Sep

How to Give Away your Faith by Paul E. Little

An Honest Book Review

Little, Paul.How to Give Away your Faith.InterVarsity Press, 1989. 202 pp. $10.40.

Introduction

Paul E. Little and his wife Mary worked with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for 25 years.Paul was also the associate professor of evangelism at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.He wrote several books besides this one, with such titles as Know Why You Believe and Affirming the Will of God.Since Paul’s death in 1975, his wife and InterVarsity have continued his ministry through publishing his works and a website (http://www.ivpress.com/paullittle/index.html) dedicated to his legacy.

Summary

Little hopes to help Christians “give away their faith” in this work with a similar title.In order to accomplish this goal, he begins by detailing the foundation for witnessing.First, in order to witness Christians must understand the culture they live in.They must care about the people they are seeking, caring for both their spiritual and physical lives (23).This care will always lead to understanding, and the more a Christian understands his or her culture, the easier it will be for him or her to carry the gospel to the people in this culture.Second, Little argues that Christians must be real and live out the Christian life, for those who carry the gospel must show the change the gospel produces (36-37).In reality most people read the Christian before they listen to the message.

Little then moves to show his readers how to be effective in pointing to Christ.Believers often doubt the power of the message they possess, and this is what often hinders their witnessing.To remedy this he argues that the gospel is the best gift that can be given in the world (42-43.If Christians believe this, then they will seek to give this gift to everyone, according to his logic.The gospel is thus worth more than all the money or health the world can muster.

Little then gives practical application, hoping to encourage his readers to witness.He begins by telling them how to witness (ch. 3) followed by how they can overcome social barriers (ch.4).He offers eight principles to help Christians understand how to witness; as well as, several suggestions to help “break the ice” or “bridge the gap” between the ambassador for Christ and the sinner.

Little then moves to theology.He begins by giving a clear description of what the gospel is and what it is not.In order to accomplish his purpose, he explains Jesus’ identity (95), His view of man’s condition (96), the purpose and implications of His crucifixion and resurrection (97-98), followed by how sinners can have access to this blood through faith in Christ’s finished work alone (99-100).

Once Little encourages his readers in what Christians believe, he then shows his readers how they can defend these beliefs.He argues that Christians need to know their beliefs and the answer to seven questions that non-Christians often ask, but that they do not have to possess four doctorates to faithfully defend their faith (114).He concludes this section by reminding his readers that Christians must be convinced that what they are saying in true, otherwise, they will not be convincing to those they seek to reach (138).

Little concludes his book by arguing that 1) sinners need Jesus (ch.7), 2) Christians should be in the world but not of the world (ch. 8), 3) Christians should live by faith (ch.9), and 4) Christians must continue faithfully growing in their relationship with God (ch.10). In these chapters Little shows that Christians have what the world needs, but they must live in this world without withdrawing in order to bring the world this need.Furthermore, he argues that the Christian’s ultimate trust in this process must be in the sovereign Lord who saved him or her to begin with.In order to increase their faith, and not grow stagnant in their walk, Little concludes this book by arguing that Christians must have a consistent secret life with God (198).This is essential to Christians giving away their faith according to him.

Critical Evaluation

Little’s arguments are engaging for anyone who believes the Bible is the Word of God.The reality is however in today’s world, there are many who claim to be Christians that do not believe the Bible.This group of “Christians” will find little benefit from this book.He wrote this book for those who believe the Scriptures are authoritative; and those who are likeminded with him will receive the most benefit.

Based on this authority, and this writer’s biased towards inerrancy, Little’s arguments are well-formulated.He grounds them in the Protestant Bible.Furthermore, his practical writings, though less authoritative, carry weight based on Little’s experience in teaching at a Christian Seminary, his twenty-five years of ministry experience, and his experience in personal witnessing.There is a sense where if he is not an “authority” on the practical application of the issue, then there are no authorities.

Concerning the biblical proof of Little’s theological statements, this writer does not believe he is lacking in this area in the least.Little’s argument in his first chapter is grounded in the truth that Christ cared for the whole person, not just their spiritual lives, but their physical lives as well (23).In the same chapter, he grounds his emphasis upon true faith being more than mere knowledge according to James 2:19, for the demons believe and tremble, but they are not Christians (31).This similar emphasis upon God’s Word continues throughout the book. The book is full of Scripture that formulates the basis for his arguments.

Even Little’s emphasis on the practical application of his witnessing suggestions is grounded in the Word of God.In his chapter on how to witness (ch.3), he uses Christ’s example in witnessing to the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 to teach his readers how to witness.The list can go on and on for the Scriptures are observed in their context and heeded as authoritative.

The only critique this writer has is in Little’s aforementioned use of Christ’s witnessing example as a template for how Christians are supposed to witness today.Though this can be argued, it cannot be proven that the Apostle John sought to include this in his gospel so that Christians would know how to engage other sinners in Jesus’ name.John included it so people would place their trust in Jesus alone for salvation, not for practical purposes (John 20:31).However, one could argue that though John may not have included it for this purpose, God the Holy Spirit indirectly included it for this purpose.This is a small critique hermeneutically, for it is not the emphasis of the passage; but Christians can definitely follow Christ’s example in witnessing.In praise of Little however, he neither writes, nor insinuates that his witnessing emphasis is the only proper way to share the gospel.So, in this writer’s estimation, this is a very minor issue.

Furthermore, this book is set apart from other evangelism books and many evangelical pulpits due to Little’s emphasis upon the work of God the Holy Spirit.This writer appreciates the fact that Little does not emphasize persuading the sinner to immediately pray a prayer of repentance.He actually trusts God to save the sinner in His own time (69).He even argues that sinners need “gentle coaxing” (69).This is refreshing in an Evangelical church that is inflated with numbers due to sinners being argued as saved based on a few repeated words and nothing else.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this writer believes Little has written the best one volume work on sharing the gospel.This writer believes this work is a more thorough and biblical combination than Share Jesus without Fear by William Faye, Concentric Circles of Concern by Oscar Thompson, and Radically Unchurched: Who They are and how to reach Them by Alvin Reid.Â Though Reidâ€™s book comes in second, Faye’s in third, and Thompson’s in fourth, Little’s book contains the strengths of each book; the emphasis on adjusting methods to reach the surrounding culture of Reid, the practical application and examples of evangelism by Faye, and the emphasis on reaching the neighbor next door of Thompson.Though each book is beneficial in its own way, Little’s book contains each positive aspect, and should be read by all Christians with a ninth grade education or higher.If the church will simply intentionally seek the souls of all men, women, and children with the steps given by Little, the church will spread the gospel with such fervor and love that the world will have to change, either through more salvations or more persecution.