50 Things Christian Workers Should Avoid
Ever been confused about your responsibility as a Christian?
Maybe you’ve never known for sure how much of your personal testimony you should include in your gospel presentation…
What role feelings play in evangelism…
Or how far you should push a seeker.
One way to get answers is to crack open The Dake Annotated Reference Bible.
Finis Jennings Dake was an early 20th Century Pentecostal preacher who went on to have a profound impact on charismatic Word-Faith preachers like Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn.
That’s why his annotated Bible is a classic in Pentecostal circles.
I got my copy as a gift from a dear aunt. And I love it for two reasons.
One, it’s KJV. Two, Dake jammed this Bible with lists…
Lists like “26 Things David Said to God.” “Five Eternal Things.” And the one I’m about to share with you: “50 Dont’s for a Christian Worker.”
The list of don’ts amounts to fifty commands.
Some commands are crystal clear like “Do not exalt self over sinner.” Others, on the other hand, flat out baffle:”Do not have bad breath or noticeable body odor.”
Eh?
To be honest, even though it can be both fun and sobering to read this list, I don’t always follow the connection between Dake’s command and his proof text.
Perhaps it’s nothing more than twisting the text. In that case, Dake should’ve suggested a 51st command: Don’t read just one Bible verse.
But that would be taking all the fun away. And we don’t want to do that, do we?
Enjoy the list and have fun!
1. Do not wait for impressions. 2 Timothy 4:2
2. Do not argue. Matthew 7:6
3. Do not always attempt to prove truth or spiritual things. Isaiah 55:10-11
4. Do not always try to explain spiritual things. 1 Corinthians 2:14
5. Do not be in the habit of telling about your own experience–point the seeker to God’s word. 2 Timothy 2:15; 4:2
6. Do not exalt self above the sinner. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
7. Do not overwork the personal pronoun “I”. Exalt Christ. John 16:13-15
8. Do not give Scriptures from hear-say. Have the Bible ready to give. Romans 3:4
9. Do not hurry over any Scripture. Emphasize what is needful. 2 Corinthians 13:1
10. Do not raise unnecessary objections. Sinners will do this. 2 Tim 2:15
11. Do not condemn sinners who stand already condemned. John 3:16-21
12. Do not insist on going to any an altar or any special place of prayer. Insist on immediate surrender. 2 Corinthians 6:2
13. Do not dwell on the sins or habits of a seeker. 2 Corinthians 5:17
14. Do not give too many points. Matthew 10:16
15. Do not permit one to lead you from one subject to another for the sake of argument. 2 Timothy 2:25
16. Do not state your idea or belief. Give what the word says. John 16:7-11
17. Do not act victorious or proud when you score a point. Galatians 2:13
18. Do not be led to side issues. John 3:3-5
19. Do not tell sad stories. Point the sinner to Christ. John 3:16
20. Do not talk all the time. Answer the inquirer wisely. 1 Peter 3:15
21. Do not cross a seeker in non-essential things. If you do not agree with him say nothing. Proverbs 11:30
22. Do not leave one case for another unless you are through dealing with the present one. Matthew 1:16-20
23. Do not talk to loud or get excited. Be calm and prayerful. John 3:13
24. Do not be over-zealous or force anyone to follow Christ. Matthew 7:6; 10:16
25. Do not be indifferent to those seeking God. If you are not working do not hinder others. 1 Timothy 3:15
26. Do not intrude. This may confuse the seeker and the worker. 1 Corinthians 14:33
27. Do not interrupt any worker. Conversation can wait. Romans 13:10
28. Do not crowd around a seeker. This may embarrass or confuse. 1 Corinthians 14:40
29. Do not tell seekers to think it over. Bring to a decision at once if possible. Matthew 13:19; 2 Corinthians 6:2
30. Do not have bad breath or noticeable body odor. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
31. Do not be a hypocrite. Romans 2:21-24
32. Do not hurry the seeker if he wants to pray. Luke 13:1-5
33. Do not tell people they are saved. The spirit will bear witness. Romans 8:16; 1 John 1:9
34. Do not insist on keeping sinners on their knees. Luke 18:9-14
35. Do not let a sinner go away unsatisfied or doubtful if you can persuade him to have faith in God’s word. Ephesians 2:8-9
36. Do not insist a sinner get saved the same way you did. Circumstances and dispositions are different. John 3:16
37. Do not emphasize emotion. Faith first. Feelings next. Ephesians 2:8-9
38. Do not lean on sinners. Their sins are heavy enough. John 16:8
39. Do not pray long prayers. Pray briefly along the line of thought you have been directing the sinner. Daniel 9:20
40. Do not be discouraged. Be faithful and leave results with God. 1 Peter 5:8-9
41. Do not look upon any case as being hard. 1 Timothy 1:15
42. Do not discuss church conditions of Christian failures with sinners. They know these things. 1 Peter 2:21
43. Do not act familiar with the opposite sex. In general, men should work with men and women with women. 1 Thessalonians 5:22
44. Do not act indifferent to human need. Romans 12:11
45. Do not be discourteous or make the sinner think he is untouchable. Matthew 11:19
46. Do not try to force anyone to accept the Bible as God’s word. Matt 7:6
47. Do not lose patience with weak people. Galatians 5:22-23
48. Do not be careless or half-hearted in dealing with men. Eternal lives are at stake. Luke 19:10
49. Do not lose sight of the value of a soul. Jesus died that each man might live. Mark 8:32; John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:20
50. Do not fail to instruct new converts regarding how to live a Christian life. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22
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10 Comments to 50 Things Christian Workers Should Avoid
I like #14: “Do not give too many points.”
I’m rather curious though how a man who made a 50-point list defines “too many.” 
Demian FarnworthDecember 21, 2009
51 would be too many points. 
James WDecember 21, 2009
I think my favourite is #19: “Do not tell sad stories”, especially that fact that it’s supposed to related to John 3:16
Demian FarnworthDecember 21, 2009
James, see what I mean? Of course Dake’s dead and I feel a little bad picking on the absent, so in his defense I can only imagine what he was trying to say was, “Don’t tell sad stories…tell John 3:16 instead.” Pure speculation.
j sheltonDecember 21, 2009
31. Do not be a hypocrite.
I guess this one gets to me because in my view.. everyone is a hypocrite. To some degree, everyone speakes against something that they themselves are guilty of on some level.
It’s also funny how he mentions “sinners” in a couple items, as if somehow if we’re saved we’re not still sinners. Maybe he meant non believers?
But even still, it’s too broad a brush he’s painting with on that one.
Wow. Dakes. Brings back many old memories. I got mine in 1971. It was my first Bible. As a brand new believer I remember being completely enamored with the historical notes.
As I recall, some of the pages had more notes than actual scripture verses! I abandoned mine a few years later when the NIV came out, which I found much more accessible than King Jimmy.
I recall going back to look at my Dakes several years ago and discovering that I had some issues with a number of his notes. That said, it still holds a warm place in my heart.
At my age, and with my knees, I’d have a hard time with #34 myself!
King Jimmy fan, eh?
I like 9, 11. But I will totally be breaking #23 in my sermon this Sunday.
Demian FarnworthDecember 22, 2009
You go, Jonathan!
Richard: King Jimmy holds a warm place in my heart, too.
Nothing on the common 10 commandments? I know there is one that says dont even talk to sinners – particularly those that fornicate with step mothers.
body odor is nasty that is why i always take a bath twice a day.”:”
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December 21, 2009