Evangelism, the Great Need, or Preacher, Change Your Job Description
by Chuck Scott
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 20 No. 3, September 1994
Jesus said, "Go teach all nations" (Matthew 28:19)! We are not to wait for them to come to us to hear His word; we are to go out and evangelize.
Why am I an evangelist? God has abundantly blessed me with all spiritual blessings, as well as many physical blessings, including a life in this free country. Just being in this country is a blessing most of the world would jump at if they only had the opportunity. God also gave me the ability to think, to reason, and to understand that all good things come from Him (James 1:17)! He gave me an understanding heart to appreciate all He has given me. I am to be thankful for His grace, His love, His mercy, and His assurance of heaven in the afterlife (I Peter 1:3-5). God also gave me the insight to be grateful for the many children of His who have taken time and put forth such great efforts in demonstrating their love for me, which, by the way, I do not in the least deserve. How could I not burn with the desire to share with others the blessings God has given to me, including those showered upon me by his children? I feel indebted and therefore must try with every fiber of my being to please Him.
I am an evangelist because I love God (I John 4:19), and to love God means to love my neighbor (I John 4:20-21). Jesus said a new command I give you, (John 13:34) "...love ... as I have loved you." I cannot imagine loving as Christ has loved me, but I am willing to strive for that end. When I see people in the world who are lost, it breaks my heart. It breaks my heart, not just because they disobey God, but because they can look forward to nothing but an eternal Hell. I do not understand the total love Christ had for mankind, but when I think of the terror and duration of the final punishment, I do not want anyone to ever have to give an answer for anything they may have done or think they have done to me. I believe this gives me just a slight glimpse of why Christ willingly came to earth and gave Himself for mankind. If I could spend every day all day in His service, I would have done nothing except what I should have done (Luke 17:10). Still, I do not deserve any of what He gives me. Knowing this, how can I refuse to forgive, realizing He forgave me so much and continues to forgive beyond my understanding?
Why do I use the term 'evangelist' rather than 'preacher'? To my mind, a preacher stands in the pulpit to preach and teach, and an evangelist goes out to the lost as well as teaching brethren. This may not be correct, but it is my definition.
Many people can stand in the pulpit and do as good, and yes, a far better job than I do at preaching. But it is my conviction that what is far more necessary is for faithful brethren to go out to the lost in the world, that the lost might see our concern. Did not Christ do this? (Luke 19:10). Yes, preaching can encourage and build up a brother, but in the world, you can bring the mean man to peace with God. It gives me great joy to snatch one out of the fire (Jude 1:22-23) as it would be. Yes, I love the evil person’s soul. Remember, Jesus said he came not to call the righteous but sinners (Luke 5:32). What is needed, even more than polished orators, is for people to be willing to go out and enter the home of sinners with the gospel (Matthew 18:11). Perhaps I see in the lost person my reflection before many kind brethren put their confidence and effort in me to help me see the light. Please remember, these are only my reasons for being an evangelist. They may not be your idea of why one would choose to try to teach the lost.
Why go to the lost sinner? We must go to the lost! They are the ones who need help, and they may not come to us.
Why do I strive to teach the lost? Because it is my desire that God be pleased with me. Because I want to obey Him. Because I feel ecstatic when the angels in heaven rejoice (Luke 15:7). Because He forgave me. Because I have buried both saint and sinner, and I do not want to bury any more unconverted sinners. There seem to be no words of comfort able to reassure the ones left behind that their loved ones are safe. The only way I know to work on the problem is convert sinners. Perhaps it is because I am thinking only of what I want, which is to go to heaven and take everyone I can with me. I am an evangelist, and yes. I believe Christians also need encouragement to grow in spirit and truth. That is why I also preach. My God has taken care of me for more than fifty years, and it is my desire to spend the rest of my life preaching and teaching, to keep both myself and others from being lost. My greatest fear is that I could not continue to serve Him. Although my service can do nothing to repay the Lord’s care for me, I am resolved to try to be what He desires of me. Perhaps in some small way I can say, "Thank you, LORD, Thank you."
