The Church and Evangelism

The Responsibility of Every Member

If we consider the overall plan of God, I believe we can say that God's method in all things (not just evangelism) is to use men filled with the Holy Spirit. Whether in the church or outside the church, we see solid teaching in the epistles and examples in the book of Acts to back up this sweeping statement. By contrast, God's method is not man's organization or human planning. No new ideas or methods for attracting souls to Christ are needed. Search the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation, and all we see is the power of God at work through men who willingly yielded to His control and allowed God to use them as He saw fit. Is there any evidence that God has ever changed his plan?

We can divide the working of God through men into two main categories, namely 1) His working through every believer, and 2) His working through men who are called and given a special gift. Both are necessary and important, and God does not emphasize one against another. The function is different, but the provision for both is God, and the goal of the working of God through both is the same. That goal is to spread abroad the fragrance of Christ at all times and in every place to draw men to Himself.

Consider the well-known scripture that we have already quoted. "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). This was spoken to the disciples as Jesus was departing this earth. Notice the focus: "You shall be witnesses to Me." As His disciples, our lives are to give a witness to the nature and character of God. Men should be able to look at us and see Jesus. If we are abiding in Christ and living His life, this will be true. God will be able to send people our way to show them Himself, many times without our knowledge. The ability to reveal Christ comes from the indwelling God. This focuses our attention on abiding in Christ by the Spirit. We may not think of this as "evangelism," but this is one of the main ways that souls are reached.

The word "evangelism" often implies large meetings, a program of witnessing, and various other methods. Living the life of God every day before the world may seem too common or too slow. May I encourage us to reconsider this area? More people may be watching our lives than we think. If our lives do not give forth the fragrance of Jesus, why would anybody want the Jesus we talk about? If what people see does not make them hungry for what we have, why would they ask questions? And if they are not asking questions, how can we give them answers?

It goes without saying that we cannot save souls. I would even question the term "soul winning" the way it is commonly used today. Only Jesus can save a soul, and He does that by a miracle working of grace which we understand only in a limited way. The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (see John 16:8-11). Our place is to give witness to the reality of God through our lives, to speak words as the Holy Spirit opens doors and directs us, and to leave men and women to deal with God. We cannot deal with God for them, and if we try to do the work of the Holy Spirit, we hinder what God wants to do. If we try to go beyond the role God has given us, it is easy for people to become attached to us rather than to Jesus, even to the point where we take the place of God in their lives. This is a trap we must avoid at all costs.

This ministry that is given to every member is demanding, because it means we must be moving in union with God at all times. This is not a small matter. Soul-winning programs, music ministries, and social functions that attract people are easier, because we can do them without God. We can be "involved" and feel we are really "doing something" for God. In himself, man is very capable, but submitting to the discipline of God and never moving separate from Him is something that many of us know too little about. Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing." Do we believe that? Have we let God show us what it means?

We want to go on and consider the ministry of the evangelist, who specifically goes out to take the gospel to the world. But as we do, let us never diminish this witness that God wants to bring through every member. The members of our family, our neighbors, and the people we work with may never have a better witness to the reality of God than what they see in us. It is wonderful that God has involved us in a very real way, and yet at the same time it is a tremendous responsibility. Let each of us take this responsibility seriously. Let the gospel of Christ be fully proclaimed through our lives. Someone has said: "Preach the gospel. If necessary, use words." As we walk in the Spirit, the character of God will be fully expressed to each one who comes in contact with us, and we will give forth the fragrance of the life of God at all times. Let us always be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within. As we are fully taken up with our love relationship with Jesus, God will surely send others our way to pick the fruit and be drawn to Him.

Next: The Ministry of Evangelism