| Copyright 2005-2007 Jad Khalaf. All Rights Reserved |
| Copyright 2005-2008 Dr. Jad Khalaf, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved |
| "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." II Timothy 2:15 |
| DWIGHT L. MOODY: EVANGELISTIC WITNESSING BY DR. JAD JAMAL KHALAF INTRODUCTION This paper proposes that Moody’s conversion experience on April 21, 1855, provided two inner motives as to why he shared the Gospel through evangelistic witnessing techniques and evangelistic preaching. Moody’s two inner motives, which are derived from C. E. Autrey’s book The Theology of Evangelism, are the love of Christ residing in him and the Holy Spirit indwelling his life. The first hypothesis is that Moody used some evangelistic techniques in sharing the Gospel because of the two inner motives. The second hypothesis is that the two motives were the reasons as to why Moody was motivated to preach evangelistic sermons. These two hypotheses should seek to prove what the paper proposes. Defining the Terms To begin with, this paper will seek to define a variety of terminology involved in Moody’s conversion experience. This will help provide a better understanding as to what Moody’s conversion experience involved; thus, providing the basis for his inner motives’ motivation for doing evangelism. Moody’s conversion experience involved his realization of sin. C. E. Autrey has done work in the area of evangelism and has authored books about evangelism. He provides a definition of what sin is: “Sin is a fundamental wrongness within man which causes habitual rebellion against God.” Moody’s realization of sin required him to see sin in terms of a reality. Selfishness, rebellion against God, and lack of conforming to God’s will helped construct Moody’s realization of sin. Once sin was realized, Moody needed repentance. Repentance involved Moody doing the following: acknowledging his sin, accepting responsibility for his sin, confessing his sin, giving his sin up, and turning to God. This was done by faith. Faith as defined by Autrey: “Faith is part of the response of man to the gospel. It is a confidence in God, which causes man to surrender his life completely to God.” Confidence in Christ meant that Moody will receive what God promised, forgiveness of sin and eternal life with Him. This confidence lead Moody to give his life to Christ. Once this confidence was established, Moody received forgiveness. Autrey defines forgiveness: “Literally, the word ‘forgive,’ in the biblical usage, means the removal of a hindrance or barrier. The word used most frequently in the New Testament means ‘to send away.’” Moody’s sin was put away; never to be remembered by God. Thus, salvation happened; the conversion experience was experienced. God saved Moody from his sin. At this point, Christ’s love and the Holy Spirit’s presence were given to reside in Moody. An experience is something that a person personally goes through. Once an experience has happened, then the person who went through the experience is able to share with others what took place during the experience. There are times when one person’s experience is able to help lead someone else through a similar, yet personal experience. Since Moody personally experienced conversion, he could go out and share with others how they can experience their own conversion experience. This is were motive fits in. Autrey deals with the issue of a motive: “A motive is an inner drive that compels response. There may be several incentives in vital evangelism, but there are only two real motives: The love of Christ in us, and the indwelling Holy Spirit.” Autrey suggests that incentives involve the prompting of some type of encouraging action. Furthermore, Autrey believes that incentives may involve a prompting of an individual to witness to a lost person because the individual desires a better community or because the individual wants to see the church grow. So, Autrey does believe that evangelism can involve a number of incentives. However, Autrey suggests that believers only have two motives. According to Autrey, once a believer receives Christ’s love then the believer should share the love with others. “Love begets love. Obedience to Christ is proof of love. Motivated by love the witness obeys Christ’ s command to disciple all nations,” says Autrey. This is what the motive “the love of Christ in us” means. Autrey also believes, “Love that motivates evangelism is the love of Christ.” “Every true evangelist also will be propelled by the Holy Spirit, a burning force within,” says Autrey. The Holy Spirit’s indwelling, according to Autrey, is the driving force of a believer. Autrey believes that the beginning chapters of the book of Acts records the Holy Spirit’s descent into believers’ hearts. The two motives can lead a converted person to do evangelism. Autrey defines evangelism: “The primary purpose of the message of evangelism is to do call men to a personal relationship with God. It is not a call to a relationship between individuals.” After his conversion experience, Moody had the love of Christ in him and the Holy Spirit indwelling in him; so he had the motive to do evangelism. Since there were people who did not have a personal relationship with God, Moody’s primary purpose was to help those people experience a similar experience in which he had experienced. Thus, Moody’s conversion experience was the motive behind his evangelism. Autrey believes, “A heart filled with the love of Christ and set afire by the Holy Spirit is the mark of a genuine evangelist.” The Conversion Experience Dwight Lyman Moody was a shoe salesman, in Boston, Massachusetts, for his uncle Samuel Holton. Holton wanted Moody to work for him and to attend a local church; Moody agreed. So, Moody soon found and attended Mount Vernon Congregational Church. At the church, Moody was assigned to a Sunday School class. Edward Kimball was the Sunday School teacher for that class. Kimball had experienced conversion many years earlier. This meant that Kimball’s two motives impelled him to do evangelism. Since he had experienced conversion, Kimball desired for Moody to experience conversion. While Mount Vernon Congregational Church was in the midst of revival in the Spring of 1855, Kimball prayed that God would allow him the opportunity to share the Gospel with Moody. On Saturday April 21, 1855, God opened the door for Kimball to witness to Moody. April 21, 1855, proved to be the day in which Moody’s life would change. Moody, eighteen years old at the time, was working at the shore store. He was wrapping shoes. Kimball prayerfully walked into the shoe store, found Moody, and shared the Gospel with him. Kimball later recalled: I don’t know just what words I used, nor could Mr. Moody tell. I simply told him of Christ’s love for him and the love Christ wanted in return. That was all there was. It seemed the young man was just ready for the light that then broke upon him, and there, in the back of that store in Boston, he gave himself and his life to Christ. That day made a lasting impact on the rest of Moody’s life because Moody experienced his own conversion. Before his conversion experience, Moody did not pay much attention to his surroundings. After his conversion, Moody’s outlook on life’s surroundings changed. Forty years after his conversion experience, Moody reflected: I remember the morning on which I came out of my room after I had first trusted Christ. I thought the old sun shone a good deal brighter than it ever had before—I thought that it was just smiling upon me; and as I walked out upon Boston Common and heard the birds singing in the trees I thought they were all singing a song to me. Do you know, I fell in love with the birds. I had never cared for them before. It seemed to me that I was in love with all creation. I had not a bitter feeling against any man, and I was ready to take all men to my heart. Delimitations This research looked at numerous books which dealt with Moody’s life and ministry. However only the books Crucial Experiences in the Life of D. L. Moody, Dwight L. Moody American Evangelist 1837-1899, The Life of Dwight L. Moody, Love Them In: The Life and Theology of D. L. Moody, Bush Aglow: The Life Story of Dwight Lyman Moody Commoner of Northfield, Dwight L. Moody: His Life, His Work, His Words, Life and Labors of Dwight L. Moody: The Great Evangelist, and New Sermons, Addresses, and Prayers are the ones used in writing about Moody. The first chapter is a limited description of Moody’s way of witnessing through a variety of ways. This author developed the terminology “evangelistic techniques” to describe Moody’s variety of ways of witnessing. The second chapter is limited to four selected sermons that Moody preached. “God is Love,” “Christ’s Mission to the World,” “Man a Failure,” and “On Being Born Again” are the four selected sermons. These sermons were chosen because of their titles. Their titles all seem to have an evangelistic appeal. Theoretical Base C. E. Autrey’s book The Theology of Evangelism is the theoretical base for this paper. Autrey’s two inner motives, the love of Christ residing in a believer and the Holy Spirit indwelling a believer’s life, moved this student’s mind to think about the ministry and preaching of Moody. This student wanted to see if Moody’s reason behind his theology of evangelism rested in Moody’s two inner motives. According to Autrey “the evangelist must have encountered God and experienced his presence” before he can share the Gospel with people. Since Moody is considered by many as an evangelist, this author decided to use Autrey’s chapter two “Motivation for Evangelism” as the basis for most of the paper. However, other information did come out of different chapters of Autrey’s book. CHAPTER 1 SOME EVANGELISTIC TECHNIQUES USED BY MOODY The conversion experience would lead Moody’s life in new directions. Since this paper proposes that Moody’s two inner motives drove him to do evangelism, this chapter’s hypothesis is that Moody used some evangelistic techniques in sharing the Gospel because of the two inner motives; the love of Christ in Moody and the indwelling Holy Spirit in Moody. What took place on April 21, 1855, would be Moody’s inner drive that drove him to want others to have their own conversion experience. Not long after his conversion experience, Moody was involved in doing his own evangelism. His evangelistic techniques, ways of bringing and inviting people to hear about Christ’s love, were ways in which Moody went about doing evangelism. Pews and Sunday School On September 11, 1856, Moody arrived in Chicago. After arriving, Moody took interest in the local Plymouth Congregational Church. In May of 1857, Moody joined the church. April 21, 1855, would remain in Moody’s mind because he yearned for others to experience what he had experienced on that day. He invested his own time in inviting and bringing people to the Plymouth Congregational Church. It seems like Moody’s desire was to use techniques in getting people to church. One technique involved Moody renting out four pews at the church. Eager to fill his pews on Sunday, Moody would go out during the week and invite people to the church. The two motives drove Moody to do this technique of renting pews. On Sunday, Moody’s rented pews would be occupied with those he had brought or invited to church. Once at church, the people could hear the Gospel. Again he tried another technique, a mission Sunday school class. The two inner motives moved Moody in such a way that he inquired about teaching such a class. The superintendent informed Moody that he could teach whatever new people were brought. When Moody was told that he would have to teach his own Sunday school class at the mission, he did just that. The two motives moved within his heart motivated him to provide his own class. So, Moody went out and invited people to his class. This further seeks to prove that the two motives stirred Moody to do evangelism. Moody took on the task of becoming a recruiter for his Sunday school class. The reason he did this was because of the two motives that were given to him at his conversion. This recruitment technique was used by Moody to get people to come to the class; thus, hearing the Word of God. This technique of recruitment was implemented in Moody’s actions as he sought to invite people. He went out into the rural parts of the city, invited the people, and on Sunday would lead them to the class. On the first Sunday, Moody recruited eighteen, bare-footed people to the class. Moody’s Own Meetings Moody’s inner motives drove him to hold meetings all by himself. A dirty saloon would be Moody’s next technique. This could be called the saloon technique. A saloon was rented out by Moody. Soon, he began holding meetings on Sunday and during some nights of the week at the saloon. The area around the saloon was filled with drunkards, gamblers, crime, and prostitutes. Moody’s desire was for these people to experience their own conversion, no matter how much sin they had done. The only reason that this desire was in Moody was because of the two motives within him. Moody persuaded the street children to attend his meetings. This was a persuasive technique. This persuasive technique can be attributed to the two motives he received at his conversion. This technique involved Moody handing out maple sugar and pretty leaflets to the children. Moody did this in order to show Christ’s love to the street children. He knew that this would open up a door to share the Gospel. Eventually, Moody would be able to share the Gospel not only with the street children, but also to their parents. This could not have happened if Moody’s conversion experience had not taken place. This outpouring of Christ’s love and the work of the Holy Spirit both worked together in proving that Moody’s conversion experience totally changed his outlook on mankind and on God’s creation; thus the desire to use evangelistic techniques. YMCA The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) of Chicago was another avenue in which Moody’s evangelistic techniques would be used. This technique could be called the YMCA technique. Since Moody’s conversion experience prompted him to see people in new ways, he joined the YMCA. Moody’s two motives seemed to provide a burning desire for people of all ages to come and hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After joining the YMCA, Moody started a noon-day prayer meeting. This technique was unique because women and men were both invited to attend the YMCA prayer meeting. It seems evident that the reason this prayer meeting was started was because of April 21, 1855; the date of the conversion experience. The Holy Spirit empowered Moody’s mind to think about doing such a meeting. Evidently, Moody obeyed the Holy Spirit. At the same time, Christ’s love was portrayed in Moody’s life; thus beaming through him in a Christ-like manner. Moody wanted to make sure that others would follow him to the prayer meeting at the association. Another of Moody’s evangelistic techniques was a visiting committee. Again, the two motives were at work in Moody’s heart. While on this committee, the motives compelled Moody to get a horse. This technique can be called the horse technique. Moody would ride the horse through the streets. When he rode the horse, the children followed him to the meeting. Once at the meeting, the children could hear how they could experience their own conversion experience. The only reason that the technique of the horse was ever thought up was because of what happened on Saturday April 21, 1855; the date of the conversion experience. Pressure and Promise Moody’s two inner motives prompted him to use the technique of promise. The promise technique involved Moody’s promise to thirteen teenagers. This promise technique involved a gift. If the teenage boys would faithfully and regularly attend meetings for one summer, then they would each receive a new suit that Christmas. Since he was a teenager when he accepted Christ, Moody hoped that the teenagers will hear the Gospel presented at the meetings. At some meetings, the two inner motives moved Moody to use the pressure technique while he walked up and down the isles. He would find individuals who did not look enthusiastic. The individuals would be confronted about their lack of enthusiasm. There were times when these individuals were pushed toward making a decision for Christ. However, this sincere desire was caused by his conversion experience. Moody’ s love for Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit, the two inner motives, in his life compelled him to inquire about these individual’s souls. The Streets Moody’s two inner motives provided the basis for his street technique. He would start an impromptu meeting on the street. By doing this, Moody was hoping that the people passing by would stop and hear the Gospel. Since Moody realized how his conversion experience made a difference in his life, he wanted to share with the people how Christ can make a difference in their life. In addition, Kimball’s impromptu sharing of the Gospel with Moody could have also had an effect on Moody’s street technique. Kimball came to Moody during the day and shared the Gospel. Though Moody was working, he listened to Kimball. After Kimball shared about Christ’s love, Moody responded by giving his life to Christ. So, the inner motives and Kimball’s experience were the reasons at to why Moody felt he had to use the street technique during the day. Maybe some individual would stop, listen to Moody, and then give their life to Christ. Moody used the streets for the distribution of religious tracts. This tract technique was implemented because of the two inner motives. Since Moody wanted to share the love of Christ with individuals, then he could do this by handing out religious tracts. These printed tracts were evangelistic in nature. They would have information about Christ’s love. This way a person could obtain a tract, read it, and maybe give their life to Christ. The purpose of evangelism is to call people into a personal relationship with God. Therefore, Moody’s tract technique accomplished the purpose of evangelism. The Press and Books The public press technique was another evangelistic tool Moody used. The love of Christ and the Holy Spirit’s presence in his heart both moved him into viewing the public press as his ally. The reason was that in some cities where he preached, the local paper would print either his whole sermon or a portion of it. This press technique gave Moody the opportunity to reach a large audience. Instead of him having to pay for the publishing the papers, he simply allowed the public press to do it for him. Since his sermons were printed in the papers, the message of Jesus Christ was being shared in the paper. Along the same lines of the press technique, Moody used another evangelistic technique. This technique was the book technique. The two motives motivated Moody to order printed books in large quantities. He would then sale the books for an inexpensive price. People in Moody’s time were not buying religious books because of their expensive price. So, by offering religious books at inexpensive prices Moody felt like more people would buy them. This evangelistic technique was used by Moody to get the Gospel out to people through the use of books. The jail book technique was an evangelistic tool. Moody found out that most of the jails and prisons did not have religious books for the inmates to read. Christ’s love and the Holy Spirit’s presence in Moody’s life are the two motives that moved his spirit to supply religious books to the jails and prisons. Moody’s jail book technique was evangelistic because the religious books that Moody sent included the plan of salvation. Summary These techniques are just a few evangelistic techniques that this paper looked at. It seems apparent that Moody’s use of techniques were used as he saw fit. As the two motives motivated him, Moody’s evangelistic techniques were designed for their appropriate setting. For example, the saloon technique was developed because of its surroundings. The persuasive technique, the horse technique, and the promise technique were used because of Moody’s evangelistic efforts towards a certain age group; the children. The other techniques were motivated by the two motives according to Moody’s desire to do evangelism. The evidence in this chapter seems to prove that the hypothesis is correct. Therefore, Moody did use evangelistic techniques because of the love of Christ in him and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. CHAPTER 2 FOUR EVANGELISTIC SERMONS PREACHED BECAUSE OF THE MOTIVES This chapter will look at four of Moody’s evangelistic sermons. An evangelistic sermon is a sermon whose main emphasis is to call men into a personal relationship with God. Main emphasis means that majority of the sermon revolves around salvation as well as calling men to be saved. This chapter’s hypothesis is that the two motives were the reasons as to why Moody was motivated to preach evangelistic sermons. Four sermons will each be summarized. After the summary, each sermon will be briefly discussed. During this discussion, explanation will be given as to why the sermons are perceived to have been influenced by the two motives. Sermon Titled: “God is Love” This sermon deals with what Christ means to the audience. Moody acknowledges that justice could not properly be given in telling about Christ’s great love. He did seek to share the reason Christ was worth having. In essence, Moody says that Christ was the greatest gift that God could give. Moody shares that Christ desires to be every person’s Savior. Furthermore, Moody explains how Christ can deliver a person from sin. Christ’s way, according to Moody, is the best way. Moody tells the audience that Christ’s followers will let their light shine for Christ. The sermon concludes with Moody sharing how Christ can carry a person and their burdens. Christ’s love was in Moody. In this sermon, Christ’s love is seen. The title “God is Love” supports this. Moody’s sermon was derived as a result of the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit was in Moody’s life, the Holy Spirit directed him to preach this sermon. The audience has the opportunity to hear about God’s greatest to the world. Moody had first-hand knowledge of this because Christ was God’s greatest gift to him. Christ’s desire to be every person’s Savior stems from Moody’s own personal life in which Christ desired to be his Savior. Moody discusses how Christ’s way is the best way. This was true in Moody’s life. Before his conversion experience, Moody saw things differently than after his conversion experience. Moody’s life changed for the best. So, this is the reason as to why Moody preached Christ is the best way. Evangelism required Moody’s light to shine for Christ. Therefore, Moody shares how all believers should let their light shine for Christ. Christ bore Moody’s burdens as well as Moody himself. Since Moody had experienced this action, the two motives gave him the desire to share this with the audience. The reason that this sermon is considered evangelistic is because of the call to men to enter into a personal relationship with Christ. Sermon Titled: “Christ’s Mission to the World” Moody preaches why Christ came to earth; to seek and to save the ones who were lost. Moody uses Lk. 19:10 as the verse for his sermon. Christ, according to Moody, will receive anyone who desires to be saved. Moody says that Christ will give, according to God’s Word, a person what they ask for. In the sermon, Moody tells the audience that conversion can take place suddenly. Moody preaches that a person must admit that they are lost. Once this is admitted, Moody says that Christ will save them. Christ, according to Moody, will bear a person’s sin if they so desire. Moody shares a story of how he once shared the Gospel with an admitted lost sinner, prayed for him, and then asked the admitted lost sinner if he would like to and receive Christ into his heart; he did. This sermon came about as a result of Moody’s conversion experience. The Holy Spirit and Christ’s love prompted Moody to preach this sermon. The sermon was similar to Moody’s own conversion experience. Moody shares that Christ came to seek and to save those who were lost. Before his conversion experience, Moody was lost. Once he admitted that he was a sinner, he asked Christ to save him. Now, Moody would not be able to preach this sermon unless he had experienced the conversion experience. The reason lies in the idea that the two motives motivated Moody to preach this sermon. For one thing, Moody had to repent in order to be saved. He talks about a person having to admit that they are a sinner. Once this is done, Moody says that a person will be saved. This is what happened to Moody. He received salvation. Salvation was promised to Moody through God’s Word. This promise gave Moody the confidence to be saved. Moody’ s salvation happened suddenly. This is why Moody tells the audience that salvation can happen instantaneously. This sermon is an evangelistic sermon because it’s main idea is to bring men into a personal relationship with Christ. Sermon Titled: “Man a Failure” Moody preaches that sinful man is nothing more than a failure. Man, he says, is not worthy nor is he fit to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus, says Moody, said a person has to be born-again. Moody asks the audience to search their own hearts and to ask themselves if they had ever been converted. The whole world, Moody preaches, is sick and needs a Physician. Moody says Christ is the Physician in whom the world needs. He tells the audience that anyone who believes in Christ will be saved. This offer, according to Moody, is extended to the whole world. This entire sermon revolves around Christ’s gift of salvation to sinful men; thus making it an evangelistic sermon. Moody’s thoughts and words came as a result of his two motives. The reason is because Moody was once a sinful man. He was not worthy to enter into God’s kingdom. It was after Moody searched his own heart, he realized he was sick and in need of a Physician. Moody believed in Christ and the Physician saved him. Therefore, Moody experienced the conversion experience. This is the reason as to why Moody wanted to share the Christ’s message to the audience. By asking them to search their own hearts, they might realize their need. Just like what he did. Moody refuses to exclude anyone from the offer. He simply tells the audience that anyone can experience a conversion experience. Sermon Titled: “On Being Born Again” Moody’s sermon is derived from Jn. 3:3, in which Jesus says a person must be born again. In the sermon, Moody asks what will each individual person do with this verse. This verse, according to Moody, is simple to understand. He says that God’s work alone can save a man. The instant a man accepts Christ, preaches Moody, then that man enters the Kingdom. Moody says that when a man receives Christ, then at that very moment the new believer will work for Christ. He goes on to say that the new believer will have a new attitude about life. This sermon is evangelistic because of its focus upon salvation. Moody wants to get the audience to think about their own life, so he asked what will each person do with Jn. 3:3. Though Moody was not asked about a particular verse at his conversion, he did have to think about his own life. Once Moody heard the simple Gospel, he responded. The two motives came as a result of Moody’s response. In the sermon, Moody pointed out that a new believer will instantly work for Christ. Moody’s conversion experience prompted him to instantly serve Christ; in which the two motives were a result. This is why Moody sought to do evangelism. The conversion experience also gave Moody a new attitude on life. Ironically, in the sermon, Moody says that a new believer will have a new attitude about life. Summary The sermons “God is Love,” “Christ’s Mission to the World,” “Man a Failure,” and “On Being Born Again” all seem to suggest that Moody’s two inner motives motivated him to preach evangelistic sermons; thus proving that the hypothesis is correct. Each sermon contained different perspectives of life. However, they were all united in their concept of being labeled as evangelistic sermons. In addition, Moody called people to salvation. CONCLUSION This paper proposed that Moody’s conversion experience on April 21, 1855, provided Moody with two inner motives. The two inner motives, as proposed, was the motivation behind the reason why Moody shared the Gospel through evangelistic witnessing techniques and evangelistic preaching. The proposal was accompanied by two hypothesis. The first hypothesis was whether the two inner motives drove Moody to share the Gospel using different evangelistic techniques. The second hypothesis was whether the two motives motivated Moody to preach evangelistic sermons. The two inner motives, the love of Christ residing in Moody and the Holy Spirit indwelling Moody’s life, worked together in Moody’s evangelistic techniques and in Moody’s evangelistic sermons. These two hypotheses were both proved. In conclusion, the two hypotheses did prove that Moody’s conversion experience did provide Moody with two inner motives. Recommendations for Further Research This paper has sought to look at Moody’s two inner motives that motivated him to use evangelistic techniques and to preach evangelistic sermons. Further study could be done in how Moody’s two inner motives might have played a role in motivating him to start an education facility. Study could also be done on whether or not Henry Moorhouse had an effect on Moody’s preaching. If so, then study could be done on Moody’s response. Further study could be done on whether Moody’s preaching in the United States was different than his preaching overseas. |
| Dr. Jad Khalaf |