When we think of the Spiritual Disciplines, certainly Bible reading and prayer come to mind for they are foundational disciplines. And if we think a little harder, we might come to include such disciplines as gratitude, worship, and solitude. Rarely does evangelism make the list. However, when our criteria are imposed – Is it found in the Bible? Is it modeled or taught by Jesus? – we soon discover that evangelism is a the Spiritual Discipline we are called to practice.
Evangelism Defined
Simply defined, evangelism is communicating the gospel.
A more detailed definition is given by J. I. Packer in Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God. Packer’s definition reads as follows:
Evangelism “is to present Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit to sinful people in order that they may come to put their trust in God through Him, to receive Him as their Savior, and serve Him as their King in the fellowship of His Church.”
Our word, evangelism, comes from the Greek word evangelion which means gospel. If we go back further in history, the Greek word evangelion meant “signif[ying] good, merry, glad and joyful tidings, that maketh a man’s heart glad, and maketh him sing, dance and leap for joy” (Tyndale, Doctrinal Treatises, Cambridge: Parker Society, 1848, p. 8).
From this, we can conclude that evangelism is a sharing of the good news that makes people sing, dance, and leap for joy.
The goal of evangelism is God’s glory. When redeemed sinners praise and worship Him for His saving grace, He is most glorified.
THE GOSPEL
Our definition states that evangelism is communicating the gospel. In order to communicate it, we better know what the gospel is.
Isaiah 40:6-11 gives us some insight. In verse 9 of this passage, we read, “Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, ‘Behold your God!’” The voice is announcing “good news.” This is what the gospel writers pick up on when they speak of the good news of Jesus Christ. They are applying the idea of this “good news” to the coming of God Himself in Jesus Christ.
The gospel is the good news that the one and only Creator God made us in His image to know Him. Holy and without sin, He will not ignore or excuse the sins of others. We, however, rebelled. In our sin, we cut ourselves off from Him. At the end of life, we will stand before a just and holy God and be judged on the basis of our righteousness. In His great love, God became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life of righteousness, and offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to fulfill the law and take upon Himself the punishment for the sins of all those who would ever turn and trust in Him. God’s solution to humanity’s sin was the death and resurrection of Jesus. We can be saved from the condemnation our sin deserves through redemption in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:24). God now calls us to repent of our sins and to trust in Christ alone for forgiveness. Salvation comes “through faith in Jesus Christ” and it is “for all who believe (Romans 3:22). A response of faith is needed. If we repent of our sins and trust in Christ, we are born again into a new life, an eternal life with God.
The gospel calls sinners to repent and believe in Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sin. God’s favor cannot be earned. There is no amount of work we can do to earn it. However, we can be reconciled to Him through faith alone in Christ alone. He has promised. All those who come to Him through Jesus will be received.
Evangelism In Scripture
In determining whether evangelism fits our criteria for a Spiritual Discipline, we must next turn to the Bible. Is the discipline found within its pages? And the answer is a solid, yes!
“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”
Isaiah 55:1
God calls us to be reconciled to Him. It is His very character. Our desire to share the good news with those around us so that they might be reconciled to God flows from His very own nature.
“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’”
John 20:21
The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded us to witness.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20
Again, the Lord commands us to witness. Note that these commands were not given solely to the apostles. His commands apply to all Christians no matter the time period in which they live.
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.”
Proverbs 11:30
As believers in Christ, God’s people, we should be eager to share the gospel with those around us. Our lives should reflect Christ. They should consistently be characterized by holiness, in such a way as to make our Savior more attractive to unbelievers.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
1 Peter 2:9
Each of us – everyone – no exceptions, is called to be a witness for Christ.
The Importance of Evangelism
Let’s go back briefly to the gospel as defined above. According to this, we are all exiles, separated from God. Slaves to sin. But through Jesus Christ, we can be reconciled. He is the good news!
The purpose of evangelism is that sinners be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ so that they can be adopted into His family and worship Him as Creator and Redeemer.
