RADICAL EVANGELISM

When one speaks of evangelism immediately preaching comes to mind. Many would argue that's not the case. But in truth and in fact Evangelism involves spreading the word of God to the unevangelized World. Now, how can they hear without a preacher?

Preaching does not have to be vocal and it's definitely not for the regular pulpit (will explain). It can be written, song, signed, danced and many more innovative ways. The most effective preaching to date is living a bible life. Do you not know that the life we live is preaching to the unsaved? People will listen to your life more than what you are saying from your mouth. Live a radical bible life and you'll reach the end time harvest one by one.

Preaching relates to spreading the gospel to unsaved souls, rather than a seasoned body of believers. A seasoned body of believers does not need preaching we need sound teaching. Notice Jesus and the Apostles. They would initially preach the gospel but thereafter it would be purely teaching of the doctrine. The gospel will lead you to Christ but it is the doctrine that will ultimately save you (I Tim 4:16).

Christ clearly made it known about teaching in Math 28:19, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." What did Christ tell the Apostles? Twice it was mentioned to teach. Teach the doctrine of salvation. But will anyone receive this teaching unless they were first preached to.

In other words, tell me (preach) about heaven, freedom, glory and riches galore. Tell me that I am lost and going to hell without Jesus. Then you can teach me the doctrine: - how to be born-again, repentance, baptisms, justification and others. For example, you will not get an high school graduate to go to college/University and sit under 3-4 years of teaching, unless it was first explained that upon graduation, you will attain a good paying job, drive a nice car and be in peace and safety (or so they say).

The point is, evangelism involves spreading the good news (gospel) that was preached and experienced in your life and to unsaved persons you come in contact with. The body of believers doesn't need to hear the gospel over and over again from the pulpit. What we need to hear is sound doctrine and doctrine is taught.

On that note, before going into the core of the topic, can I clear up an age-old misinterpretation? Who does evangelism? An Evangelist. What is involved in evangelism? Preaching. Then isn't it safe to say that evangelism is mainly geared towards unsaved soul.

We earlier found that out. So then, is the ministration of an evangelist housed under a church filled with believers and a 'hand full of unsaved folk"? Or is it in the high ways and by ways of our cities and the countryside of our rural areas?

What are you saying writer?

Many with the title evangelist, traveling from pulpit to pulpit aren't operating under the ministration of an evangelist. Pulpit to pulpit mainly concerns the body of believers, which should mainly involve teaching.

An evangelist is usually the unseen brothers and sisters who travel the bus and preach Jesus; those who set up a speaker box on the corner of a busy street and preach Jesus; those who are armed with tracks, a bible, church cards and position themselves in the arena of unsaved folk to make known the gospel of Jesus Christ. An evangelist is one that goes from door to door, bus to bus, office to office, junction to junction to proclaim the blessed hope that we have in Jesus Christ.

So, who are the persons that go from pulpit to pulpit? Believe it or not most persons deemed as evangelist, elders, ministers and deacons that solely travel from church to church strengthening and sometimes establishing sub-assemblies are Apostles and prophets. Yes we are afraid to acknowledge these persons as Apostles and Prophets. Nevertheless, whether you call them by their genuine title, they still operate under their inspired direct word from God and teaching with signs and wonders. That's another topic all by itself, let me stick to this one.

When we speak of radical evangelism, we quickly recognize the word radical. What does it means or signifies? It out rightly speaks of change. In other words, we can't keep using the same conventional methods of evangelism to reach a changing world. For instance, the world is getting highly computerized. In fact there are over 300 million people using the Internet. Well, that was the last time I checked, more than likely it grew. That's 300 million souls and I would perceive most of them are unsaved.

If you an evangelist that would just prick you heart. You would want to find a pathway to reach at least 1/3 of the users. For instance, I recently acquired a list of over 20 million emails. The possibilities are endless. Hmmm, I am thinking how could I do this. Send an email entitles 'Hell or heaven,' or a vague email entitled, 'do you know him.' Out of 20 million, even if 1/10 responded favorable and lead to baptism in Jesus name, that would be much more impacting in fulfilling Math 28:19; "Go ye therefore and teach all nations." I couldn't reach 20 million persons at one go with conventional methods of tract distribution, tent meetings, traveling the bus and shopping centers, street meetings and others.

I am not knocking the above, because it is needed and I still do involve myself in them and actually more enjoy it. However, there are some far more impacting, wide reaching methods of evangelism; remember, "he that winneth soul is wise." Yes it is not what we are use to; that's why it's radical.

You are going to be criticized, put down and discouraged but if God called you to a different area of evangelism by all means do what God has called you to do. You are a pioneer! I was the last person to be involved in an Internet ministry. Why? When the first computer came to my church. I was one of them that was criticizing and murmuring saying, "What the mark of the beast in our church!" When I transferred to another church and saw a computer on the pastor's desk that was my same reaction, "My God, now are the pastor's are in on it."

Don't get me wrong, the information age with the computer is a catalyst for the mark of the beast and the devil's kingdom (see the ICI), but so was the printing press, the radio and of course, the television. This present earth is not our kingdom, but we have to live here. Christ did say, I send you forth as lambs among wolves, be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove.

There are many other areas of radical evangelism. For instance, your phone, voice mail box; bumper stickers; athletic arenas; telephone directory; teachers put a track in the student's report card; fast food restaurant; schools and many more endless strategies and method. I leave you to the spirit of God and your God given mental innovations. Every born-again Christian is a personal evangelist by God; therefore every born-again Christian is a preacher. Whether you choose to make full proof of your ministry or not is up to you. For instance, How can you be the owner of a little fast food place and not one of your daily customers every heard you spoke of Jesus. Saints start evangelizing today.

Usually the 'pulpiteer' gets the praise ("I speak foolishly"), but every member is vital to the process. After coming to church for a while, invited by Elder Shaw, I kind of lapse and delayed baptism. One Saturday night, returning from Half Way tree on the bus, planning to go to a beach party the next day; I remember it clearly. A young boy with two young girls came on the bus. He looked ragged and poverty stricken. But he opened his mouth and preached Jesus and hell. I was so convicted; it couldn't get out of my mind. I got so shaken up and said in my mind, "I'm going to church tomorrow and get baptize, no matter what." I never saw that boy again; he didn't go to my church or organization.

The next day at church, Bishop Thomas, one of the greatest defenders of the Apostles doctrine, taught on baptism in Jesus name strongly. The convicting power of God couldn't leave me. I got baptized that day.

Now, in our eyes the one who was credited with my conversion ("I speak foolishly") was Bishop. But dear friend, be not fooled that young unrecognized boy was equally as important and he is assured his reward in heaven.

If God is pulling you to do something different, in the confines of his word, do it! You might not know who the Lord would grace you to birth in the kingdom. That young boy probably doesn't have a clue of what the Lord allowed him to do. To me he is precious.

So then, we see the evangelist (preacher) is equally as important as the pulpiteer. In closing, I want to recognized all the men and women who are true evangelist in their own God given right. Especially the ones that have no money but preach Jesus on the bus, hand out tract frequently, visit a salvation prone saint, standing on the street corner spreading the good news, students lifting up the name of Jesus in the class rooms, teachers who refuse to see a student not know the gospel, persons who would walk miles to see one soul be saved. You might not be seen by your peers, reproached by onlookers, dogged by others. Yet you are not discouraged to say another word with Christ, give another tract, put up another mic, write another sentence, sing another song, and pray another prayer or use your God given imagination to win souls. YOU ARE AN EVANGELIST. Hold on your reward is sure; "God is not unjust to forget your labour of love."

The world wants you and is depending on you. Do it a favor and try to reach them on their level. If they cannot relate to or understand what is being sent, your efforts can be futile.

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START EVANGELISING TODAY!

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