Evangelism

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The Four Evangelists, by Jakob Jordaens
The Four Evangelists, by Jakob Jordaens
See also: Evangelical

Evangelism is the verbal proclaiming of the Christian Gospel or, by extension, any other form of preaching or proselytizing. Evangelist Ray Comfort, host of the TV show dedicated to evangelism The Way of the Master, says "simply put, Christian evangelism is when we share our faith with others." [1]

The word evangelist comes from the Koine Greek word εὐαγγέλιον (transcribed as "euangelion") via Latin "Evangelium", as used in the canonical titles of the four Gospels, authored by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (also known as the Four Evangelists). The Greek word εὐαγγέλιον originally meant a reward for good news given to the messenger (εὖ = "good", ἀγγέλλω = "I bring a message"; the word angel is of the same root) and later "good news". The latter term gives rise to the word "Gospel".

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[edit] Reasons for Evangelism

[edit] Commanded by God

According to the King James Bible, during his last days on earth Jesus commanded his disciples the following:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

– Matthew 28:19,20 King James Version

Other translations render the phrase "teach all nations" in the above quotations as "make disciples of all nations."

Jesus also states in the Gospel of Mark to "go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). These are two main passages of Scripture where it can easily be seen that Christians are commanded to preach the Gospel. The Traveling Team, a Christian ministry dedicated to mobilizing Christians to share the Gospel, lists numerous more in their article "Genesis to Reveleation: God's Heart for the World" showing that the idea of evangelism and missions is rooted throughout the entire Bible. [2]

[edit] Evangelists

Sometimes, the regular minister of a church is called a preacher in a way that other groups would typically use the term pastor. The evangelist in some churches is one that travels from town to town and from church to church, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Though many Christians of various theological perspectives would call themselves 'evangelists' because they are spreaders of the good news. Many churches believe one of their major functions is to function as evangelists to spread the good news about Jesus being our savior.

The evangelical movement in Protestant Christianity encompasses denominations and parachurch organizations such as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association which, among other characteristics, focus on evangelism and the drawing-in of new converts. In common parlance, the title of evangelist is most easily associated with those who lead large meetings like those of Billy Graham, possibly in tents or existing church buildings, or those who address the public in street corner preaching, which targets listeners who happen to pass nearby on the street. It can also be done in small groups or even on a one-to-one basis. Increasingly, the Web enables anyone to become an Internet evangelist. Though it is a misnomer to believe that to be evangelical one has to accept a certain sort of Biblical fundamentalism. Many radicals and liberals would call themselves 'evangelical'.

The term is also used in a non-religious sense to describe an individual who takes up a cause and convinces others to it (see technology evangelist). Guy Kawasaki, an author and venture capitalist, describes evangelists as individuals who promote a particular product. At Apple Computer, he was part of a team of Apple evangelists that convinced programmers to develop software on the Macintosh Platform. In The Human Fabric (Aviri, 2004), Bijoy Goswami describes the "Evangelist" as one of three core energies in people and society.

[edit] Perspectives on evangelism

See also: Approaches to evangelism

[edit] Biblical quotes

A more strict biblical definition of evangelist would equate it to a missionary:

  • Acts 21:8 (KJV) And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the [evangelist], which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
  • 2 Timothy 4:5 (KJV) But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

[edit] See also

JustWitness.com, Online Evangelism Training

[edit] References

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