Evangelism is...

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
January 22nd 2006

Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
“Evangelism is…”
Mark 1:14-20

“Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” Other than the last chapter of the Gospel of Matthew this quote is most often understood as the foundation for evangelism. Since that is the case I intend on talking about evangelism this morning. Since it is always easier to define something by what it is not, I will start by explaining what evangelism is not. Though, I promise to do a more constructive definition before we are finished. My hope is that when we are finished that we will be able to begin the process of embracing an evangelistic posture as a congregation. These are my hopes, let us see what happens.
What does it mean for one to be an evangelistic Christian? Does it mean standing on a street corner preaching to people as the pass by? Does it mean asking everyone you meet if they: “know the Lord?” Does it have something to do with being “born again?” Does it mean believing that everyone who is not “born again” is condemned to hell? Or, does it have something to do with political party affiliation? For some Christians, these very things are just some of the reasons why they have trouble with the word evangelism. Despite these contested points within American Christianity, I still believe that evangelism is at the heart of what it means to be a Christian.
Let me get to my working understanding of evangelism. First of all, evangelism is not synonymous with church growth. Evangelism is not synonymous with programs for membership development. Evangelism is not invitation to discipleship, visitation of members or visitors, or any other programs or planning meant to increase institutional numbers. Now, do not hear me wrong on this. I believe all of what I have just talked about is vital to any faith community. It is just not evangelism.
Now, before you think I may head down the road of those who claim evangelism has something to do with being a good example and hoping people will figure out you are a Christian, I am not going to do that either. It may be closer to biblical evangelism but it is a tremendously bad idea for membership development and church growth. Since you do not have to be a Christian to do justice and live compassionately in the world, evangelism really must be something more. Author Kathleen Norris, in her book Amazing Grace, says that evangelism; “means living in such a way that others may be attracted to you and your values.”
I believe her definition gets at the heart of what is happening in our gospel passage this morning. Our reading began with these words:
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’ (Mark 1:14-15)
Jesus ministry begins with the arrest of John the Baptist. It is a stark reminder that Jesus ministry is dangerous. It is a stark reminder that Jesus’ call to follow has real world implications.
In the recent history of the American church, we have taken the baptism of Jesus by John and the words of Jesus that: ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news’ and domesticated their meaning. Becoming a Christian has become equated by some as having something to do with saying the right prayer to “get saved.” In more sophisticated Christian circles this has been equated with giving mental assent to a series of beliefs or even doing nice things for people. All of these tendencies and inclinations are unfortunate reductionist interpretations which obscure the reality of what is happening in this passage.
The harsh reality of John’s call to repentance and Jesus’ continuity with this work was an all out assault on the existing order of first century Palestine. It was not meant to be a nationalistic call to open revolution against Rome. It was however, a call to a radically new and different way of living in the world.
Nowhere is this more evident than in Jesus’ call for the disciples to leave their nets and follow. The call to drop their nets was a call to break with business as usual. It was clear that following Jesus is so much more that just assent of the heart or mind. It also includes a radical reordering of all social and economic relationships. The call to leave business and family makes this abundantly clear. It was an invitation to alternative social practice.
When Jesus invites the disciples he tells them: “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” A surface reading of this passage might lead one to believe that Jesus is talking about church growth and membership development. However, this is a mistaken reading of this passage. The image of fishing for people has its roots in the words of the prophetic writings of the scriptures. In the books of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Amos one finds that the metaphor of fishing has nothing to do with ‘saving souls.’ Instead, images of fishing had everything to do with speaking judgment against the rich and powerful in society who ignored or perverted the ways of justice.
When Jesus calls the disciples to drop their nets and follow and fish for people, he is inviting them to follow the prophetic tradition. It is a call to repent of injustice. It is also a call to stand against injustice or any unjust order. Friends, this is what it means when Jesus says the disciples will fish for people. It is a call to follow, to leave the ways of the past behind and live in a radically new way.
In his book, Biblical Perspectives on Evangelism, Walter Brueggemann says evangelism, “is always aimed at summoning people to (a) new, liberated, obedience.” He goes on to say that this call to follow is a call to obedience which has often proved too radical for those who are liberal in the church. It is a call to obedience that has often proved too comprehensive for those who are conservative in the church. I believe this to be true because the call to follow Jesus is about real transformation. It is about a new orientation towards life which invites other people to join in call to live life authentically and abundantly.
So, evangelism is then about being living witnesses, personally and communally. In a culture which worships violence and war, it is a call to say no and choose the ways of peace and abundant life. In a world where drugs and alcohol, alienation and abuse run rampant in our communities and homes it is a call to say no and choose the ways of peace and abundant life. In a world that expects us to be living hypocrites it is a call to live honestly and admit that God is not finished with us yet.
Evangelism is about reaching out with words and actions. It means reaching out to say and to show that homogeneous churches are not the only way to be the church of Jesus Christ. Evangelism is about reaching out with words and actions to let the story of God’s welcome for all people. I believe Walter Brueggemann is right when he says: “It is clear, in the end, that evangelism cannot be a program strategy, but a revolutionary way of enacting the hope and energy of the believing community.”
However, this does not mean we should not have a well developed plan for church growth. We should, we must, and we will. It does mean that our strategy for church growth must always be built upon this revolutionary hope. It means that we must share this revolutionary hope and live it out in our community life. This is what evangelism is all about. It is the most authentic form of evangelism in the model of Jesus Christ. May we, as a community of faith, embrace this sort of evangelistic stance in everything we do. May it become so infused with our life and witness that people will know that we are indeed evangelical in the biblical sense of the Word. Amen.