Evangelism?

[exile]

Should every Christian be an evangelist? Does God ask every Christian to be an evangelist? Does God require every Christian to be an evangelist?

If God is in complete control of all things, is evangelism even necessary?

How do verses like Ephesians 1:4-5 effect evangelistic efforts? Or do they effect them at all? Should they effect them in any way whatsoever?

Is it necessary to use words to be an evangelist? Is evangelism primarily a verbal exercise?

Or is evangelism just a way to annoy your family, friends, neighbours, co-workers, etc.,...?

What do you think?

exile

[Ickisrulz]

Should every Christian be an evangelist? Does God ask every Christian to be an evangelist? Does God require every Christian to be an evangelist?

If God is in complete control of all things, is evangelism even necessary?

How do verses like Ephesians 1:4-5 effect evangelistic efforts? Or do they effect them at all? Should they effect them in any way whatsoever?

Is it necessary to use words to be an evangelist? Is evangelism primarily a verbal exercise?

Or is evangelism just a way to annoy your family, friends, neighbours, co-workers, etc.,...?

What do you think?

exile

There are four (or five) leadership offices given to Church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (this last pair could be one or two different offices). These offices were given to "perfect saints, work the ministry and edify the body." So no, strictly speaking, not everyone in the Church is an Evangelist.

Are all Christians meant to share the Gospel in one way or another? Yes they are. Just one example: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15.

Much of evangelism is done by providing an example by the way we live. Again we can turn to Peter for an example of this instruction: "Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives" 1 Peter 3:1.

Ephesians 1:4-5 does not talk about predestination the way Calvinists understand it (i.e., God chooses who will be saved and who will be lost). It is talking about how God chose the mechanism of our salvation, our relationship to him and our blameless standing because of Jesus Christ before the world was even created. The spread of the Gospel is very necessary so that "whosoever will" can be saved.

While God has the ability to "control everything," he does not control everything. When it comes to man, God expects man to do his part. We ask God to provide "our daily bread" realizing he will not provide it if we just sit around and refuse to do the work to get it. God and man are in a cooperative relationship in everything and this includes the spread of the Gospel. God does the spiritual things in the Church while man does the legwork.

[Hickory]

Should every Christian be an evangelist?
Answer: No.

You will receive your calling from God if you have your spiritual hearing aid in your ears.
If you don't hear Gods voice, you're either not connected with God on a one on one basis or you only think you know Him.

[exile]

Thank you for your answers. I had not considered (lately) the idea of evangelist being a church leadership position.

exile

[Wayne Smith]

Consider that Christ said "You will be witnesses of me". There are no exceptions to this. We need to consider what kind of witnesses we are being - Anslem stated "Testify to Christ, if necessary use words". These are allied concepts, if my witness does not support my words the words are useless.

These are the responsibility of every Christian, not just the Church leaders. So no, not everyone has the office of Evangelist, but we are all called to be involved in the body and to testify to Christ in all of our ways. For example, would you be ashamed to have a Christian bumper sticker because of the way you drive? Consider your testimony.

[exile]

"In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him." 1 John 4:9 (E.S.V.)

[Ickisrulz]

For example, would you be ashamed to have a Christian bumper sticker because of the way you drive? Consider your testimony.

I don't think it is a good idea for a Christian to have bumper stickers, T-shirts or any other identifiers when out in public where we only offer a snap shot of our character. The reason for this is that none of us are perfect and we (or our family members) have bad days or do things that are just irritating to other people (e.g., drive too slow, drive too fast, get in peoples' way in the aisles, have our kids talk back, etc.). Why take a chance to offend? Has anyone ever been brought to Christ though a bumper sticker?

[1hole]

I'm not a "liberal" so don't put stickers on my bumpers. Don't really believe they have any positive influences on anything.

I KNOW the various "Occupy", Resist", Antifa", Greeney Weinies, "red hat bats", etc. love free speech as long as the rest of us shut up and don't disturb them. Mentally unbalanced people who go into a literal screaming rage when the see a MAGA hat also tend to mess with stickered vehicles they don't like.

[dtknowles]

I'm not a "liberal" so don't put stickers on my bumpers. Don't really believe they have any positive influences on anything.

I KNOW the various "Occupy", Resist", Antifa", Greeney Weinies, "red hat bats", etc. love free speech as long as the rest of us shut up and don't disturb them. Mentally unbalanced people who go into a literal screaming rage when the see a MAGA hat also tend to mess with stickered vehicles they don't like.

Most of the bumper stickers around here are Trump or Pro-Life. What does "liberal" have to do with bumper stickers.

Tim

[.429&H110]

Ev- angel... Greek for good angel.
Apologia... Greek... a ready answer why I believe.
First I evangelize, then I apologize.
Should take about 30 seconds.
I am the only Bible most people ever see.
The Book tells me to tell the world. I believe Him.
I promise not to persuade, or sell,
no features and benefits,
only to tell you why I am still alive.
If you ask. Book says you have to ask.
People make this so complicated, it isn't.
Keith boolit, H110, hits the 100 yard gong.
Not difficult, but a steep learning curve.
Helps to have someone explain it.
Castboolit evangelism.
Thanks for the forum.

[exile]

"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12-13 (E.S.V.)

[1hole]

I am the only Bible most people ever see. The Book tells me to tell the world. I believe Him.
I promise not to persuade, or sell, no features and benefits, only to tell you why I am still alive. If you ask. Book says you have to ask.
People make this so complicated, it isn't.Keith boolit, H110, hits the 100 yard gong. Not difficult, but a steep learning curve.
Helps to have someone explain it.

Well and truly said.

If I may add:

Angel - Greek for a messenger

Gospel - Greek for good news

Making an evangelist a good messenger of the good news of Jesus, meaning his blood bought and paid for salvation for all people who will accept Him as Lord.

[exile]

"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" 1 John 5:4-5 (E.S.V.)

[Bigslug]

Or is evangelism just a way to annoy your family, friends, neighbours, co-workers, etc.,...?

DING! DING! DING! We have a winner!

Hear the atheist out: you've got your life blueprint based on your religion, and it's working for you. You're happy/successful/satisfied with your lot, and that's fine.

Now there's a chance that someone might look upon your happy existence, compare it to their own, and say "Bob's got something that's working for them. Maybe I should check that out", and that is also fine. That kind of quiet, organic success is how such things should spread.

Then enter the evangelist who has no consideration for how happy/successful/satisfied someone else may be with their chosen life blueprint - it's not THEIR blueprint, so it must be wrong - knocking on my door proclaiming they have the answer regardless of whether or not I've even felt there's a question that needs asking. That's the kind of busy-body invasiveness that tars your whole camp with a very gooey brush, and it hurts your brand considerably.

If the Perfect Being wants my attention, he's gotta start sending less flawed emissaries.

[1hole]

.... If the Perfect Being wants my attention, he's gotta start sending less flawed emissaries.

First, the reason Jesus came to save us is because mankind is fatally flawed, all of us. Only flawed people can have real empathy for other flawed people and that's the point of using flawed people for evangelism. (Well, that and there are no others to send!) Don't reject the perfect message because of your perceived weaknesses of the messengers!

Second, we wouldn't bother anyone IF Christianity was a human philosophy but it isn't, so we're honor bound to warn everyone we can of the lethal spiritual danger ahead. We sure don't have a requirement to make you listen but we do have a duty to warn you; if we don't even try, God says your blood will be on our hands. But, if we do warn you and you reject the message, your blood will be on your own hands and you will have no excuse before going to hell by your own choice. (John 3:17-18)

As Jimmy Duranti often said, "Them's the conditions that prevail!"

[dtknowles]

Move yourself
You always live your life
Never thinking of the future
Prove yourself
You are the move you make
Take your chances win or loser
See yourself
You are the steps you take
You and you and that's the only way
Shake, shake yourself
You're every move you make
So the story goes

[exile]

God did send a perfect emissary, He sent His Son to die on the cross for my sins, and for yours.

And whoever said I'm happy, successful or satisfied? The Lord Jesus was well acquainted with sorrows as are those who call upon his name.

Finally, you may not be able to relate to my faith, but I can certainly relate to your atheism, after all, I was an atheist for much of my life.

exile

[.429&H110]

Nagging is poor evangelism. As you say, Bigslug, annoying.
Selling features and benefits isn't evangelism at all.
Pride is a sin- God forbid that I should boast.
You have to ask before I can answer.
When you got married, had a baby, didn't you have to tell everybody?
When I was baptized, I had to tell everybody. Sharing the joy.
Should everyone get married, have children, be baptized?
Probably not. Works for me. YMMV

[PNW_Steve]

There are four (or five) leadership offices given to Church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (this last pair could be one or two different offices). These offices were given to "perfect saints, work the ministry and edify the body." So no, strictly speaking, not everyone in the Church is an Evangelist.

Are all Christians meant to share the Gospel in one way or another? Yes they are. Just one example: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15.

Much of evangelism is done by providing an example by the way we live. Again we can turn to Peter for an example of this instruction: "Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives" 1 Peter 3:1.

Ephesians 1:4-5 does not talk about predestination the way Calvinists understand it (i.e., God chooses who will be saved and who will be lost). It is talking about how God chose the mechanism of our salvation, our relationship to him and our blameless standing because of Jesus Christ before the world was even created. The spread of the Gospel is very necessary so that "whosoever will" can be saved.

While God has the ability to "control everything," he does not control everything. When it comes to man, God expects man to do his part. We ask God to provide "our daily bread" realizing he will not provide it if we just sit around and refuse to do the work to get it. God and man are in a cooperative relationship in everything and this includes the spread of the Gospel. God does the spiritual things in the Church while man does the legwork.

Thank you for your answers. I had not considered (lately) the idea of evangelist being a church leadership position.

exile

+1 Thank you all for the discussion. Particularly Ickisrulz, thank you for a very well put and thoughtful response.

[EDG]

Please be aware that many do not care what your faith tells you to do and you are not welcome.

First, the reason Jesus came to save us is because mankind is fatally flawed, all of us. Only flawed people can have real empathy for other flawed people and that's the point of using flawed people for evangelism. (Well, that and there are no others to send!) Don't reject the perfect message because of your perceived weaknesses of the messengers!

Second, we wouldn't bother anyone IF Christianity was a human philosophy but it isn't, so we're honor bound to warn everyone we can of the lethal spiritual danger ahead. We sure don't have a requirement to make you listen but we do have a duty to warn you; if we don't even try, God says your blood will be on our hands. But, if we do warn you and you reject the message, your blood will be on your own hands and you will have no excuse before going to hell by your own choice. (John 3:17-18)

As Jimmy Duranti often said, "Them's the conditions that prevail!"