WHAT IS EVANGELISM?

MATTHEW 28:16–20

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you …”

(Matt. 28:19, 20).

As Christians, we are to be witnesses of Christ. This, we must remember, is not a synonym for evangelizing. Witnessing and evangelizing are related, but not the same. Evangelism is a type of witness, but not all witness is evangelism. To bear witness is to call attention to something. The word martyr is derived from the Greek word for witness; dying for Christ is one way that we witness of Christ. Witnessing is making the invisible kingdom of God visible. It means that you show people something they do not see. There are many ways to do it. The Lord’s Supper is one way. How you love others is another. You feed the hungry, clothe the naked. You work for social justice. You raise your children according to the infallible rule of God. All these things witness to the kingdom. Martin Luther said, “Every Christian must become Christ to his neighbor.” You must be a witness.

Evangelism is also a witness. It is the actual proclamation, verbal or written, of the person and work of Christ in the redemption of sinners. You cannot, therefore, say that you do evangelism by your example. How you live your life makes you a witness, but that is not evangelism. We cannot simply wait for people to come up to us and ask us about Christ. It just won’t happen that often. We cannot simply rely on our witness. Our witness, our personal testimony, does not become evangelism until the Gospel is proclaimed. We must verbalize our faith. We must tell others as Philip did when he spoke with the Ethiopian eunuch. We must “open our mouths and preach Jesus” to them.

However, not every person is called to be an evangelist. Though you may not be gifted as an evangelist, you must be willing to make a confession of faith, to tell every man the hope that is within you, but this does not mean that you are called to be an evangelist.

Even though everyone is not an evangelist, it is every Christian’s duty to make sure evangelism is done. You are to help missionaries, to support evangelists. As Christians and members of the church of Christ, we all have a part in the responsibility of the mission of the church to proclaim the Good News of Christ.

CORAM DEO

Hosea 12–14

Revelation 3

WEEKEND

Joel–Amos 3

Revelation 4–5

What are the ways that you are consciously bearing witness of Christ? Do you ever proclaim the Gospel? Are you guilty of confusing your witness with actual evangelism? Is there someone that you have been a witness to but to whom you have never proclaimed Christ? If so, make a point to tell him or her the Gospel.

For further study: Acts 1:8; 8:26–39; 22:15; 26:16 • Eph. 4:11–13

WEEKEND