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 they do not
appear 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 the
word "evangelism" as a New Testament concept 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
study 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: TheImposition of our Beliefs, Personal Testimony,
Social Action and Public Involvement,Apologetics, and the
Results of Evangelism. He comments: “To be evangelism,
the 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 intoall the world and preach
the gospel (evangelize) to every creature." (Mark 16:15)

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Evangelical Viewpoint is pleased to present this new
series of essays by Dr. Jerry Beavan, in which he will offer
mature discussions of important elements of the Christian
faith, with the goal of helping Christian believers to live
their Christian life more effectively. At age 89 he already
has a lifetime of experiences in Christian ministry, as a
graduate theologian, a professor in college and seminary,
and as a world traveler involved in government relations
at high levels, here in America and around the world.
public service . He is a graduate