An Episcopal Look at Evangelism

       I have a poster on the wall in my study that says “Preach the Gospel at all times, if necessary use words.”  Most times that maxim is attributed to St Francis of Assisi, but who knows.  The message of course is that actions speak louder than words and possibly that how I live my life day to day says more about my faith than the words I offer from this pulpit.  .  What is the quote from the Epistle of James, “Faith without works is dead”.    I think that Paul might have taken exception to that though.  Because today Paul seems to be bent on directing the early church to get out and tell their neighbors about their faith.  “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”  Paul is calling the church to evangelism. 

That is not a very Episcopal word - at least not until recently.  Evangelism is something that Episcopalians just don’t do.  I mean until just a few years ago it was hard to get anyone to offer the peace past their own pew…  Much less talk about their faith to a stranger.  But I think our reticence to open proselytizing has more to do with uncertainty about our faith than it does with being unwilling to share the value of being in a Christian community.  I think we struggle with what to say because we know that when it comes to words like faith, belief, and salvation there seem to be more questions than answers.

I grew up and I suspect many of you did too immersed in loud and intrusive preaching.  “Pulpit bangers” Anna Lou called them.  They seemed to be so sure about what they were saying.  Often the message was do abc and you will live in heaven with Jesus – do xyz and you will be doomed for eternity where there will be gnashing of teeth.  Somehow that just never sat well with me.  If I’m truthful it doesn’t sit well with me today either.  For me faith is not just right or wrong acting, faith is not adhering to some ecclesiastical doctrine or creed.  Evangelism is not climbing up on a soapbox proclaiming my opinions in order to scare passersby into belief in something or someone. 

Faith is for me at least, a lot more about confidence.  Confidence in the goodness of God and confidence about the beauty and holiness of creation.  Faith is about feeling deep compassion for those who suffer loss or pain – compassion for our earth as it groans under the abuse of uncaring stewards.  Faith is about trust that God is present in our lives and in the lives of others.  Faith is the willingness to trust that when the turmoil is greatest and the waves overcome me, Jesus will reach out a hand and steady me.

Romans is one of Paul’s most developed theological statements.  Paul is wrestling today with whether we cling to the Law, the Torah, and act our way into salvation or whether it is through our faith in God and belief in Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law that we enter God’s reign.  Simply put Paul is addressing the struggle of what it is that makes us God’s Beloved children.  Is it our faith in Jesus or is it our adherence to the Law or some other code of conduct?   And Holy Moly we are still trying to sort that out over 2000 years later. 

Paul was a Jew through and through.  He was raised to center his whole being around the Law.  He was not taught to wander around from town to town converting folks to Judaism.  But when Paul encountered Jesus on that road to Damascus all that changed for him.  Paul had come to be aware of God’s immediate presence in his life and his role – Paul’s role - in waking folks up to the goodness of God as it is manifested in Jesus.   Paul woke up to the importance of not only caring for the injured traveler, but also to sharing his experience and his knowledge of Jesus with everyone he met. 

But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent?”

When I was doing my clinical pastoral education unit in seminary, my supervisor – a very wise Irish nun – reminded us before every shift that “we would not be bringing Jesus with us on our rounds, because he was already in the room waiting for us.”  Evangelism, whether it is accomplished through word or deed, is not about us saving the world.  God in Jesus has already done that.  It is up to us to have faith in the inherent truth of God’s love as it is revealed in Jesus and to live our lives in that faith.  ….We cannot save others by our actions or by our words regardless how eloquent.  In fact we cannot even save ourselves. 

Some of us find comfort in sitting back and letting God do the work of salvation.  Others will not be content in their faith without finding practical ways to make a difference in the world.  Faith vs works.  Athanasius argued with Augustine – Luther argued with the Catholic Church.  Baptists argue with Methodists.  And Episcopalians…  Well….. we try to find the middle road. 

But, I think Paul is reaching for a new paradigm here - particularly for the Jews to whom he was preaching and perhaps for us middle of the way folks.  The community of believers was no longer to be confined to the boundaries of the “Law”.  Nor were believers to sit idly by.  Instead the community of believers is called to live with the confidence that at the center of our faith is Jesus Christ and we are bound by our call to spread that knowledge through word and deed.   

Evangelism is not about determining who is in and who is out.  It’s not about converting someone to our particular doctrine or our particular agenda.  Evangelism is about beginning with the One who calls us as His own, redeems us, forgives us and loves us without limits or boundaries and preaching that Gospel message with both word and deed.  This kind of evangelism demands that we live our own lives in the truth that God’s love is for each of us – no matter who we are or how we look or how we are called to be.  The One at the center, Jesus Christ, spreads limitless ripples of compassion and forgiveness, it is an infinite, undulating web of love.   Creation is filled with the abundance of God’s Love and all of us are called to ensure that others know that abundance, too.   

 How are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard.  Evangelism is not a dirty word – it is about turning our faces into the wind as God drives our boat and inviting others to join us by witnessing in word and deed to the saving grace, mercy and love of Jesus Christ.  We are not responsible for the outcome of the introduction.  That is left to Jesus.  We invite others by living out those promises we made at our baptism.  By standing for justice, by loving others as ourselves, by prayer and by service and yes by proclamation.  That is how the church grows, that is how our world is changed, that is how our lives are transformed by God. 

Buen Camino!!!