CORRESPONDENCE
[p. 253] CORRESPONDENCE
Having read with much interest your paper in the March number on “Evangelising”, will you kindly answer the following questions?
1. What is the difference between preaching and evangelising?
2. What is the difference between “publicity” and “universality”?
3. May not both be sought on the same occasion, supposing that you mean by “universality” speaking to individuals?
A CONSTANT READER.
1. The word “evangelist” occurs only three times in the Scriptures; in connection with Philip the evangelist in Acts 21: 8, in connection with gifts in Ephesians 4, and when the apostle Paul counsels Timothy to “do the work of an evangelist” in 2 Timothy 4. It does not occur at all in the Old Testament. It is an office or service having its origin with the gospel. Hence it is a person sent to communicate the glad tidings.
The word “preacher” occurs only three times in the New Testament; in 1 Timothy 2: 7, where the apostle says he is “a preacher, and an apostle ... a teacher of the Gentiles”, etc.; in 2 Timothy 1: 11, where the same words occur with the addition of “and” between apostle and teacher; and thirdly, in 2 Peter 2: 5, where Noah is called a “preacher of righteousness”. Preaching is rather a branch of his work than the object of his office or service. The evangelist’s duty is to communicate the good tidings; and in order to communicate them he must know them, and he must have the heart and purpose to announce them. This is his object and his simple duty. He gives himself to this work, cost him what it may. He is a servant pre-eminently. Like our blessed Lord, he will, though wearied and needing rest, devote his time and attention to the desolate one, and [p. 254] think more of the grace that has reached such an one than of his own need — so engrossed in heart with it that in measure he can say, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of”. The evangelist is called and gifted of the Lord to seek out and bear the word of life to souls. The shepherds minding their flocks by night were the first evangelists. They were the first to whom the gospel was revealed. The angels evangelised the shepherds; “and when they had seen it, they made known abroad [or about] the saying which was told them concerning the child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told [or spoken to] them by the shepherds”. It does not say that they preached, but they made known around the word spoken to them concerning the Child. They were informed, and as they were informed, they communicated it. These first evangelists give us the true characteristics of an evangelist at the beginning. He is peculiarly a messenger, a messenger of good tidings which he enjoys himself, and his delight is to do as he has been called. He thinks not of his sacrifice; he has news, news that has made his own heart glad, and news that he longs to impart to others, and he is ready to submit to anything in order to do so. He starts on his errand or message, thinking only of communicating it as his Lord will order. He divests himself of everything which would impede him in his work. He is prepared to endure any amount of trial or suffering; he has one great business. It is of him that it is said, that they who announce (the same word as is used for “shew forth” the Lord’s death) the gospel should live of the gospel. Like the shepherds, he is to make known the tidings, leaving his own concerns, and entirely controlled by this one great duty. The more one examines the course and service of an evangelist, the more one must see that to fulfil his mission perfectly he must be free, and not bound to any service or employment. He may pursue one where [p. 255] service calls him, but it must always be secondary, or he could not be a messenger. He is not simply a preacher. Preaching may be the mode, but it is not the object nor the vocation, it is only a mode of making known the gospel; as it is said, “How shall they hear without a preacher [or one preaching]? ... How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” The gospel is made known, and spoken of, and announced; and it is the feet, the walk of the evangelist which is so commended and is the subject of admiration in this passage. The business of the evangelist is to communicate his tidings fully and simply. To be qualified for his mission two things are evident. One is that he has renounced all position and self-consideration; he is Christ’s messenger to the least, and his calling necessarily requires that he should be less than the least. The least shall be greatest. “I am among you as he that serveth”. How could He sit weary on a well, and attend on a desolate woman of Samaria, if He had any position to maintain? A preacher is not required to surrender his position in society; he may continue in any circle of taste or fashion, and yet from a platform or pulpit address the multitude. But the evangelist, like our blessed Lord on the cross, comes down to the place of the suffering one, forgets his own sufferings to attend to the dying thief; or, like Paul at Philippi, submits to be a bleeding prisoner, to be within reach of the convicted jailor. The mistake into which the church has fallen is in giving too much prominence to preaching, which as one mode of evangelising is right enough. But as mere preaching involves little or no sacrifice, the conscience of the evangelist is quieted and satisfied that his duty has been done, because he has preached earnestly and faithfully; whereas really it is simply a branch of his service, and one without which he might have evangelised most blessedly and effectually. The snare is that the conscience is quieted without the sacrifice which the fulfilment [p. 256] of his duty would have required, and he is led to trust too much to an appeal to the senses as a substitute.
Secondly, it is evident that an evangelist must be free from any occupation which would interfere with his being sent to any part of the earth. A preacher can be faithful in his own locality, and remain in it as Noah did, who was a preacher, not an evangelist. The evangelist seeks the soul, and is the messenger from God to it of the light of the glory of Christ, who has finished everything according to the mind of God. He communicates the wonderful tidings entrusted to him. When it is received, his heart rejoices; and when it is refused he retires to find his test in Him whose servant he is.
I should add that because the church has become like a “great house”, congregations of professing christians are now found everywhere who really do not know the gospel, though bearing the name of christians; and to such the pastor Timothy has to make full proof of his ministry, and therefore to “do the work of an evangelist”. In this light a resident pastor is a preacher and an active evangelist, as every true saint is in some degree.
2, 3. As to “publicity” and “universality”, I take your two questions as one. The difference of object always gives a difference in action. My object is to be universal, but I do not begin by seeking publicity. My publicity may increase as I am universal, but it is not my object. Paul was unknown, yet well known. A flag or a signboard is to obtain publicity; a stream of pure water, conveyed to each of our houses, is universal, but it is not public, and does not seek to be so.