When you think about it, to evangelize someone with the right motives is the ultimate act of love! You are doing your best to save people from the hell they are going through and the one they are headed to apart from Jesus Christ. A few years ago in an online rant, renown showman and atheist, Penn Jillette (of Penn and Teller fame) made this point in a powerful way. He asked his online audience, “How much do you have to hate someone not to proselytize?” Penn goes on to share that, although he’s an atheist, if he was a Christian and truly believed someone was headed to hell, he would do everything in his power to keep them from going there by sharing the gospel with them.
So, if evangelism is a positive word at its core but tends to be viewed negatively, what can we do about it? We need to either work hard to bring new, more positive stereotypes to the word or come up with a word or phrase that communicates the true and loving core of what it means to deliver the good news of the gospel to someone else.
Hmmm…let’s see…what are some words or phrases that would fit the bill? Oh, here’s one…we could use the word, “Proseltyze” (just kidding!) “Sharing your faith” is a good and accepted phrase but it feels a little tepid. After all, a Mormon can share their faith too. What about “advancing God’s kingdom” as a new phrase to describe evangelism? On second thought no…it sounds a little like a catch phrase for the Crusades and that’s a stereotype we don’t need. How about…I don’t know. Any ideas?
Well, until we come up with a better word, let’s get busy evangelizing or, whatever you want to call it. But let’s do it with humble hearts, listening ears and mouths that are declaring the good news of Jesus in a loving and compelling way.
What would you call what is commonly known as “evangelism” (without all the negative, of course). What word or phrase would you use for someone who shares the message of Jesus in a constructive, loving, relational, and relentless way?
This arrticle on the word evangelize originally appeared here, and is used by permisssion.
