IS EVANGELISM REALLY IMPORTANT?

The Liberal critics may argue that “evangelism”
or “evangelical” are really not important, because
those words are not found in the Bible, or, as the
“Red Letter Christians” would put it, “Jesus never
used those words.”

That argument makes as much sense -- i.e. none --
as those same Liberal critics insisting that there is
nothing wrong from a Scriptural standpoint about
abortion or homosexuality, because those words are
not found anywhere in the Bible. And, of course, the
“Red Letter Christians” will join in by pointing out
that Jesus never used those words.

Their arguments are so pitiful, and their positions
so untenable that we should probably ignore them,
and hope that they will go away. But they may not
do that, so let’s take just a few minutes to look at the
facts, hoping that there aren’t many still around like
the fabled old lady who said “I’ve already made up
my mind -- don’t confuse me with the facts.”

The word “evangelist” does appear three times in the
New Testament, twice as singular usage, and once as
plural: Acts 21:8, “Philip the evangelist;” 2 Tim. 4:5,
“do the work of an evangelist;” Eph. 4:11, “and some,
evangelists.”

In each of those usages, the Greek word phonetically
is euangelistes meaning “a messenger of good,” denoting
“a preacher of the gospel.” There are in the original
language of the New Testament, two other forms of
that same word: euangelizo, a verb meaning “to preach
good news,” and euangelion, a noun meaning “good news”
or the “gospel.”

Thus the words “evangelism” or “evangelize,” while not
appearing directly in the New Testament, clearly carry
just one meaning: to preach the gospel.

It is interesting that Jesus’ final words before He left this
earth and ascended into heaven, were “Go ye into all the
world and preach the gospel.“ (Mark 16:15) The original
language used here included kerusso, meaning “be a herald”
or “preach” combined with euangelion which means “the
gospel.” Thus the basic meaning of evangelism in
New Testament usage is clearly to preach the gospel.
In recent years, let us say in the Twentieth Century,
debates arose over whether evangelism embodied
simply the preaching of the gospel, or did it imply
a ministry beyond preaching, a follow-through? In
1946 the Archbishop of Canterbury authorized a
Commission and its findings were published in the
volume, “Toward the Conversion of England.“

In that report this definition of evangelism appeared,
and it has stood, unchanged and accepted, for the past
60 years: “To evangelize is so to present Christ Jesus in
the power of the Holy Spirit, that men shall come to
put their trust in God through Him, to accept Him as
their savior, and serve Him as their King in the
fellowship of His Church.”

In even more recent years there have been attempts to
broaden the meaning of evangelism so that it becomes,
for example, working toward a cure for AIDS in Africa,
compassion and justice for the poor, global human rights,
and even promoting the global warming theory. Good
works, from a Scriptural standpoint, are the outworking
of the Christian faith and are not a substitute for it. Taken
to an extreme, for example, Kay Warren, wife of the best
selling author and mega-church pastor Rick Warren,
describes the AIDS program as “the greatest opportunity
for the church to be the church.“

In a recent issue of Christianity Today magazine,
author Mark Dever excerpts a passage from his
book , “The Gospel and Personal Evangelism.”
He outlines “What evangelism Isn’t” and very
clearly sets forth five examples, including The
Imposition of our Beliefs, Personal Testimony,
Social Action and Public Involvement,
Apologetics, and the Results of Evangelism.
He comments: “To be evangelism, he gospel
must be clearly communicated …” Good works
however important or necessary they may seem
to be, are not evangelism.

Paul directed us: “Do the work of an evangelist.”
(2 Tim. 4:5) Jesus commanded us, “Go ye into
all the world and preach the gospel (evangelize)
to every creature.“ (Mark 16:15)