To the Jew first

There is a movement in Latin America today – specifically among independent, fundamental, Baptist churches in Mexico – centered around the Biblical concept of preaching the Gospel to the Jew first. This is not a fly-by-night fad. It is the result of many years of Biblical preaching and teaching on the subject by some of the most well-known men in Baptist circles in Mexico.

Dr. Luis Ramos, one of the most influential leaders of the independent Baptist movement in Mexico, pastor of the Iglesia Bautista Bíblica de San Luis Potosí and director of the Colegio Bíblico Bautista de San Luis Potosí, has taken a stand on this vital issue in recent years, stating from platforms across the country that the average Christian, not only those called to Jewish missions, is responsible for going to the Jew first, and I could not agree more.

As Baptists, we are holden to the belief that the local church is the instrument of God’s choice for reaching the world with the message of the Gospel. It is so much a part of our methods and practice that we are almost exclusive in our view, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, as pastors of local churches we seem to be narrow in our philosophy of outreach. We tend to rely on a handful of methods for soul winning and discount others as unnecessary or superfluous to our particular form of ministry.

We want well rounded ministries. We want to reach as many people as possible; and yet, we hold back when it comes to targeting a specific group. Why? We assume that reaching the Jews is the sole function of a man called as a missionary to a country with a large Jewish population. We are happy to support such a man, if our budget allows for it, but we do not consciously make provisions for Jewish outreach in our own local church soul winning ministry.

“To the Jew first” has become cliché. It is a phrase we tend to glide over in our preaching; but reaching this segment of the population is not an arbitrary task. It must be calculated, and carried out with forethought and consideration if we are to be faithful to Jesus’ original intention for the local church – to preach the Gospel to every creature. If we are, as a New Testament church, to charge the gates of Hell to the point of overtaking them, we must follow, not only the doctrine of the local church, but also the method of the local church.

Part of the philosophy of modern day missions suggests to the mind of the pastor of a local church that a missionary is one who is sent to a specific people group, contained within the lines on the map or under the colors of a flag; but a missionary (a soul- winner) is simply a follower of Christ who has answered the call to go to “every creature.”

Paul was a great man used of God, but he would be the first to admit that he was simply, at his core, a personal soul-winner who consciously sought out the chosen people of God, consistently and concertedly, first. If Paul’s ministry was so blessed, why do we not employ his method today? If it was right for Paul to seek out the Jews in each city to which he traveled, why not follow his example?

Conscious, consistent, concerted Jewish outreach is not an exclusive call to a special few. It is the Biblical method of the local church and the model of its most influential teacher since Christ.

A soul-winner does not need to await the call to Jewish missions in order to make a purposeful effort to reach God’s people. He only needs to awaken to the truth that we are all held to the same commission.

For years, our church has set aside a specific time to seek precious Jewish souls. This initiative has resulted in blessings that could not be contained in this article. Our people have caught a vision for reaching the Jew. Laymen, teenagers, housewives and even children have passed out tracts and witnessed to those who live in Jewish communities in our city, in the plaza across the street from the Synagogue, and even knocked on the door of the rabbi’s house.

This is not a task we have taken lightly. We have taught our people to use the Old Testament in their soul winning presentation. We have invested weeks of Sunday School hours in training and demonstrations and there have been bi-products from this effort. If nothing else, our people have been emboldened to witness to others whose world views would otherwise be intimidating to a soul-winner. They have grown in knowledge and increased in love for the lost. We are reaching more gentiles as a result of our focus on reaching the Jews. There just isn’t one good reason for the local church not to go to the Jew first.

This movement is in its early stages. We have yet to see what the Lord will do through those who have heeded the call. The objective is clear, the task is great, the news is good and the fields are white. Who will go?