Everyday Evangelism Made "Easy" for Everyone

Now that is a title for which you have been hoping a long time, right? Anything made easier is popular, especially when it comes to evangelism, a concept loathed by many Christians simply because it is not easy, at least not for most. A few folks, it seems, are good at it, and still fewer are very good at it. Yet all believers are at least encouraged to share the “good news” with others. In some way, passages like Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 10:14-16, and Acts 8:4, indicate some level of responsibility that believers must have in sharing their faith with others. But while these three passages imply that the church should spread the gospel, none of them implies that the individual Christian has the duty to bear this burden.  If every Christian has the specific responsibility to “evangelize,” then it seems most of us are woefully neglecting our responsibility. Wouldn’t you agree?

Other passages like 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 and Romans 12:6-8 would indicate that evangelism is compared to such spiritual gifts as prophecy, teaching, and church leadership. Clearly these verses are saying that the distribution of “gifts” are diverse, and not intended to be the same for every believer. We all have our strengths and weaknesses spiritually. Still, there are ways for every Christian to “let our light shine so that others may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.” In another word – evangelize. The New Testament letter of Paul to Titus speaks volumes about the responsibility every Christian has to reach non-believers. Think for a moment about being a Christian on the island of Crete in the first century. As part of the Greco-Roman world, paganism abounded and an immoral lifestyle was the order of the day among most Cretans. Titus 1:12-13 says, “One of them, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons. This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.’” Imagine trying to evangelize your neighbor in Crete. Titus and the other Christians had their work cut out for them, but Paul gave them some good admonitions throughout the short letter.

Paul had left Titus on the island to “set in order the things that were lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you” (Titus 1:5). As a young evangelist, Titus was told to solidify leadership. I cannot think of anything more important than for a church to appoint good, qualified leaders. In my personal experience with churches I have worked with for long or short periods of time, good leadership is a key to good churches. The very first thing Paul says is to appoint elders. Beginning in chapter 2, Paul then addresses every group and some qualities that each group should possess and be encouraged to live by. Older men, older women, young women, young men, and bondservants were all commanded to live so to “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things” (2:10). Every person, every age group has their role, and so it is today.

But there is something more that, in a casual reading, may not be quite as obvious, but is nonetheless critical to reaching people with the gospel. It isn’t a well-stocked tract rack in the building, a good door knocking program, a special series of lessons presented by someone who has a better than average record for converting people with a can’t miss formula and the best material for reaching folks. The close of the letter offers the two words that are scattered throughout the letter: “and let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful” (3:14). Paul closes this letter with the reminder to maintain good works. Good works make a difference in the lives of all people, especially among people who live for themselves, like Cretans were known to do. Paul’s evangelism technique was to maintain good works.

Verse 8 of the same chapter says, “This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.” Profitable to what men?  Not the men doing the good works but to those who are seeing the good works; those who are the recipients of the good works.

Chapter 3:1 says, “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work.” Have you ever thought about the importance of being ready for a good work? Sometimes opportunity comes along at a time we least expect it, but Paul encourages them (us) to be ready always. That requires some thought, some planning, and some possible inconvenience.  A few weeks ago, a tornado touched down near my house in Florence, doing some damage to several properties. I watched several Christians with chainsaws who were “ready, willing and able.” They made an impression.

At least two other similar references are made in Titus: 1) “zealous for good works” (2:14), and 2) “in all things showing yourself a pattern of good works” (2:7). 

Not all Christians are able to evangelize in a way we most often use the term, but all Christians are capable of evangelizing as Paul uses the term; also Peter: “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:11-12).