Modern Evangelism
What the ECC+C is most definite about today is through our life experiences, good, great and not so great, we are modern thinking evangelists and a devoted and faithful protectors of Christianity. As church, we pray for the alleviation of human suffering - whatever has caused it. Our mission is to place the spirit and belief of Christianity back into the hearts and minds of all men and women.
Evangelism gets such bad press but it is a requirement for every man or woman in discipleship. For many centuries, Christian evangelism consisted of preaching to the unconverted. Men and women travelled all over their country and indeed further afield proclaiming the gospel and some built churches where they settled. These people are often considered the very first Christian Evangelists. Sadly over the centuries and today in some quarters, Christian evangelism is associated with men and women literally screaming of how we will all burn in hell-fire for our 'sinful' and 'wicked' lives. This couldn't be more any further removed from The Word of God, The Good News; as Our Lord Jesus, The Christ, intended for us to hear, understand and act upon through our words and deeds. To evangelise.
Many Christians with differing theological beliefs would call themselves 'evangelists' because they share the Word of God with all they have contact with. Churches believe one of their major functions is to spread the belief that Jesus is the Saviour of all humanity. So isn't it sad that the title of 'evangelist' is often associated with those who shout the loudest and condemn the most? Street corner preachers who, whilst waving their bibles in the air, aim their message of damnation at shoppers scurrying to run from them. Whenever you get groups of Christian people trying to desperately modernise the Church and its bigoted and prejudiced action towards sectors of our community (and in some cases, a lack of action) you also get other groups who scream out to all, their words of hate - not words of Christ's love; and with promises of hell - not Christ's promise of love and the beautiful sharing of His resurrection. Every Christian has a duty to be an evangelist, judged only by God for the content of their spoken or written word. But more importantly, Christians are judged by God by their deeds. I define myself as wholly Ecumenical albeit having a Roman Catholic background and am proud to call myself an evangelist. Evangelism is not a denomination, it is a way of Christian life through living a life according to His Word and letting everyone know about it - irrespective of denomination or faith system. What Evangelism is NOT - is a group of people spitting their hate and venom at any Children of God - and worse - doing so in God's name.
This young man's 'T' shirt should read; Jesus calls hate a sin.
Following the example of Christ gives all of us a sense of a 'burning heart' spoken of in Luke. A burning heart within us has been ignited and kindled by Christ Himself as The way, The truth and The life.
Christians can carry out the mundane, selfless and routine tasks that we all know need doing because of this flame. We know that all works are from our 'desire to serve' even if that service is to clean the home of our loved ones or sweep the leaves from a path so as no-one slips on them. Works which are sometimes taken for granted and never credited to you by others like picking up the litter in a public park. Works which take us from our favourite TV programmes when we bother to visit a lonely or sick neighbour. Works which can create that rising feeling of acid - like ignoring the cruelty or taunts of another. One of the hardest tasks when emotion caused by hurt is involved.
Emotion, if left to follow its course to an outcome, can do one of two things. It can make God happy or unhappy. Emotion can literally lead us into temptation whether that temptation is to lash out at another person or make us carry out an action we otherwise would shun.
However, consider emotion in terms of it being God's flame within our hearts.
A burning heart can make us go out and seek ways to express Christ's teachings through our actions. Emotions make people start support one another and plan charitable events. Emotions make us stand up and be counted in the face of individual injustice and persecution. Just as emotion can cause persecution and terrorism... so can it end it. Which way is the way of the Lord? Which way is the result of Jesus kindling that flame which makes our heart burn with Christian mission?
Allow that burning heart within you to continue generating its heat and use your emotions to carry out the good works through your deeds and share your enthusiam and love for all by telling people how Jesus wants us to be. The spirit of God is with us. The gift of light that Jesus gave to us on the Mount of Transfiguration must be obeyed through our actions in faith not basked in through our inertia. When you are given a great and good vision through emotion, your heart is burning. To offer a drink when someone thirsts is as important as praying for peace in a world blighted by conflict and encouraging every soul into the joining the global Christian family.