Ok so I looked up the word E-V-A-N-G-E-L-I-S-M...
in all the versions of the bible I have on my Study Bible computer program and there is not one mention of it.
Matt 11:19
19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking [with others], and they say, Behold, a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and [especially wicked] sinners!
AMP
Jesus saw there need for Him so he went to those who were in need most of His gift.
We see what they are in need of and because we are to be friends to anyone who comes our way we should give them what they are in need of and that is not always Jesus right away. Just the other day I was waiting in a line up and the girl's mother that was in front of me said to her daughter that there was only 12 minutes left on the parking meter outside. There were two more people in front of this girl before her turn and I could clearly see that they were not going to be out of there in 12 minutes. What do you think Jesus would have done in this case? You don't think He would just mind His own business and pass this opportunity to affect someone's life do you? Well any way I don't want to look better than anyone else but I put into action what I have been taught. I Have been taught to help others in need. So I said to the girl I have a quarter here would this give you enough time in your meter? The mother looked at me like who are and what makes you do this kind thing? This small gesture of God's love helping someone in need opened a door for me to have a conversation with this girl and I think a friendship will be formed from this experience all because I listened to the Holy Spirit's prompt of compassion and love.
We are called to live our lives as 24/7 friends to the world. Jesus did not tell His disciples, "Ok guys today we are going to go do evangelism in the slums! Who is coming with me?" Or how about Paul? "Lets go to an island to do evangelism, oh and lets make a big entrance by being washed up on the beach?"( Acts 27: 41-44 is where Paul gets shipwrecked)
You all I really hope you are catching the point I am trying to make! It is not about arranging an event to witness to people it is about living your life being a witness and testimony to all people around us.
I hope this has shed some light on how things are viewed,
Blessings
~Alyse~
Hi Alyse,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your point that evangelism is not about arranging an event to witness to people, but instead we ought to live our lives being a witness!
In 2 Timothy 4:5 God tells us to "do the work of an evangelist". That's pretty clear that "evangelism" is not an EVENT, but it's a work, a lifestyle, a VERB, right? :)
In Acts 21:8 Paul stayed at the house of Philip the Evangelist and I wondered how Philip got that title. I looked up Ephesians 4:11 and found that he must have been given that ministry from the Lord, just as Paul (along with others) was called "the Apostle" because he was given THAT ministry.
According to Strong's this word means: "A bringer of good tidings" or "The name given to the New Testament heralds of salvation through Christ who are not apostles". So then, we're ALL evangelists aren't we? :)