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Evangelize! Consider the meaning.
by Justin D. Long
We often speak of "global world evangelization"--but do we have a clear understanding of what "evangelizing" means? Let's begin by re-reading the six narratives of Christ's Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18, Luke 24:45-49, John 20:21-23, John 21:5-22, Acts 1:4-8) to discuss evangelization and what it actually means. It is interesting to note that the word "evangelize" in its original Greek form (euangelizo) does not occur in any of the narratives, although its cognate nount (euangelion) does appear in the Good News Bible. Instead, there are seven key phrases which Christ uses to describe our Commission. These seven parts help to shed light on the whole.
1. PNEUMATIC EVANGELIZATION. The first mandate is to Receive! In the Greek, the word is "labete." This is a Spirit-dominated mandate calling for prayer evangelism. It includes baptism in the Spirit, Spirit-led evangelism, pneumatization, renewal in the Spirit and especially intercession for the lost. Some of its synonyms include: accompany, be filled, breathe, cooperate, follow, participate, pneumatize, pray, receive power, stay and wait. The first command of Christ to His followers was: Wait! They weren't to immediately go out and begin preaching--instead, they were to wait until they were filled with His Spirit and anointing. The Spirit would give them boldness and ability; without it, they would soon certainly falter. That command echoes down the ages to us today: Wait! Pray! Intercede for the lost! Spend time on your knees praying for the unreached! Make no efforts on their behalf before the Spirit rests upon you.
2. PREPARATORY EVANGELIZATION. The second mandate is to Go! In the Greek, the word is "poreuthentes." This is a person-implemented mandate calling for preparatory evangelization. Its types are the apostolate, mission, extension, outreach, primary evangelism and visitation evangelism. Some of the key synonyms are: act, contact, deliver, develop, encounter, engage, extend, go, help, impact, influence, itinerate, liberate, love, make aware, occupy, permeate, prepare, reach, seek, send, target, touch, transmit, visit. The general emphasis of this mandate is to Go! -- to get out among our target audience. Once the Spirit has fallen in power and anointing upon us, there should be no excuse for delay. They cannot hear if we do not go, visit, see, learn from, reach out to, get in the middle of, shake hands with, break bread with, understand, listen to them. We, the Body of Christ, cannot sit still - we must constantly be going to new fields and new places.
3. PRESENCE EVANGELIZATION The third mandate is to Witness! In the Greek, the word is "martyres" (which is where we get the phrase "martyr" from). This is a largely unorganized, private mandate calling for personal evangelization. Its sub-types include person-to-person witness, personal work, dialogue evangelism, talking about the Gospel, seed-sowing, and prophetic evangelism. Some synonyms include: be present, bring, carry, confess, dialogue, expose, inform, propagate, radiate, report, say, share, shine, sow, spread, talk, tell, testify, witness. The idea here is to think of the quaint image of two gossips at the back-yard fence talking about the goings-on in the neighborhood (or however two friends in your culture regularly meet to share the news of the happenings of their lives). They chatter and chirp like fast-talking birds, sharing each others ideas, hobbies, thoughts, interests, likes, dislikes, opinions, gripes and complaints. The "witness" must be in the lives of those he/she seeks to meet-- must be sharing the idea of Heaven, of Christ, of grace and mercy (without being overly preachy and foreceful). The mercy of God must radiate from our daily lives to touch others. Unfortunately, that "radiation" may not always be welcome--in fact, it can lead to persecution and death. In older times it often did; still today in some parts of the world it often does. Thus the word "martyres" leads to martyrdom--the ultimate "witness" in the ending of our lives for the sake of the Gospel.
4. PROCLAMATION EVANGELIZATION! The fourth mandate is to Proclaim! (Greek, keruxate). This is an ordered, public mandate for preaching the Gospel. Its sub-types include public evangelism, mass evangelism, broadcast evangelism, audiovisual evangelism, demonstration evangelism, deliverance evangelism, incarnational evangelism, power evangelism and power healing. Its synonyms include: advertise, announce, broadcast, declare, demonstrate, do miracles, exorcise, explain, expound, give a message, give opportunity, heal, hear, herald, make listen, preach, present, proclaim, prove, publish, read, reason, refute, saturate, show, translate. This mandate is for the bold, unwavering proclamation of the Gospel to the public. Sometimes there's a place for a quiet sharing, one-on-one, of the Gospel. Sometimes it's more appropriate to stand up and SHOUT THE TRUTH! (This is why the first step, seeking the anointing and Spirit of God, is so important--to know which time is appropriate for which.) Proclamation includes city-wide crusades, radio broadcasting, satellite television, public-square preaching, and the like.
5. PRESSURE EVANGELIZATION The fifth mandate is to Disciple! (Greek, matheteusate). This is a convert-oriented mandate for "persuasion evangelism." Its sub-types include paracletic evangelism, harvest evangelism, discipling evangelism, verdict evangelism and decision evangelism. Synonyms include: appeal, catch, compel, confront, conquer, convert, convince, denounce, disciple, exhort, forgive, give, harvest, impart, implore, invite, offer, persuade, press, reap, retain, urge, warn and win. The image here is of a regular meeting with a study-group of potential converts who are interested in hearing what you have to say, or learning more about the person of Jesus. This sort of group is especially common in the Middle East and Asia, where people are very interested in religion and studying the Bible even though they are not Christians. The idea is to regularly meet to share, explain the faith, and gently argue and persuade for Christianity. This is especially appropriate in cultures where major decisions must be made in groups ("people movements") rather than individuals. It's hard to imagine this sort of society in the West, where individualism is supreme, but it's nevertheless true in non-Western ethnic groups.
6. PLANTING EVANGELIZATION The sixth mandate is to Baptize! (Greek, baptizontes). This is a church-oriented mandate for planting evangelism. Its subtypes include baptizing, evangelism that results in churches, church planting, incorporation and shepherding. Key synonyms include: affiliate, baptize, bless, build, catechize, confirm, enroll, feed, grow, incorporate, initiate, minister, multiply, plant, praise, sacramentalize, serve, tend, worship. The ultimate goal of evangelism is the winning of converts and the planting of the church. This is also an act of evangelism. The presence of a church in a frontier culture is a powerful banner for the Gospel. As others witness the way in which this newly-planted cell of the Body acts, lives, cares for itself and others, and lives in witness of the Truth they have come to know and believe, more will be compelled by the Spirit to enter into Communion with Christ.
7. PEDAGOGICAL EVANGELISM The final mandate is to Train! (Greek, didaskontes). This is a ministry-oriented mandate for pastoral evangelism. Its subtypes include teaching evangelism, lordship evangelism and celebration evangelism. Its synonyms include: celebrate, cultivate, edify, educate, fellowship, instruct, mobilize, nurture, teach, train. This is the final step in the circle of the mandate. A missionary began by praying for a people group, then made initial visits, which led to personal and public witnessing. Potential converts were met with and discipled until they made the Decision, and a church was planted. As the church has grown, the missionary now focuses on training these new believers in the Faith, preparing them to go to the rest of their own people, and then to the other groups near by, and finally to the uttermost parts of the Earth, bringing with them the Gospel they have come to believe and understand. It can take a lifetime in the service of the King to see this accomplished, and there are many obstacles along the way - but oh, for the day when the missionary can step back and see the national church prepared to send its own missionaries, just as he was once sent to them!