GOSPEL BASICS - 5

EVANGELISM IS NOT BY FORCE

One of the major reasons why we have perverted gospels here and there in various places today is because many of church people have been taught that evangelism is a must do. Let us address this issue, so we can see why proper bible study is very important.

We already know where this error was gotten from, or was built upon, so let us see for ourselves in the book of Matthew 28 what Jesus said that has been labeled the ultimate command for all.

V16-20 “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 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: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Now, this was just around the time Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead and is about to ascend to the heavens. The portion we are concerned about is in the verse 20.

Jesus said "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:"

Firstly, the context is about “teaching” and not about “preaching” the gospel. The word “teach” as used here means “to make disciples”. That is, Jesus Christ is asking the disciples to make their own disciples. This is an idea of multiplication and expansion of the Kingdom. You would agree that, they actually did this.

Secondly, he never COMMANDED THEM TO TEACH. He only asks them to teach WHAT HE COMMANDED THEM. They are two different things. Take note!

Thirdly, he was specifically giving this commission to his disciples, not to the multitude or just anyone. This is not a general statement to all believers. It is very important that we understand the audience of Jesus Christ and his intention for speaking these words. This people were his disciples, they have been with Jesus Christ for three years now, so he refers to what he had commanded them to do when he was with them. Remember that at two different occasions, he had sent these disciples two by two on a preaching mission before he was crucified. So he is not commanding them to preach now, neither is he commanding us to go out compulsorily to preach to people.

Shortly after the death of Jesus Christ, the disciples were obedient to Jesus' words. And they all saw it to the end. That was the purpose of their calling. They did not do it because they felt it was a compulsion, they did it because they were chosen for that purpose. That's why Paul said "woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel" It was the reason why he was chosen, Jesus specifically chose Paul to go into the gentiles to preach the gospel. He never told Titus, Timothy, Tabitha or anyone who lived in that era to do the same.

You may ask, are you now saying that we should not preach the gospel? No...We as believers are meant to extend the love of the father by sharing the same gospel that saved us with others. In fact, it is one of the reasons why we were chosen in him. The kingdom of God can only expand by our willingness to preach the gospel. And that's what we established in the third lesson, that we should preach the gospel to those who have not heard and where Christ has not been named.

However, we frown at "evangelism by force". This is what is causing the same kingdom we are supposed to propagate to suffer loss. Many have been taught falsely that if they do not preach (especially on the streets or in vehicles), they are disobeying the Lord. Some even went further say that, if you don't win a soul for Christ, you will go to hell. This is absurd and offensive to the love of Jesus Christ. There is nowhere in the word of God that says, if you do not win a soul for God, you will burn in hell. It is never a compulsion, it is a commission. Jesus called us the "salt of the earth" and "the light of the world". We are not going to be punished for not going into the streets; we should only encourage believers to show forth the reason for their calling. That as you have been brought out of darkness by a fellow, you should also bring out other fellows. This is a peaceful and friendly call to Kingdom expansion and multiplication; it should never be a threat.

Why are we saying these? This is because many people have jumped into buses, cars, market areas, schools, offices, streets and so on to open their mouths to speak "unsound words" as the gospel. This has made evangelism become watered and perverted. People now see evangelism and gospel preaching as uncalled for. They see it as disturbance. Well, to some extent it is true, and those who have been cajoled by unskillful teachers made it so. These people have not been taught the basics of the gospel; they just jump into the streets to preach. Funny enough, they themselves have not been saved. They have not heard the gospel, what was preached to them was another gospel. That is just why they are propagating this same "another gospel" to people. Many of this people were forced into it, when they were told that they will go to hell if they fail to do it.

It is good to do the work of an evangelist, it is good to propagate the gospel - in fact there are rewards for it. However, stay and learn if you must do. Evangelism is not by force. Street evangelism is not showing that you love the Lord more than others. You can present the gospel anywhere, anytime. Your lifestyle should preach than your bell and megaphone.

Stay, learn, know and understand what you want to present out there, it is better not to go at all than to go and preach "another gospel". God bless you.

(c) Philip Oklu