Mrs. Spurgeon who did the same thing for her husband—she put an encouraging scripture verse on the ceiling of their bedroom so he would see it when he first wakes up and when he goes to bed, but Dr. Patterson is so busy and doesn’t sleep much that I decided to put the plaque in the bathroom—opposite of the throne. I talked about this in my Minister’s Wives book. The children also cheered their daddy up and we talked about things.

PP: Women have more faith in situations like that. Her faith (Mrs. Patterson’s) was remarkable to me. She was an encouragement to me during those difficult times.

Q: Did you ever receive verbal or written threats and how did it affect your family?

DP: We had a telephone call after Dr. Patterson dropped the children off at school. The person described what they were wearing and warned us to keep our mouth shut. (Mrs. Patterson starts to cry).

PP: Our telephone was tapped for two years…we had no security or protection at that time. We had a threat a week for a four-year period. I was involved with the Reagan administration, especially with the Israelis and Palestinians, so it was hard to tell where the threats were coming from. Most of the threats arrived through the secretaries…the ones toward the children were bad. We still receive threats…it’s almost part of the territory. At Southwestern, we receive threats by email, but they’re nothing big. We have a big dog too.

DP: We always let security know when we have our grandchildren over.

Q: What made you decide to get a seminary degree, especially since it was uncommon for women at that time?

DP: There were two other women (students) in theology—one completed and the other did not. It was Dr. Patterson’s idea that I continue my education—he thought it would be good for our ministry. I had taken a Greek class in college and I did pretty well and he suggested I take seminary classes. We took many of the same classes, but we didn’t get the same degree. I was able to finish with a ThM with Dr. Patterson’s strong encouragement.

Q: You mentioned that it was Dr. Patterson’s idea that you pursue a seminary degree—was this something you did not intend on doing?

DP: No, I wanted to get the education, but I became ill with asthma and would have quit if it wasn’t for Dr. Patterson. He took notes for me when I was unable to attend classes—he doesn’t have to take notes for himself. I dropped out of the ThD program at New Orleans because of my asthma, but got a DMin. We work as a team. I love studying. Getting a seminary education has been good for our marriage. I’m able to talk to my husband about common interests.

The interview concluded 40 minutes later. It was an incredible testimony of faithfulness in how this couple supported each other during the most volatile time in SBC history.

Later that evening at the Resurgence Reunion in the Indianapolis Convention Center, Dr. Patterson emotionally recounted the time he received the threatening phone call aimed at his children. He told the audience, “I almost quit (the Resurgence) then.” Dr. and Mrs. Patterson relied on God and supported each other during the difficult times. They showed diligent perseverance despite the opposition they faced. This is reminiscent of a passage in Romans 8:35 that is poetically translated in the NLT Bible: “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death?” If it were not for the fortitude of Dr. Patterson and Judge Pressler, Southern Baptist seminaries and the SBC would continue its downward spiral into liberal obscurity. Praise God that He was able to use these men to bring Southern Baptist institutions back into the light.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bush, L. Russ and Tom J. Nettles. Baptists and the Bible. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999.

Good News & Crossway [on-line]. Accessed 9 June 2004. Available from http://www.gnpcb. org/product/1581345348/contents#extra. Internet.

Hankins, Barry. Uneasy in Babylon: Southern Baptist Conservatives and American Culture. Tuscaloosa, AL: The University of Alabama Press, 2002.

Leonard, Bill J. God’s Last & Only Hope: The Fragmentation of the Southern Baptist Convention. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1990.

Pressler, Paul. A Hill on Which to Die: One Southern Baptist’s Journey. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002.

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Faculty Profile [on-line]. Accessed 9 June 2004. Available from http://www.swbts.edu/faculty/dpatterson. Internet.

________, President Profile [on-line]. Accessed 9 June 2004. Available from http://www. swbts.edu/faculty/ppatterson/index.cfm. Internet.

Sutton, Jerry. The Baptist Reformation. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000.

The Baptist Standard [on-line]. Accessed 18 June 2004. Available from http://www. baptiststandard.com/postnuke/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=277. Internet.

Copyright © 2008 M. Teresa Trascritti

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Keep the Gospel Basic

Spencer kept the gospel message very basic yet true, using common terms and words that were understandable.  He believed that to use more words than necessary leaned on “crazy philosophizing” which tended to “awaken doubt than call forth faith” (59).  Once the gospel had been presented, he called for a response.  Often people did not respond positively because sin prevented them from doing so.  Spencer had the uncanny ability to know what sin a person suffered, in fact he referred to this as “conspiring” with the Holy Spirit (153).  In one case he presented the gospel to a man and his family.  The response seemed positive in that they all knelt and had a prayer together, but the man never showed up at church.  Through a chance meeting on the road, Spencer realized the man was an alcoholic.  With much deliberation, the man threw his bottle away, went back home, and soon after became a “child of God” (256-63).

Counter False or Erroneous Beliefs

Sometimes the people Spencer encountered had erroneous beliefs about the Bible.  They were either confused or, for some reason, were hostile against the Word.  Spencer did not allow anyone to pick apart the gospel in order to discount the whole message nor did he allow faulty thinking to fester.  In one account, a young man wanted to get baptized and insisted on getting immersed.  Spencer interrogated him about the meaning of baptism.  After much discussion, Spencer decided to baptize the man in the river just as Philip baptized the eunuch.  The man was hesitant and Spencer confronted him about his “vanity” and desire to gain attention through immersion baptism (which is not practiced in their denomination) (167-73).  Another facet of faulty thinking was that some did not come to Christ because they thought it should be done through their own volition (165).  Others thought they were too sinful for Christ to accept them, but rather than interpreting this as a form of humility, Spencer saw it as an indication of pride, self-righteousness, and a “wicked heart” (227-28).

Know the Limit

Spencer realized that there were times when he could do no spiritual coaxing since God uses “gloomy months” to bring people closer to Him (223), because there were times when he was powerless in evoking a positive response from people (275).  Though it was never too late to repent and receive salvation, there was one particular episode when Spencer was at a man’s deathbed.  The man refused to accept Christ.  His reason was that he had led a life in opposition to God and had made his choice long ago.  His father had influenced him to believe that there was no hell and all people who died went to heaven.  During his final days of life, he advised his younger brother to cling to Christ and ignore their father’s Universalist beliefs.  Though he apparently knew the truth, he never prayed for God’s mercy to be upon him.  He died eternally separated from God because he could not forgive his father for leading him astray (264-77).

 Never Compromise the Word

The gospel was never compromised.  There were situations in which Spencer could have downplayed the gospel in order to cater to people’s liking, but he never did.  In one episode, a woman was lying on her deathbed and confessed to Spencer that she would have preferred “fanciful” sermons, but instead he preached Scriptural doctrine and insisted that people read their Bibles (283).  She acknowledged that his biblical teachings and urging allowed her faith in God to become stronger.  In another instance during a revival, Spencer was faced with a small group of people who complained about the Bible’s message of God’s judgment, the law, and the human condition prone to wickedness (125).  Spencer could have apologized and promised to give milder messages in the future, but instead he presented a much harsher discourse that evening on the “wickedness of men” and the “anger of God against the wicked.”  As a result, the majority of those people who complained became believers (125-26).  Spencer understood that people, who were “convicted sinners,” had no idea what was best for their soul  (124).  Spencer’s philosophy was that “truth is never injurious” and anything other than biblical truth was a “trick” (115).

Strengths and Weaknesses of Spencer’s Approach

Strengths

Spencer’s approach was very direct and confrontational.  This was a strength because many of the people he encountered denied their need for a Savior, and confronting them with their true sinfulness and depravity forced them to realize their dire state.  Some who felt they were not very sinful needed this direct approach in order to truly compare themselves with God.  This approach spurred others to examine their faulty belief systems and break down barriers erected from intellectual philosophizing and rationalizing. 

The ability for Spencer to adapt his presentation based on the audience is a strength.  He either kept the basic gospel simple and understandable or used apologetics to appeal to intellectuals.  Although he altered the presentation, Spencer never compromised the truth of the gospel and followed up the gospel message with a call to respond.  Insisting on a decision following a gospel presentation forced the person to personalize the message then verbalize their understanding of it.  Though Spencer called for a response, he knew his limitation and in the case of the dying Universalist, he did not push the man to concede to Christ. 

Spencer was very knowledgeable about various counterarguments to the gospel, which is a strength for any Christian.  There were examples of his lengthy discussions, one about creationism and the other about the doctrine of election.  Spencer was able to find the core issue of a person’s objection.  In the case of “The Young Irishman,” he elaborated on the topic of matter, Spirit, the mind, human perception, knowledge, power and will.  Since Spencer exhausted the topics, the young man had no recourse but to admit that Satan had misled him and “renounce his infidelity” (49).  Regarding the doctrine of election, Spencer spoke about predestination, free will, obedience, and receptiveness to the Word.  For each subject Spencer gave two or more points to support his statement.  His arguments seemed to flow naturally and without hesitation, which resulted in the man to make a public profession of faith.

To show empathy and genuine concern for people was another of Spencer’s strengths. He was not afraid to touch people who were deathly ill.  There were many instances in which Spencer visited those who were dying.  An illustration of empathy was shown when the young Universalist was dying.   Spencer was not afraid to show his emotions and while sharing a moment of silence with the wife and mother of the man, he became “subdued to tears” (272).  Spencer’s genuine concern for the dying was shown in the amount of time he spent with them.  He did not think of it as an inconvenience to visit the same person day after day for several hours.  The most loving thing Spencer did was to present the gospel and correct any biblical misconceptions to those who were dying.  When he ministered to a dying young woman, he held her hand and patiently listened to her concerns as she voiced them between labored breathing (89-103).  Those he ministered always appreciated his care and concern, and would thank him for his time even if they did not agree with him.

Weaknesses

There were no weaknesses to Spencer’s approach to evangelism because the encounters he had with the majority of the people resulted in a conversion.  His upfront and candid presentation style worked for his personality.  This confrontational approach may not work for an introverted woman, but it was effective for Spencer, who seemed to be very extroverted and opinionated. 

Strategy of Evangelism to Follow in Ministry

Know Your “Stuff” 

All Christians should be aware of the world’s objections to the gospel, and be prepared to defend the Word.   Spencer dealt with various issues such as creationism, predestination, universalism, and ignorance.  Each time he faced opposition, he had a ready answer.  Spencer clearly practiced Colossians 4:6—“Let you speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one (NKJV).”  When Spencer discussed creationism with the Irishman, he reiterated Romans 1:18-20 in the form of “everyday” language.    Spencer took to heart what Jesus advised believers— to be “wise as serpents” (Matthew 10:16). 

Be Lovingly Confrontative

As Spencer noted, sinners do not know what is best for their souls, so the most loving thing a Christian can do for a non-believer is to engage and disseminate faulty thinking or any misconceptions of the Bible.  If the person is living in an obvious sin, a Christian must direct him or her to God’s Word.  Spencer personally lived 2Timothy 4:2— “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season.  Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching (NKJV).”  It seemed that Spencer’s reason for trying hard to convince people of the truth was so that they “may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil” (2Timothy 2:26 NKJV). 

Demonstrate Care and Concern

Christians should be willing to spend time with non-believers and present the gospel to them.  Spencer exemplified Matthew 5:44 & 46—“Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you…for if you love those who love you, what reward have you?  Do not even the tax collectors do the same (NKJV)?” All believers should follow Spencer’s example for his patience with skeptics, his ministry to the terminally ill, and his persuasion of people to live godly lives. 

Never Compromise or Minimized the Gospel

Spencer knew that sinners did not know what was best for their souls, and because of this fact, they might have preferred hearing a different gospel than the one he told.   However, he did not change the gospel to suit their tastes.  He recognized that the Word was the only way to free them from their state of being.  Spencer believed the truth of John 8:32—“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free (NKJV).”  Believers should never be afraid to tell the whole gospel because it is a message of hope.

Conclusion

Christians should be in the habit of building their own lives on the foundation of their “holy faith,” praying for the direction of the Holy Spirit, living to honor God, to “show mercy” to people whose faith is inconsistent, and having the courage to “snatch” others from the “flames of judgment” by sharing the gospel with them (Jude 20-23 NLT).  The purpose of every believer is to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things commanded by Jesus” (Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV).  Spencer accepted and fully carried out God’s command, and as such, he was a great example for all dedicated followers to imitate.  He never cowered from the truth, and went out of his way to convince people of their fate and spiritual circumstances in the light of God’s Word.