Stepping Out
I've never been a big fan of 'evangelists.' And I'm still not. They scare me a bit – I don't like it when people try to convert me – to any religion or sect.
Last year an enthusiastic young guy came up to talk to me at the mall – asked me if I knew that Jesus had died for me. I said yes, thanks – try the next guy, I told him I was a minister. He persisted and asked – but are you born again!?
He got a bit irritating and I got into the car encouraged by his enthusiasm, but disappointed by the impression he was making.
* * *
In my sermon today and over the next couple of weeks I want to look at what Biblical evangelism really is.
I hope you will find that evangelism is not necessarily as bad as you thought it was, possibly more difficult – but not the sterotype you get from TV.
Euangelion
Euangelistes is the Greek word translated as 'Evangelist'. It comes from the word Euangelion which in our Bibles its translated as 'gospel.'
Gospel comes from Germanic Old English, a combination of 'gõd' (good) & 'spell' (a tale). In English it means 'good story'.
Most languages, including our own don't really have one word to translate the word Euangelion so, in Biblical translations the word has been translated quite colourfully as:
'…news which makes one happy.'
'…information that causes one joy.'
'…words that bring smiles.'
'…a message that causes the heart to be sweet.'[1]
'…information that causes one joy.'
'…words that bring smiles.'
'…a message that causes the heart to be sweet.'[1]
* * *
An 'evangelist' is quite simply, a 'gospelist'.
In Jesus day it was someone who proclaimed 'good news'; not necessarily religious news – usually news of a political nature.
Taxes lowered.
Petrol price adjusted.
A new King in power.
A tyrant deposed.
Petrol price adjusted.
A new King in power.
A tyrant deposed.
Good news could change your world. If you were a slave in a conquered nation and your nation defeated its oppressors you could quickly be freed.
If you were an oppressor – and the good news of your defeat came to you – you might soon face a lynch mob.[2]
* * *
An evangelist lets people know that the systems and values and authorities by which we know the world have changed.
The Kingdom of God has come.
And this has implications and consequences for who we are, and the way we live.
Elijah the Evangelist
In the reading from Kings we meet Elijah at Mt Horeb where he asks God to take his life. He has had enough…
Elijah, pronounced 'e li yah' means – "Yahweh is God" – he can't even introduce himself without talking religion.
Elijah lived during the reign of Ahab. The writer of Kings says of Ahab:
"He did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him."
- 1 Kings 16:30
One of the things Ahab did was stop worshipping Yahweh and start worshipping Baal.
* * *
Yahweh, the God of the Israelites gets angry when Kings worship other gods… not because of some sort of human and selfish jealousy or egotistical need – but because Yahweh loves his people. Other gods impose unacceptable and destructive value systems on them.
The commandment prohibiting idolatry (Exodus 20) is based on the fact that Yahweh is the liberator God - the one who sets people free from slavery and holds them accountable for their actions. [3]
False gods and idols can be controlled by the prophets who claim to speak for them and the Kings who pay their salaries – Yahweh – the jealous God – is not so easily tamed – he can not be bought, owned, bribed or shut up.
* * *
Tyrants hate accountability – they want to be able to abuse and oppress on their own terms, that's why for so many Kings of Israel alternative gods were more attractive.
* * *
Seeing what Ahab is up to Yahweh calls Elijah to risk his life, to go tell Ahab the gospel (the good news):
"Yahweh is Lord and Baal is not."
To prove it, Yahweh will withhold rain until Elijah gives word (a real insult to Baal because Baal is a fertility god who is supposed to bring rain).
* * *
To protect Elijah Yahweh sends him out to hide in the desert where he is fed by Ravens.
He then sends Elijah even further away to Zarapheth where he, a widow and her son son miraculously eat from a jar of flour and jug of oil that never get empty.
After three years Elijah is sent back to Samaria to say that Yahweh's drought is over – the rain will come again.
He calls Ahab and the prophets of Baal to the top of mount Carmel (a fertile mountain where people worshipped Baal) for a contest between the two Gods.
An altar is set up and Elijah says to Baal's prophets that if Baal really is a God he must set fire to his own sacrifice…
The prophets dance and pray and whip themselves into a frenzy but nothing happens.
After all their ranting and raving Elijah sets up an altar for Yahweh, has it wet with tons of water – says a simple prayer asking Yahweh to reveal himself and Yahweh sends down fire to consume it all.
The miracle proves that Yahweh is Lord – Ahab repents – the false prophets are put to death and Elijah runs ahead of Ahab's chariot back to Jezreel as herald proclaiming the good news that Ahab has turned to Yahweh.
* * *
Whether good news is good news often depends on who is hearing it… the more the gospel challenges us, the less likely we are to hear it as good news.
Jezebel knows that the living God would ruin her fun, she threatens to kill Elijah.
And Elijah, fearing for his life flees to Beersheba, feeling a failure after three years work; he collapses and says: "I wish I could die."
Matthew the Evangelist
The gospels or the 'evangels' tell the story of Jesus and who he is. They announce Jesus 'kingship'.
With Jesus' Kingship come new values, those reflected in his teaching – love of neighbour, justice for the poor, care for all people – putting oneself second for a change instead of first.
Jesus deeds underline the truth of his teaching. In this deed – recorded in Matthew's gospel – Jesus walks on water.
* * *
The disciples know the sea of Galillee.
They know storms.
That people in boats float quite safely and people outside of boats sink.
Storms often kill fishermen.
They know storms.
That people in boats float quite safely and people outside of boats sink.
Storms often kill fishermen.
Yet Jesus walks on top of the water in a storm.
Its meant to surprise and confuse us; People just don't walk on water.
Matthew tells us that it frightened and confused the disciples:
They were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear….
- 14:26
* * *
In Jesus act, the sea, powerful and chaotic is conquered.
Only Yahweh himself has this kind of power – the power to subdue the waters of the sea.
Job asks in 9:8 "Who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the Sea?"
Psalm 93:4 exclaims: "More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters, more majestic than the waves of the sea, majestic on high is the LORD!"
Psalm 104:3: "You set the beams of your chambers on the waters, you make the clouds your chariot, you ride on the wings of the wind…"
Only Yahweh has that sort of power.
He might feed thousands, preach with authority, heal the sick; but when he walks on water the disciples worship.
Three times in Matthew's gospel the disciples worship Jesus, twice after he is risen from the dead, and once – now when he walks on the water.
* * *
Like Elijah's name which means Yahweh is God. Matthew's gospel is telling us that Jesus is Lord, an earthly picture of who Yahweh really is.
The story of Jesus walking on water is told in Mark and John, but in Matthew's gospel alone something else miraculous happens… Peter walks on water too; he sinks when he gets frightened – but he manages a few small steps; and when he does sink – Jesus pulls him to safety.
Conclusion
Two stories of evangelism – one about Elijah the evangelist and one from Matthew the evangelist about Jesus and Peter walking on water.
Elijah
We learn from Elijah's story that proclaiming the gospel of Yahweh's reign is dangerous. People seldom accept it. Even though it is good news.
When he is ready to give up an angel sends him to Mount Horeb. After 40 days there he hears God speak; not in thunder or the wind, but in the sheer silence. Yahweh comforts him letting him know that he still has a plan… there is still hope.
Seven thousand people have still not submitted to Baal – they also only worship Yahweh and dream of his Kingdom. Yahweh has a plan for his Kingdom – Elijah must anoint a new prophet and two new Kings who will carry on his mission.
* * *
When we read the papers and watch the news – when we get a good glimpse of our own sin I think we say with Elijah – Lord kill me now, I am no better than my ancestors. I've had enough; let me emigrate.
In that moment – let us remember with Elijah that God is busy with us and with the world around us – the Kingdom of God is not impossible – it is coming. The people around you today – here in this building are here because they too believe in that Kingdom.
Jesus & Peter
From the content of the gospels we can guess that people who followed Jesus faced persecution.
In the midst of this despair and fear, countering it, Matthew paints a picture of Jesus conquering the chaos – walking on water. Matthew shows them that Peter too, a bumbling disciple like you and me, can also conquer the chaos and walk upon the waters.
For the hearers of Matthew's gospel there is still even when life seems most hopeless.
For us
Perhaps we feel like Elijah or maybe like the first hearers of Matthew's gospel – overwhelmed by the challenge of Yahweh's reign. But in both of them we find hope.
God has a plan, God is powerful, the kingdom of God is a real and present possibility.
* * *
I think that evangelising happens on two levels – an inward one and an outward one.
* * *
We need to be evangelised – our personal lives, our wallets, our marriages, our households, the way we do our jobs all need to hear the news that Jesus is King.
As we do that – as we evangelise ourselves we also need to share this gospel with others. Introducing them to the possibility and the reality of the Kingdom of God – God's salvation now.
And when we do – I believe we will begin to see the Kingdom of God in our own lives, in those around us, in our town and in this country – we will see Africa transformed.
[3] In Exodus 20:1-6 the first commandment against idolatry gives us a clue as to why it exists:
First it points out that Yahweh is a liberator, someone who sets his people free from oppression:
"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, you shall have no other gods before me."
- Exodus 20:2-3
Second it shows how Yahweh will hold people accountable for their actions:
"I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments."
- Exodus 20:5
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