VOLUNTEERS
FOR
JESUS
Curtis
Pugh
Poteau,
Oklahoma
Most
so-called evangelical Christians preach and practice what they
erroneously call
“soul winning.” They can be likened to recruiters for the military
service.
They have a sales pitch prepared by which they try to get sinners to
volunteer
for salvation: whatever it takes, by hook or by crook! If these
religious
recruiting officers can just get sinners to make a move they can turn
it in on
their report. They can carve another notch on their gospel gun. A
one-time
prayer for salvation is all it takes with most of them. Others try to
include
making some kind of commitment which they often call ‘making Christ
Lord.’
Still others have in their recruitment scheme a necessary step they
call
baptism. Whatever their requirements, their aim is to secure volunteers
for
Jesus: hence our title. They think by their methods to make disciples
for
Christ. They think their scheme produces genuine Christians headed for
heaven.
As
a boy growing up in Oklahoma I attended various “singings,” community
“homecomings,”
cemetery “decoration days” and “revival” services as well as regular
church
meetings. I remember singing the song “As A Volunteer.” The chorus of
that song
goes “A volunteer for Jesus, A soldier true, Others have enlisted, Why
not you?
Jesus is the Captain, We will never fear, Will you be enlisted as a
volunteer?”
That song is probably out of fashion today as so called “gospel music”
has gone
through various phases in its downgrade. But the philosophy behind that
song is
as popular as ever. After all the Bible says “evil men and seducers
shall [continue
to] wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived,” (2
Timothy 3:13
– brackets added). And volunteerism for Jesus is a deception! All this
volunteerism, of course, is based upon the notion that sinners are
capable of
volunteering. We say again: volunteering for Jesus is based upon the
misconception that sinners have the ability to come to Christ in a
saving way
without any interference from God.
Today,
most of what is called “evangelical Christianity” has done away with
the draft.
They no longer believe that God has a conscription policy by which He
selects
and inducts into His service whom He pleases. Various objections as to
the
fairness of God’s conscription program continue to be raised by those
who
believe individuals have the ability to volunteer for Jesus. God’s
answer to
such as object to the way He drafts His soldiers was written by Paul in
Romans
9:20-21: “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?
Shall the
thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Hath not
the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel
unto
honour, and another unto dishonour?” In other words, If we may
paraphrase,
Paul says to all those volunteers for Jesus, ‘Just who do you think you
are,
daring to question God? God has the right to do whatever He wants with
His
creation.’ Paul had just previously stated these words: “What shall
we say
then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he
saith to
Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have
compassion
on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that
willeth,
nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy,” (Romans
9:14-16).
But modern Christianity has espoused the idea of individuals
volunteering for
Jesus. They will not be divorced from that notion even by God’s Word!
They
think the new birth comes about by an act of man’s will. It matters not
to them
that the Bible says, “it is not of him that willeth.”
Is
there Scripture to substantiate our claim that God does not accept
volunteers?
We believe that there is. Christ’s rejection of volunteers was
complete. As far
as the New Testament record is concerned, there is not a single
instance of
Christ accepting a volunteer. Let us look at four instances of
volunteerism in
the Gospels. In each of these the Lord Jesus spoke words – demanding
words –
which caused the volunteer to go away from Him. Jesus did not
mistakenly say
things that caused these men to give up their volunteerism. We can say
that
with full assurance because the Lord Jesus “needed not that any
should
testify of man: for he knew what was in man,” (John 2:25). His
words were
direct, pointed and achieved what He intended them to accomplish.
First
consider these excerpts from the meeting of the rich young ruler with
Jesus. “And,
behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall
I do,
that I may have eternal life?... Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be
perfect,
go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have
treasure
in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that
saying, he
went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions,” (Matthew 19:16
& 21-22).
This young man claimed to be blameless as far as the Old Testament law
was
concerned. (Paul made that same claim in Philippians 3:6). He was no
doubt a
fine young man. He was volunteering to do whatever Jesus told him to do
– he
thought. But the Lord Jesus, knowing his heart, told him to do that
which the
young man could not bear to do. Christ told him to sell all that he
owned, give
the proceeds to the poor and then come and follow Him. The young man’s
volunteerism was short lived. The Scripture says “he went away
sorrowful.”
Christ never required any other person in the Scripture to sell all
their
possessions. But He pointed His words at the true love of the young
man: his
riches. Many professing Christians today – volunteers – are willing to
follow
the Lord as long as they can keep their comfortable affluent lifestyle.
As long
as their kind of following after Christ does not affect what they have,
they
are willing to volunteer for Jesus. But Christ did not accept that kind
of
volunteerism then and we have no reason to believe that He accepts it
today.
Another
instance of volunteerism which Jesus rejected is seen in these verses: “And
it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man
said unto
him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said
unto
him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the
Son of
man hath not where to lay his head,” (Luke 9:57-58). Here was a man
who
seemed quite enthusiastic. He openly declared that he would follow the
Lord
wherever it took him. But he seemed to think that following the Lord
would
eventually result in ease. Perhaps he was expecting the Lord to
immediately
receive His kingdom. Perhaps he thought he would be elevated to a
higher
position: one of power and wealth. The Lord’s pointed words about His
own
poverty seem intended to cause this man to reconsider and leave. The
context
gives us every reason to believe that this man gave up his volunteerism.
In
proximity to the last two quoted verses we have another two which tell
of a
similar volunteer. We read: “And another also said, Lord, I will
follow
thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my
house. And
Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and
looking
back, is fit for the kingdom of God,” (Luke 9:61-62). This man had
such
ties with family and friends that he was willing to put off following
the Lord
for a time of farewells with them. Perhaps he expected a going-away
feast or
party. Again we point out that the Lord Jesus knew all about this man.
And
based upon what He knew He spoke pointed words of rebuke to him. It
seems clear
that this was the end of his volunteerism.
A
fourth instance of volunteerism in which the words of Jesus caused
would-be
followers to leave Him is seen in this passage: “But there are some
of you
that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that
believed
not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you,
that no
man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From
that
time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him,” (John
6:64-66). These words of Jesus were spoken to some who were actually
viewed as
His disciples. They are called that. Again the supernatural knowledge
of the
Son of God is stated. Jesus knew not only that Judas would betray Him,
but He
also knew from the beginning who believed not. Some of these
unbelievers were
viewed as disciples of His, but they were not true believers. No doubt
they
considered themselves to be followers of the Lamb. Notice the word
“therefore.”
The adage is “whenever you read a wherefore or a therefore ask yourself
what is
it there for.” The word “therefore” connects what Jesus said with what
He knew
in this case. In other words, it was because Jesus knew those who were
unbelievers that He aimed His words at them. He knew what the results
of His
words would be. And He said them in light of that knowledge. And what
were the
results of Jesus speaking of man’s inability to volunteer to be His
disciple?
They left Him and never came back! Volunteers for Jesus do not stick!
They are not
genuine!
Revelation
17:14 speaks of those who will be victorious over the ten kings. It
says “they
that are with him [Christ] are called, and chosen, and
faithful.” (Brackets
added). No volunteers in that army! God called them. God chose
them. And
as a result of His working in them they are steadfast! Neither do
Paul’s words
speak of volunteering for Jesus. He wrote in 2 Timothy 2:4: “No man
that
warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may
please
him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” No volunteering for
Jesus in this
army either! Paul wrote that God’s soldiers are chosen: chosen by God.
To the
congregation at Rome Paul wrote: “Among whom are ye also the called
of Jesus
Christ,” (Romans 1:6). The saints at Rome had not volunteered for
Jesus.
They had been called! Their call had been effective – it resulted in
their true
discipleship. The words of assurance in the first part of Romans 8:28
are “to
them who are the called according to his purpose.” Volunteers for
Jesus
have no assurance that all things work together for good to them! The
words of the
Lord Himself in Matthew 20:16 are these: “So the last shall be
first, and
the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” No volunteers
for
Jesus among those who shall be first. They are chosen! Paul himself
certainty
was not a volunteer for Jesus. God spoke about Paul to Ananias saying, “Go
thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me...” (Acts 9:15). Anyone
who
reads the account of Paul’s arrest on the Damascus road cannot
seriously
attempt to say that Paul was a volunteer for Jesus! God told Ananias
that He
(God) had chosen Paul! Furthermore there was not a single volunteer for
Jesus
who saw Him after His resurrection. Proof: “Him God raised up the
third day,
and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen
before
of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from
the dead,”
(Acts 10:40-41). All the witnesses of Christ’s resurrection were before
that
time chosen by God! The disciple Rufus was not a volunteer for Jesus
for we
read Paul’s words: “Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother
and
mine,” (Romans 16:13). In fact, as far as both Paul and Peter are
concerned,
those who are saved are not volunteers for Jesus. They are all chosen
ones!
Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:4: “According as he hath chosen us in him
before
the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame
before
him in love.” Peter’s words are similar in 1 Peter 2:9 where he
wrote: “But
ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a
peculiar
people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called
you out of
darkness into his marvellous light.” Jude summed it up thus in the
first
verse of his letter: “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and
brother of
James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in
Jesus
Christ, and called.” Jude wrote to Christians, saying that they
were set
apart, preserved and then called. No volunteers for Jesus there! God
called
them!
Can
there be anything plainer than the words of Christ Himself in John
6:44-45? He
said: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me
draw him:
and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets,
And
they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard,
and hath
learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” A sinner can volunteer to
go
forward. He can voluntarily pray the sinner’s prayer. He can volunteer
to be
baptized. He can volunteer to preach. He can volunteer to teach and to
witness
and to pass out tracts. He can volunteer to be a missionary. He can
voluntarily
do a lot of things. But he cannot be a volunteer for Jesus. He might
think that
he can. But he cannot! Unless God draws him he will not and cannot come
to
Christ in a saving way. Only those who have heard the effectual
(effective)
call of God which gives life to the spiritually dead – unless he has
learned of
the Father – unless God has chosen to teach him - to deal with him – he
will be
just a volunteer for religion. He may think he has volunteered for
Jesus. He
may sing about it. He may go to hear preaching that tells him that he
can be a
volunteer. But the truth is he cannot! Merriam Webster defines the word
volunteer as “a person who voluntarily undertakes or expresses a
willingness to
undertake a service.” No sinner ever did that relative to Christ! Not
apart
from the working of God in him. No sinner ever came in a saving way to
Christ
of his own accord – that is, apart from the work of God in his heart –
the work
of regeneration. In this thing the theologians call regeneration – the
new
birth – a holy disposition is given to the mind. That mind of man which
by
natural birth is enmity against God must be changed so as to cause the
sinner
to see himself as hopeless and helpless and to sorrow for his sins. The
sinner
comes to see himself as an offense to God! That godly sorrow results in
repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. (See
Romans 8:7-8;
2 Corinthians 7:20; Acts 20:21). So it is God who takes the initiative
in those
who come to Jesus. If there is any volunteerism in the new birth, it is
that
the triune God volunteers to save unworthy sinners.
If
you, reader, are only a volunteer for Jesus you are yet in your sins.
Cease
trusting in what you have done. Your prayers, decision, religious
rituals, self-confidence,
and all that goes along with volunteerism – cast it upon the dung-heap!
The
only hope of any sinner is Christ! Cast yourself upon the grace of God!
Trust
only in the finished work of Christ! If you are able – if you are
enabled to do
so – come to Christ as you are, trusting only in His finished work – it
will be
God working in you. Consider: “...how that Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose
again the
third day according to the scriptures,” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
And may “the
Lord give thee understanding in all things,” (2 Timothy 2:7).
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