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Evangelism

“For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place.  Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.” (1 Thessalonians 1:8)  Paul was able to spend only a few weeks in Thessalonica before he was driven out.  These new Christians were not with him constantly in that short time, because they still needed to work and make a living.  Yet, with minimal knowledge, they told many others about this good news.  Biblical faith compels us to speak wherever we are.

“We, moreover, have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is out of God, that we might know the things that have been granted to us by God, which also we speak, not in words of human wisdom but in those the Spirit teaches, communicating spiritual things by spiritual means.  Further, the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for indeed they are foolishness to him; nor can he understand, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:12 – 14)  Talk about spirits; those who can still rise above will listen.

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us, ‘We implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.’” (2 Corinthians 5:20)  All faithful people are ambassadors from Christ’s kingdom to all outside its borders.  God is pleading, not threatening.  The faithful are imploring, not condemning.  The objective is reconciliation, implying that a relationship existed in the past.  God wants that fellowship, that connection between spirits, restored.

“…that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)  God calls us to things of the spirit such as character and understanding, not to specific physical tasks.  He calls us out of the confusion, disappointment, and chaos of the thinking of this world, not out of the physical brokenness of this world.  Because of the light into which He calls us, we can handle the brokenness.  Because of this, the faithful cannot stop talking about the qualities of God that causes life to make sense.

“Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” (Acts 8:4)  The governor who succeeded Pontius Pilate was not nearly so able an administrator.  So, persecution of Christians in Jerusalem became increasingly violent, culminating in the stoning of Stephen.  As a result, these Jerusalem Christians scattered themselves both in Palestine and far beyond.  Despite the danger and unwelcome exile, these refugees were characterized by their habit of telling everyone they met about Jesus and the promises of abundant life.

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of in all the world.” (Romans 1:8)  Writing from Corinth, Paul wrote to the congregations of Rome, not having been there since becoming a Christian himself.  He knew a few of the faithful there, having met in other places, but knew most primarily by reputation.  Remarkably, the faith of those Christians was common knowledge in all places the gospel had gone.  Imagine the state of the church today if congregations in general were known foremost for their impossible trust.

“From you the Word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia but in every place your faith toward God has gone abroad, so that we do not need to say anything.” (1 Thessalonians 1:8)  Paul escaped Thessalonica after only a few weeks due to dangers to his life.  After spending some time in Athens, he moved on to Corinth from which this letter was written.  The gospel carried by Thessalonian Christians got there before Paul did.  Imagine the state of the church today if among the first reactions to the gospel was to tell others.

“Because of this, having received this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.” (2 Corinthians 4:1)  The mercy to which Paul refers is the transformation into the character of Jesus that is being accomplished by the Spirit that has been given the faithful (3:18).  They focus on that transformation, both their own and the potential for outsiders, as the motivation for evangelism.  The church does not sell tickets to heaven, but a means by which we may become the people we have always wanted to be but had not the power to achieve.

“We have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the Word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience before God.” (2 Corinthians 4:2)  Clever evangelistic approaches are not desirable.  Being known as honorable people will bring hearers.  What we need to present are the facts, not emotional appeals.  Christianity is the only religion that is founded upon provable, logical evidence.  Slick or irrational approaches ensnare only the gullible and the superstitious.

“Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.” (2 Corinthians 4:3)  Talking to others about the gospel can be discouraging because the response rate is low.  Of course, the faithful should be kind, gentle, logical, non-threatening, understandable, and relevant.  The message should promise peace, joy, overcoming the things about myself I have never been able to fix, and a functional family that will last.  But even with all that, many have no interest.  Those who don’t want it, won’t comprehend it.  Be gracious and move on.

“Not for ourselves do we proclaim, but for Christ Jesus the Lord.  Rather, we ourselves are your servants through Jesus.” (2 Corinthians 4:5)  Evangelism is not about me.  Rather, the faithful, like good servants, seek to satisfy the needs of those whom they serve.  So, first, those who proclaim the gospel need to know what people think they need, not what the proclaimer thinks they need.  Then, that faithful servant finds the facet of the gospel that satisfies the other person’s need.  Our proclamations must be relevant to those who hear them.

“For God, having said, ‘Out of darkness light shall shine,’ has shone in our hearts towards the radiance of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)  The recommended evangelistic method is to let God’s character shine from you to a remarkable degree.  Many fraternal organizations promote honor and good character; they are reasonably successful and accomplish many good things.  The faithful must go beyond and display that impossibly good character of Jesus that only the indwelling Spirit can supply.

“Now we have this treasure in earthen vessels so that the surpassing power may be of God and not out of us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)  Outsiders should be amazed at what Christians accomplish to the point that they immediately reject the notion that those Christians did it through superior self-control, organizational skill, or professional-quality talent.  Rather, those non-religious people will conclude that something from God just happened.

“Having, however, the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ‘I believed and therefore I spoke,’ we also believe and therefore speak.” (2 Corinthians 4:13)  Biblical faith results in talking about the promises of God.  Based on the evidence of the resurrection of Jesus, the faithful reflexively tell others about the promises of a gracious nature in this life, thanksgiving as a result, and the future resurrection of all.

“Therefore, we do not lose heart; even if our outward man is decaying, yet our inner is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16)  Because the power of God is seen in the lives of the faithful day by day, the discouraging downward spiral of this physical world, including our own bodies, dampens neither our optimism nor our thanksgiving.  For the faithful, the part that goes on forever is being transformed day by day into the character of Jesus.  The obvious improvement powered by the Spirit fuels a positive outlook.

“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” (2 Corinthians 5:11)  A major motivation for evangelism is fear for the destination of others.  The faithful have no such fear for themselves, rather a confident expectation through which they are freed to focus on those not yet in the family of God.

“For the love of Christ compels us, having concluded this, that One has died for all, therefore all have died.” (2 Corinthians 5:14)  The fact that God came to earth in human form and experienced all the temptations and troubles of this life illustrates His personal selflessness and involvement.  He is not a God who directs traffic from on high.  The only adequate response to His sacrificial death to satisfy justice is to live no longer for ourselves but for Him.

“Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh.  Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet we know Him thus no longer.” (2 Corinthians 5:16)  Our perceptions of others often are a mixture of their characters, their achievements, and their traditions.  But the latter two are short lived, while the first is eternal.  Just as our conception of Jesus rises above His physical attributes and cultural background, so the faithful relate to other people.  Christianity defeats ethnocentrism.

“All things are out of God, having reconciled us to Himself through Christ, having given us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18)  The job of the faithful is to transmit the good news that God has reconciled the books of justice through the sacrifice of Jesus.  Contemplating justice leads to the inevitable conclusion that we cannot effectively reel back our errors.  The ripples have already gone out, affecting others.  God could neither ignore our debt nor demand payment of the unpayable.  So, He came to earth to pay it Himself.

“…always be ready to give a defense to everyone asking you the reasoning for the hope that is in you…” (1 Peter 3:15)  The faithful must have logical evidence for their hope, not belief in belief.  Peter reminded his readers that preparation toward relating those facts to others is necessary.  Outsiders should be able to see positive results in believers, and likely will want those improvements for themselves.  But what they are told must be reasonable and be based on verifiable evidence.  Such information is readily available in huge quantity.  Plus, it builds faith.

“Preach the Word.  Be ready in season and out of season.  Convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2)  Paul advised Timothy to be ready to talk about the Good News.  He spoke about the Word, the philosophy or logical conclusions one may draw about the nature of God (since New Testaments did not yet exist).  He was not to drone on, but to persuade, show the gaps in logic of opposing arguments, appeal to their good sense, and be willing for it to take a while.  Every faithful person should have similar preparation.

“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.  Let your reasoning always be in grace, having been seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” (Colossians 4:5 – 6)  Left to itself, time goes south in a hurry.  Paul encouraged the faithful to buy back that soon-to-be squandered time with gracious, witty, personalized common sense.  People are different, so their needs are different.  Wisdom expresses the Good News in terms that make sense to them, not just in ways that make sense to me.

“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared into every good work…A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be kind to all, able to teach, forbearing, in gentleness correcting those who are in opposition…” (2 Timothy 2:21 – 26)  All the faithful are to work at being reserved for godly purposes, prepared, and useful.  The necessary attitudes are kindness, forbearance, and gentleness, yet skilled at teaching and exposing logical flaws.  Fortunately, the Spirit helps.

“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need of someone to teach you again what are the beginning principles of the Word of God; you have come to need milk and not solid food.” (Hebrews 5:12)  Growth in understanding the concepts about God is required.  However, even in the first century, some faithful people stagnated.  So, they were reprimanded for not having become teachers yet.  Certainly, requiring the unprepared to teach is unproductive for all.  Learning productive educational methods is not optional.

“And the things you have heard from me through many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2)  The objective of spreading the good news is not only to impart information, but also to bring those taught to the level and motivation to spread that message further.  Many stop teaching when an imaginary minimum for acceptability is achieved rather than the threshold of reproducibility.  More importantly, you don’t really understand it until you try to teach someone else.