The priority of evangelism
By Roger Carswell
Acts 28 v. 16 - 31
The apostle Paul is a pattern-Christian. He is not our Lord, or Saviour, but he is a great example of what it means to be a believer. As far as evangelism is concerned, his example of strategic, fervent, faithful proclamation of Christ is second to none. Even at the end of his life, by example he is setting out essential principles of the priority of evangelism.
Paul had always wanted to go to Rome to personally preach the gospel there. Instead he arrived as a prisoner. It was not so much that Paul said, "I must go to Rome" (Acts 19 v. 21), but rather that Jesus had said, "You must testify in Rome" (Acts 23 v 11), though Paul didn't know that he would be a prisoner there. Paul repeatedly described himself as 'the prisoner of the Lord' (not the prisoner of Caesar, or the Roman guard, but of the Lord). And in prison we see that Paul was:
Evangelistic to the end
Evangelism is proclaiming the gospel to non-Christians who are listening. At the end of Acts we find Paul in prison under house arrest. There would have been restrictions but, at least to begin with, Paul was given great freedoms, which he turned into opportunities to make Christ known. It would have been easy for Paul to feel that the situation was too difficult, and that he had already 'done his stint'. Rather, with a deep-seated recognition that men and women were lost, without hope and destined to hell, Paul had to speak. The prison door may have been closed, but it was an open door of opportunity, which interested Paul.
In verse 23 we read of three verbs, which give us a clue as to what evangelism is all about. Paul explained, testified or declared and tried to convince or persuade. In verse 31 we read that he preached the kingdom of God and about the Lord Jesus Christ. The back-cloth of all the Bible, and the foundation of all Christian belief is "Christ and Him crucified", and so our aim should be to pave the way to explaining who Jesus is and how He carried and paid for our sins in His death and resurrection. Then, we can testify as to what God has personally done for us and in us, and then persuade people to respond to the claims of Christ on their lives.
Ours are difficult days, with increased apathy and antagonism to the true and living God. But Rome at the time of Paul was not exactly eager to hear of their need to repent and believe. When John Wesley arrived in the City of Newcastle he was appalled by the wickedness of the city. He wrote in his Journal (on 28th May 1742):
"We came to Newcastle about six; and after short refreshment, walked into the town. I was surprised: so much drunkenness, cursing and swearing (even from the mouths of little children), do I never remember to have seen and heard before in so small a compass of time. Surely this place is ripe for Him who came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance"!
God knew what He was doing with Paul, for in prison, he actually found that his witness was expanded, enriched and authenticated by his suffering. Tough as it was, Paul's evangelism was used and people were converted.
Creative in his means
Paul became "an ambassador in bonds". He devised means to create evangelistic openings. First, he appealed to the people who would at least listen to what he had to say. He called together local Jewish leaders. We know too, that he witnessed to the prison guard, and that the message spread throughout the palace household (Phil 4 v. 22). He probably stood before the world's most prestigious person, in the world's most prestigious court, and faithfully proclaimed Christ.
Whenever the early Christians appeared before the authorities, they saw it as an opportunity to witness! If it is true that the most important message is that of Christ crucified and risen, then the most urgent requirement for every Christian is to get that message out, by all legitimate means, to every person. Every aspect of our lives is to have an evangelistic dimension, whether at work, home, church, leisure or holidays.
There will of course, be a different approach to the various people with whom we have contact, but the greatest act of friendship and kindness we can show to anyone is to tell them about Christ, and introduce them to Him. We may have to fight the temptation to cut ourselves off from contact and friendship with unconverted people.
Biblical in his message
There is no special gospel for modern men. The same message, which is the theme of the Bible, is just as relevant today as ever. The authority for the message is derived from the Word of God. As we proclaim the gospel, we are not simply sharing an idea or philosophy, but unleashing a power, for "the gospel is the power of God for salvation."
God has promised to bless the proclamation of His Word (Isaiah 55 v 10, 11). I carry a Bible with me always, and as often as possible, I like to open it and show passages to the people with I am talking.
When the Word of God is proclaimed either one-to-one, or one to a crowd, God the Holy Spirit takes hold of it and brings life out of death - new birth! This is what happened when Ezekiel preached to the valley of dry bones, and it still happens today when Christians get out the gospel to non-Christians who are listening. Remember that the sower sows the Word. Peter wrote, "If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very word of God' (1 Peter 4 v. 11), and Paul instructed Timothy to "preach the Word" not just homilies and jokes! There may be different ways of preaching the Bible, (Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, Billy Graham, Lloyd Jones - all preached the Bible, though they did it very differently to each other), but it must be the Bible which is being proclaimed. The Reformation was largely due to a copy of the Scripture left in seclusion in a monastery. There it was hidden until Martin Luther came under its influence, as its truths gripped him.
Our confidence is in the God of the Scripture to use His Word, though our responsibility is to connect with the unconverted and apply the message. We have nothing to apologise about; nothing to be ashamed of, but everything to be bold about.
Fruitful in his preaching
The power in evangelism is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ and the transforming effect of the gospel. Time and again, John Wesley would note in his Journal at the end of a day, 'I gave them Christ'.
We should expect God to do His work, and bring people to the point where they are willing to repent and believe the gospel. We sow, expecting that in due season we will reap. Needless to say, that as well as expecting the blessing of conversions, there will be opposition. It has always been like that.