Evangelism is a very important mark of a healthy church, it concerns the growth of
the church, it is also the command that Christ gave to all that would be His
disciples. Evangelism is more complex than most think it requires sacrifice. It will
be costly but it will also be worth it, the evangelist has to be honest about the
change choosing Christ brings. Evangelism also requires interaction with the Bible
and being vulnerable with others. The most important thing the evangelist needs
to understand is it’s God’s plan that they commit to the great commission. This
means they take God with them everywhere they go, to work, to the grocery store,
to the sporting event you have planned this weekend. “If God's plan is that the
whole world should know about this good news, and if he's committed the task of
telling others into our hands (Matt. 28:18-20), then we must send (Rom 10:15) and
we must go (Rom 10:14)!”[1] It is every believer's job to evangelize others for the
kingdom of God, therefore, believers must take the gospel to the whole world so
everyone has the opportunity to repent and be saved. Sharing the word of God is
an important task in the believer's life. Those that have been set free due to
evangelism should want to evangelize others and share what they have found.
Thank you for reminding us all of this with your post.
Let me preface by saying that I will be keeping you and your situation in my
prayers. I understand the importance of securing and maintaining employment and
the dilemma you are encountering. However, and I think you realize this point,
what is more, important to you, evangelizing or conforming to the world? Mark
Dever states, "We should recall as well the admonition of Peter: "Always be
prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the
hope that you have" (1 Pet. 3:15). Peter wrote this to the whole church, not just to
its leaders. All Christians, not just the professional clergy, are to spread the good
news."1 Understandably, I do not know your work environment or job description,
but I believe that God has placed you in this position for a purpose. Dever, further,
states, "Obedience typifies true Christians. The legitimacy of our claim to follow
Jesus appears in our obeying him. He has instructed his disciples to bring the
good news about him to all, so we are in sinful disobedience if we are not
evangelizing."2
Mark Dever devotes a whole section on biblical and church discipline. One area of
discipline speaks about how it is a corporate witness of the church. However, it is
equally a personal witness of the Christian. Mark Dever states, "When churches
[or Christians] are seen as conforming to the world, our evangelistic task becomes
all the more difficult. We become so like the unbelievers they have no questions
they want to ask us. May we so live that people are made constructively curious."3
It can be a daunting experience, especially with job security and family support
concerns. However, it is comforting to know that no matter how difficult the
situation that we are not alone in our evangelistic endeavors. Christ told his
disciples, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:
and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in
Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)4
You state that you have been provided with a wake-up call. Seek God's counsel
through prayer and depend upon His will and purpose for your life, not the world's
will and purpose. I will be praying for you.
God bless,
Brian C. Corn
a a a a 1 Mark Dever, Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, 3rd ed. (Wheaton: Crossway,
2013), 137.
a a a a 2 Ibid., 139.
a a a a 3 Ibid., 202.
a a a a 4 Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the King
James Version (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 1994).
Bibliography
Dever, Mark. Nine Marks of a Healthy Church. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers,
2015.
[1] a Mark Dever. Nine Marks of a Healthy Church. Wheaton, IL: Crossway
Publishers, 2015, 148.
