Bailing Water Comment
The Holy Spirit works through the Gospel in Word in Sacrament, no doubt, but confining the propagation of the Gospel message to the church sanctuary on Sunday is in no way shape or form evangelism. The Word must go out, and it ought to be a deliberate effort. This is what we did.
But don't kid yourself, while it is the Holy Spirit alone, working through the Gospel in Word and Sacrament, Who produces and strengthens faith in the hearts of individuals and causes the Church to grow, the job of sending out the Word in a way that effectively communicates it's message is a Boatload of work. Yes, that's Boatload with a capital "B".
For example, early on, as we were struggling with the why's and the wherefore's of what we were doing, our Board spent several hours a week in meeting, researching, writing, debating, brainstorming, etc. For a couple of years I was up all night at least once a month. Finding ways of spreading the Word in our community, and then actually spreading it, was (and continues to be) important to us -- it's worth the effort. And, yes, evangelism is our effort, it is something we do. [emphasis in the original]
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GJ - The above pericope is faux-Lutheran, a sad commentary on Lutheran doctrine today. The post is scornful toward worship and God's unique work in evangelism. This poor guy is working, boatload-working, with a capital "B" which rhymes with "P" and that stand for Pool. Oh we got trouble, right here in River City.
As the Reformed and Pietists say, evangelism is man's work. God has no hands but ours, no legs but ours, no funds but ours, etc. Poor God. He must look at this congregation and marvel at what He might have done if only He had their determination and their training at Willow Creek Community Church.
Let me offer a Biblical, Lutheran view of evangelism. We are so confident in the Holy Spirit working through the Word that we see endless opportunities to share the Word and trust God to accomplish His will, as He promises in Isaiah 55:8-10, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Hebrews 4, and Romans 10.
"What business is it of mine that many do not esteem it? It must be that many are called but few are chosen. For the sake of the good ground that brings forth fruit with patience, the seed must also fall fruitless by the wayside, on the rock and among the thorns; inasmuch as we are assured that the Word of God does not go forth without bearing some fruit, but it always finds also good ground; as Christ says here, some seed of the sower falls also into good ground, and not only by the wayside, among the thorns and on stony ground. For wherever the Gospel goes you will find find Christians. 'My Word shall not return unto me void.' Is. 55:11"
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, J-206 II, p. 118. Luke 8:4-15. Isaiah 55:11.
"On the one hand, it is true that both the preacher's planting and watering and the hearer's running and willing would be in vain, and no conversion would follow, if there were not added the power and operation of the Holy Spirit, who through the Word preached and heard illuminates and converts hearts so that men believe this Word and give their assent to it. On the other hand, neither the preacher nor the hearer should question this grace and operation of the Holy Spirit, but should be certain that, when the Word of God is preached, pure and unalloyed according to God's command and will, and when the people diligently and earnestly listen to and meditate on it, God is certainly present with his grace and gives what man is unable by his own powers to take or to give. We should not and cannot pass judgment on the Holy Spirit's presence, operations and gifts merely on the basis of our feeling..."
Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article II, Free Will, 55-56, The Book of Concord, ed. Theodore G. Tappert, Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1959, p. 531f.
