Morris Chapman – Just One More Soul

Dr. Morris Chapman has written an article for SBC Life describing his vision for his final year at the helm of the Executive Committee for Southern Baptists. There is no doubt that I have disagreed with Dr. Chapman in the past over certain issues, but on this article I raise a loud AMEN! I pray that all the members on the Great Commission Task Force read what he has written here because I believe that Dr. Chapman has got to the heartbeat of our problems in the SBC. Do we pray for “just one more soul?” And after one more soul is delivered are we repeating this prayer? Is this happening in the typical Southern Baptist pastor quiet time? Is this happening in the lives of those who occupy the pews in our churches? While in some instances that may be true, I am fearful that in a majority of cases, that is not true. Yet the bigger question for those of us who are voicing this prayer of burden is whether we are putting feet to our prayers. Below is an excerpt from Dr. Chapman’s article:

What is God’s part in the salvation of the lost? Of course, He prepares the soil of the human heart to receive the Word of God. He sends the sunshine and rain.

What is our part in salvation of the lost? To tell the Good News — intentionally, willingly, joyfully, courageously, faithfully, obediently … and most of all, prayerfully. It seems apparent to me that soul-winning is the ultimate spiritual discipline.

We can pray … and never tell

We can read the Bible … and never tell

We can fast … and never tell

We can give … and never tell

We can attend … and never tell

We can meditate … and never tell.

But the moment you open your mouth in witness, you are driven to pray, you are driven to know the Word more fully, you are driven to fast, you are driven to give, you are driven to attend, you are driven to meditate.

Dr. Chapman also gives a stunning rebuke of Southern Baptists today by looking at our past:

Our historical baptism records show that those who were poised to win the world in the 1950s and 1960s readily engaged the culture in which they lived. They had a passion to win the lost at any cost.

It is time we quit debating evangelism, decrying the lack of baptisms, and disrespecting the generations for whom personal evangelism was front and center. Last year, our baptism records reflected a disappointing ratio, not of 1:8, but 1:48.

Have we become too technologically sophisticated to actually go out where the people are and engage them in personal conversation with an intention of persuading them of the Gospel?

When was the last time you sought to engage a lost person in a conversation about the Gospel in an intentional effort to win that soul to faith in Jesus Christ? Scripture is clear, both in precept and by example, that we are to use “means” — verbal means — to win the lost to personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.

Definitely words to take to heart, especially for this writer.

This past year in Louisville I had the opportunity to have a brief conversation with Dr. Akin and others. In that conversation he again told the story of his trip to Southeast Asia and the rampant prostitution he saw with little boys and girls. He nearly couldn’t get the words out in his emotion of what he witnessed overseas. Dr. Akin’s heartbeat was, “just one more soul.” I believe he was seeing the faces of those children as he was talking to our small group. Whether Dr. Chapman or Dr. Akin, I believe the heartbeat of both these men is, “just one more soul.”

I don’t know what the theme of next year’s convention will be, but I believe that Dr. Chapman has given us the perpetual theme of our hearts, “Lord, just one more soul” and after that soul, “Lord, just one more soul.” This should be our unending mantra and action as long as we have air to breath, a voice to tell, and the means to go and make disciples as we await the return of our Lord and Savior.