For many Christians, evangelism is an intimidating process at best. We know from scripture that we’re all called to it. No one assumes the great commission was intended only for the eleven disciples Jesus was speaking to just before he ascended into heaven. He had already sent out 70 men at one time to announce his coming ministry. In Acts chapter 8, during a time of persecution, we are told the believers were all scattered abroad and went everywhere preaching the word. These were not ordained evangelists but ordinary men and women full of the Holy Spirit who had to tell the world about the good news of the Messiah who had come.
We live in an entirely different age than those in the first century church. We face a new set of challenges in reaching the world. It’s easy to get the impression that the way to reach the lost is the way evangelists do it on TV. It seems to work for them and sinners are saved. But for the average guy, it doesn’t work that way. Most of us can’t preach like the guy on TV, we don’t get the same results, we can get discouraged, and some of us stop trying to reach out at all. It just feels like too daunting a prospect and we think maybe it’s best left to the “professionals.” After all, they are getting paid for it. What we don’t realize is that many of those who give their hearts to Christ have had the word planted and watered for quite some time before they were “harvested.” Others had a hand in the whole process, others whose roles were not very glamorous but just as vital as that of the preacher.
It is helpful to identify the different spheres we all live in and the authority we have in each. The apostle Paul recognized his citizenship in three distinct communities, one religious, another spiritual, and one worldly. He knew how to operate well in all of them. Each of us today is a member of a religious community, the church; and a separate spiritual community made up of everyone with whom we come in contact who has some spiritual conviction whether it’s the same as ours or not; and finally, a world community, that is, our home country and in a broader sense, the whole world. We’re connected to each of them at all times. In Revelation 7, it is prophesied that “every nation, tribe, and tongue” referring to the diverse groups of people from every culture, ethnicity, and language spoken on earth, will worship God and the Lamb in unity.
Paul knew who he was in every realm and knew how to relate in each area of citizenship to move people closer to God and His kingdom. He brought grace into the Jewish community and preached Christ in synagogues everywhere. That was his church. He knew how to fit in with the Jews. Once, he even shaved his head so his Jewish brethren would accept him. But he fought for the liberty of the Gentiles so they would not have to come under the same legalism and traditions the Jews had put on themselves. Paul established the doctrine of grace in his religious community and we benefit from it today.
Our membership in the global, as well as local, church of Christ gives us the same opportunity to bring grace where legalism, formalism, and intolerance abound. The Bible tells us not to argue with others of like faith referring to “doubtful disputations,” or points of doctrine where there may not be absolute clarity (Romans 14:1). The great reformers taught, “Unity in essential things, liberty in secondary things, and charity in all things.” We should always be ministering grace to our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Ephesians 4:29).
Paul was balanced and brought truth into the spiritual community wherever he found himself. He debated the Greeks according to their own ideologies while not offending their cultural sensibilities. Our spiritual community is composed of anyone who seeks after spiritual things. They are people from all different kinds of belief systems. Perhaps the biggest challenge many of us face in contemporary society are proponents of New Age philosophy. Paul found the same kind of thing on Mars Hill in Athens. He quoted Greek poets and implied the quotes were inspired by God (Acts 17: 23-29). He acknowledged they had some truth in what they believed but then brought them the ultimate truth of Jesus. We can’t win someone to the kingdom of heaven by being condescending or fearful, but by being respectful and confident in who we are in Christ. The truth will always sustain us while attracting others to its light.
Paul brought peace to his world. He was a Roman citizen. He introduced the world to the Prince of Peace. He didn’t isolate himself from the world but used its system to advance the kingdom. He and Silas were beaten publicly and thrown into jail, then the Philippian magistrates wanted to release them privately, but they refused and demanded their rights as Roman citizens. They were released and exonerated publicly according to their rights as Roman citizens. Later, Paul used his privileges of citizenship to gain an audience with high government officials and with Caesar himself. Paul’s citizenship gave him opportunity but it did not define him. He was a citizen of a world community but he was not worldly. He related to other citizens of the world who were not of the same faith. He was not afraid of them. He offered peace to the jailer who then accepted his offer.
Too often, we forget we are members of a nation of the world. We try to cloister ourselves and withdraw from it because we’re afraid it will get on us. We are not second class citizens. We can use the platform of citizenship to bring the kingdom of God to bear on the world. It is our job to bring peace to our world, truth to those who would be spiritual, and grace to those of like faith. Each one needs us.
Here is a critical thing for those of us who are dealing with family and friends in the workplace, home place, and marketplace. A lot of planting and watering has to be done in order for the harvest to be successful. Look at any growing season. It takes much more time and effort to plant the seed and to water and cultivate the plant that begins to grow up out of the ground. Any farmer will tell you that. Harvesting is brief and easy when the time is right. Your role in planting and watering and cultivating is just as important as the role of the one who does the harvesting. And God brings the increase. Each of us shares in the important work our part of the Body was built to perform (1 Corinthians 12). We all are ministers together of grace, truth, and peace, reconciling the world to the Father.
Terry Everroad
lionsheadcafe.com 