Two Issues Facing Evangelism #1

 "Sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name. Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples."  Psalm 96:1-3 (NASB)

Warning: Nothing Original from this post! Simply a recap in my on thoughts and words concerning an issue that Voddie Baucham deals with in a sermon posted at the end of this entry:

Within our modern church culture there truly seems to be a real tendency to see many trying to redefine what evangelism is and what it looks like in practice today. Within this post I will not be handling the issues of the message we are to proclaim , so much as I will be trying to share my concern with what I would suggest are one of two issues I have been thinking about lately concerning evangelism.

Issue #1. We must open our mouths 

The word evangelism is not ever actually used in the scriptures, however, its office (evangelist) is used several times in connection to those who do the work of proclaiming the message of the Gospel (Acts 21:8, Ephesians 4:11, 2 Timothy 4:5). This word for evangelist  comes from the Koine Greek word (transliterated = euangelion) which is also synonymous with the word Gospel itself meaning (eu- "good", -angelion "message" or "good news").

What is most interesting concerning this literal meaning is the use of the word "news". How does one receive news? How is news given? Is it not with either a form of written words or communication with ones mouth? Whether from a written text such as a news paper, magazine, book or even a audible form of communication such as radio, television or even from someones very own mouth in conversation? 

When in several discussions with many brothers and sisters concerning this issue of true biblical evangelism always proceeding the proclaiming, declaring and telling of this gospel "good news" with one's mouth/actual words (except in the case of the written proclamation of course). I am always met with this quote by Saint Francis of Asisi;

"Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words."

I would suggest we must always use words! And that this quote above no matter how pretty sounding it may be and how easy it is to remember, it is just completely lacking. Many today want to remind me at this point that the way we live our lives is important and I would not be in disagreement one bit with that thinking. The way we live our lives is very important. The issue I have is that we have (like this quote) placed everything out of order and it is high time we seek to do the proper rearranging. 

We do not simply live "good", moral and happy lives to be able to preach the gospel (if we are even preaching anything at all). However, we as Christians are to preach the gospel always and make sure our lifestyles do not contradict those claims and bring shame and upon God's glory and our message. Like this quote, many want to point out to me that our lives are the gospel and that we are to communicate everyday by the way we live those lives who God is. 

My reply: You cannot live the gospel! Why? Because, as we have already established and stated the gospel is "news". And "good news" as that. News that we have all been created by an infinitely holy, righteous and just God. That we all have sinned against this God in action, attitude and nature and will therefore be punished upon that day when He will judge the world in righteousness (His  holy standard of good/perfect). The news that all our attempts to please God fall desperately short. The news that apart from a Savior we are all likewise doomed. The wonderful news that God has sent Jesus Christ (God in flesh) to pay the price that we could not pay (death on a cross as the perfect, sinless Savior). This Jesus having then  been raised from the dead three days later conquering sin and death and now imparts His own righteousness upon all those who believe and are converted into this new life in the presence of the Father. 

Question:  How can you give such news (and this was condensed mind you) with simply living your life without the use of words? Let me ask this question another way. Could you today read the front page of your local news paper and if I asked you to wake up tomorrow and communicate all that was handled and written within those articles with your friends and family, could you do that simply by living your life without the use of words? If you are truthful with yourself, you know that there would be know way for you to do such a thing. Yet, somehow we have come to believe apparently this Gospel "good news" has become so simple and shallow that the living of our lives apart from the preached words of the gospel from our lips can somehow penetrate the hearts, minds and souls of our loved ones. 

Let us see what the scriptures have to "say" about such issues:

"How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have never heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet that bring good news." (17) "So, faith comes from hearing, and hearing the word of Christ." Romans 10:14-16,17)

"[Paul's Prayer] And pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." Ephesians 6:19-20

"For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (21) For since in the wisdom of God the world through it's wisdom did not come to know God, God was well pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe." 1 Corinthians 1:18,21

"Give ear, O heavens, and let me speak; And let the earth hear the words of my mouth. Let my teaching drop as the rain. My speech distill as the dew, As the droplets on the fresh grass and as the shower on the herb. For I proclaim the name of the Lord." Duet. 32:1-3

"My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and of Your salvation all day long; For I do not know the sum of them. I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone." Psalm 71:15-16

"Sing to the Lord a new song, Sing His praise from the end of the earth! You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it. You islands, and those who dwell on them. Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices. The settlements where Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing aloud, Let them shout for joy from the tops of the mountains. Let them give glory to the Lord and declare His praise in the coast lands."  Isaiah 42:10-13

Again we are to live "Godly in Christ Jesus" and we should allow are lives to communicate to others how Christ has changed our hearts and given us victory in this life. However, this is merely to strengthen our witness in proclamation, not in becoming a substitute for using our mouths. Again, we do not live our lives as the proclamation of God's gospel (news). We preach the gospel and pray desperately that are lives do not contradict that which we preach.

In my next post I will be discussing an issue in evangelism that is the opposite of not opening one's mouth in evangelism. It will deal more with those who practice the proclamation of the gospel who in my opinion are doing more harm than good. I am growing more and more increasingly concerned with what I am seeing in much of what I see in this area as well and seek to bring a healthy (biblical) balance between the two. Meaning: Establishing that we all must open our mouths for the gospel but, that how we do that and in what strength we do that is just as important.

Click on this image below and check out this great sermon by brother Voddie Baucham dealing with many of these issues and the gospel itself. I must admit it was this sermon that lit a fire under my seat to begin thinking on this issue further. One that is becoming more and more regular for me here in this part of the world.