For many years now we have heard the statement that the church’s primary task is to do that work which only the church can do---namely, the work of evangelism. This is not to imply that the church is not to be concerned with benevolence or edification, but it is to understand that after all, there is a vital connection between these works and the work of evangelism.
We have also realized, for many years, that we spend most of our time, money, and effort on preaching to ourselves. This can hardly be called “evangelism!” Since the work of evangelism is our primary task, and since most of our money, time and effort are not being spent on evangelism, the question necessarily arises, “Why isn’t the church evangelizing?”
First, many Christians are not evangelizing because they are not fully committed to Christ and his Gospel. If they were, they could not help but go out into the world and share that glorious message with others. Examine your own life. How many people outside the fellowship have you ever spoken to about Christ and their spiritual well-being? The truth is we are timid and reluctant to tell others we are Christians much less ask them if they are! We lack the deep, abiding personal relationship with Christ, being too lazy to really get out and work for him and his cause – the greatest cause on earth. We are quite satisfied with our half-hearted efforts that in no way approximate the life of evangelism lived and preached by Paul. Perhaps we need to go back and re-read Luke 9:23. “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” In general, members of the church today expect the preacher and a few of the church leaders to go out and do the job of evangelism, but if limited in this way, the task will never be accomplished. How can we expect to be saved if we steadfastly ignore the Lord’s command to “go unto all the world and preach the gospel to every creation”? Do we really think we have fulfilled our responsibility just because the preacher goes out along with a few others? I am afraid this is exactly what many Christians today believe!
Second, many Christians are not evangelizing because they do not even take the time to communicate with God. We don’t take the time to listen to God speaking to us. That is, we don’t spend enough time with our Bibles. Systematic, daily Bible reading and study is a thing of the past with many professing Christians today. How can we expect others to listen to us when we won’t even take the time to listen to God?
Third, many Christians are not evangelizing because they have isolated themselves from the world. We have, in a very real way, become modern-day monastics! This is not to suggest that Christian’s ought to partake of the ways of the world, nor is it to suggest in any way that we ought to condone the sins of the world or compromise the truth. It is merely to suggest what is but common sense. We are never going to have any effect on the lives of others if we are not willing to involve ourselves in their lives.
Onward Rejoicing, John B. Daniels, Associate Minister
