1 You asked for a sermon on Evangelism January 20, 2019 I would have loved to eavesdrop on your mini-conversations earlier as you compared thoughts about evangelism. As I mentioned, today s sermon is a response to the statement, You asked for a sermon on evangelism. You might be wondering, who would ask for such a topic? This is the United Church after all and at best the word evangelism is underused and at worst deemed offensive. We don t mind that Luke or Paul or Peter are known as evangelists that description seems appropriate within scripture. It is our modern experience with evangelism that has soured us. Most of us have experienced the door knockers. Normally representing some para-christian group like the Mormans or the Jehovah Witnesses we have tried politely (or not) to get them off our doorstep as they declare that Doomsday is coming or that our version of the Christian story is inadequate. Some of us have had friends or workmates from other Christian denominations who have suggested that our reading of the Bible is wrong unless it leads us to a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. As we attempt to explain our beliefs with a vague knowledge of scripture, these evangelicals overwhelm us with perfectly memorized quotes (complete with chapter and verse) to prove their point. In the last decade or so, evangelicals have been identified with certain social and political movements which are an affront to many of us. Shouting at women heading to the gynecology ward of City Hospital, denouncing homosexuality as perverse and sinful, equating wealth and material success as rewards from God or, alas, voting for Donald Trump, has made us want to distance ourselves from evangelicals and to even hide our allegiance to a Christian church. To be fair, the individual who asked for a sermon on evangelism asked more specifically, what is evangelism in the United Church? Based on the foregoing we are tempted to say it doesn t exist. Certainly our practice of faith doesn t readily reflect any of the foregoing; but, is it reasonable for a Christian denomination to simply turn its back on evangelism? One dictionary defines evangelism as, the spreading of the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness. Based on this definition, I am an evangelist and, perhaps, you are as well.
2 Those who knew Jesus and lived beyond his crucifixion were so convinced of his life-changing message that they put these familiar words into his mouth, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. In his own time it is said that Jesus sent out followers two by two to declare that the kingdom of heaven is near. And of course the last third of the Bible is essentially the story of evangelical zeal as Peter, Paul and others crisscross the middle-east spreading news about Jesus to the Greeks, the Macedonians, the Turks and even into northern Africa. In this morning s scripture we learn of the determination of Peter and John to spread the good news after Jesus death. A couple of chapters earlier they had healed a crippled beggar and attributed the healing to the risen Jesus. They were soon arrested for this kind of talk but at the insistence of the crowd they were released. In this morning s reading we discover that they have been re-arrested and that the Jewish leaders are at a loss to know what to do with them. They decide to release Peter and John for a second time with a stern warning that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. The story continues, But Peter and John spoke right back for us, there is no question - we cannot keep quiet about what we've seen and heard." We later read that they are flogged for their intransigence, but even such cruel punishment does not stop them. As members of the United Church of Canada, as people who strive to follow in the Way of Jesus, as those who deem that the Bible is formative for our spiritual journey, we have to confront the challenge of evangelization. Of course we make a distinction if being evangelical means that we demean and diminish other religious traditions or berate atheists then we must take a stand against this task; but; if being evangelical means being willing to share with others how the Christian story shapes our lives, encourages our love, and calls us into community, than I think we need to wrestle with how to evangelize in the 21 st century. I went on to the United Church website and typed the word, evangelism into the search engine. Five of the seven articles that came up under the word evangelism were titled as follows: 1. Join the Call to restore funding to the United Nations Relief Agency 2. Recognize the contribution of Mr. Reinerio Arce for his work in Cuba 3. Celebrate peace and democracy in Angola 4. Support the church recovering from civil war in Guatemala and 5. Migrants are real people, not stereotypes. There were two articles which vaguely referred to the influence of Jesus on the
3 spiritual life. Perhaps this explains why we in the United Church have such little familiarity with the term evangelism OR does it? I m particularly inspired by a phrase attributed to the renowned saint, Francis of Assisi: Preach the Gospel at all times, when necessary use words. An historian suggests that this is actually a paraphrase of Francis who actually said, It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching. The point remains that many of us feel more comfortable testifying to the Christian way by engaging in acts of service or promoting justice rather than speaking aloud about Jesus or inviting people to church. Acts of justice are an expression of evangelism in the United Church preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words. Yet we can t conclude here. When we look at our aging and shrinking congregations we are aware that our actions aren t inspiring many to join us. In addition, there are many in the culture doing good deeds who have no interest in the gospel. They are motivated by a good heart or humanitarian values not Jesus. Good deeds alone do not, automatically, reveal the Way of Jesus. About a year ago I was challenged to be an evangelist not in a church committee, or on a pilgrimage walk, but in my living room. I had seen no reference in my son s home to the Christmas story and asked if I could give the family a crèche so that my grandchildren would be exposed to the baby Jesus. My son and his wife were quite receptive to the idea. My daughter-in-law continued with an off-hand, yet serious comment, Brian, it s your job to teach them about God. Her challenge has remained with me to this day. Although it was not her intent, it has become an indictment on my investment in evangelism. Like some of you I desperately want my children and grand-children to have an experience of God, of church and of the Christian Way. I lament that the church does not have the benefit of their presence, but even more I lament that they may go through life with little reference to prayer, guidance from scripture, or exposure to Christian community. Yet, I stand at a loss in the face of my daughter-in-law s invitation. I am fully aware that if I the preacher who expounds on scripture every Sunday does not know what to say to my granddaughter, than it might be equally challenging for you in your clan. I am not being asked to knock on any one s door; I am most certainly not in danger of being arrested or flogged, yet, for the most part, I have remained mute.
4 I have asked myself why I have remained silent in face of the evangelistic opportunity with those who are most near and dear. I think the predicament is three-fold. First I have to discern how the God-power and the Jesus story are active in my life. I can do this. I know that my transformation from a shy kid to a confidant preacher; from a lazy learner to a curious inquirer; from a would-be materialist to a spiritually-minded lover of people; from one who fears death to one who focuses on life and so much more is because of Jesus because of how he reveals the Godpower to me and how he inspires my life. The first step on the way to evangelism is to discern what the God-power, the Jesus story and the church mean in your life. How would you answer that question? Once we answered it for ourselves, the next task is to put it into words. It seems easier for those on the right side of the Christian spectrum. They have a whole vocabulary Jesus is God s son; he has died for our sins; if we believe and say thank you we well never die. The language is not so precise on the left side of the Christian spectrum but I have speculated about what I want to say to my granddaughter: Sophie, Grandpa has friends that I can t see but that I feel inside I have a warm feeling for them, like when you re at school and remember Mommy. I call my friends God and Jesus. Just like you love Mommy and Mommy loves you, I love God and God loves me. In fact I get all my love from God and I like to give that love to other people like you. I feel God s love especially when we are together. Jesus helps me know God better and I want to tell you some of his story. I could begin a conversation with my five year old granddaughter in this way. But a year has elapsed and I haven t had that conversation. Why have I not had it? I m not entirely sure but I know it has something to do with fear. I fear a little that I might somehow offend her parents, but that s not very likely. I m a little more fearful that I might run out of words and resort to big words like faith or doubt or justice and lose the ability to speak from my heart. Perhaps I m mostly afraid that I might fail that she ll find me silly; or worse, that she might tell some of her friends about God and they might find her silly; or worse that I might fail altogether and snuff out the candle of faith that I so desperately want to burn in her. The culture used to do this for us. The culture said Merry Christmas, and taught the Lord s Prayer in school, and honoured the institution of the church and turned to it for moral teachings but it doesn t do that anymore.
5 If I want my grandchildren or even my children to ever cross that threshold, it is up to me. I was touched this week by the everyday evangelism of two folks in the congregation. In a committee meeting one member was invited to begin in prayer. We all prepared ourselves for the rote beginning, but he didn t begin, not in rote at least. He began by speaking about his son s death, his own lifelong faith and McClure church some people cried. Another man spoke to me about how he worried over his daughter. In the midst of her struggles he tries to email her daily. He told me he often reads a Psalm and tries to find a verse to include in the email to encourage his daughter. This is evangelism in the United Church. I could learn from these people. In conclusion I remember Peter s words in the face of threats and floggings: I just can t keep quiet about Jesus. Might I know such courage, might you... for God s sake. Amen. Rev. Brian Walton