Maybe it feels like you don’t know enough to evangelize, or that no one will listen to you. Does that mean you must leave the evangelizing to others? Let’s see what the Bible says about preaching the gospel – from the Old to the New Testament.
by rev Daniël Myburgh
You surely know why the gospel is important to you and other people. But who is responsible for telling other people about the gospel? Is it something that only ‘special’ people are allowed to do? Should we leave evangelism to experts such as ministers and theologians? Or is it also expected of ‘ordinary’ people?
As always, we go to the Bible to find answers to our questions.
Evangelisation in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament we see how God called certain people to preach his gospel. People like Abraham, Moses, Joshua and David were specifically called by God to be his people’s leaders.
However, they not only led the people physically ,and saved them from danger, they also led the people spiritually.
After that, God chose certain people to act as prophets. The prophets were ordinary people who had ordinary jobs, but also made God’s will known to other people.
We know, for example, that the prophet, Amos, was a sheep farmer (Amos 1:1) and Daniel was an official in the palace before he was called as a prophet (Daniel 1:1-4).
Everyone was called to evangelize
Throughout the Old Testament we hear a general call to evangelize. In Deuteronomy 6 we read the famous words where the Lord expects all parents who are believers to make him known to their children. In 1 Chronicles 16 we read the below remarkable words. It shares a command that is a command for the whole nation, and not just for the prophets.
Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!
1 Chronicles 16:23-24
It is especially in the Psalms that we read how the poets call the readers of the Psalms to proclaim God’s Word. Such as these words:
Sing to the Lord, praise his name, proclaim his salvation every day.
Psalm 96:2
Evangelisation in the New Testament
It is therefore already clear that all believers are instructed to share the gospel with each other, but it becomes even clearer in the New Testament. All of Jesus’ disciples had ordinary jobs before they were called as his followers: from publicans to fishermen among others. They were called by Jesus Christ just as they are – they became his followers while they practiced certain professions – but the Lord did not leave them just as they were.
Every day they learned about God’s will and how to use their gifts to his glory. At the beginning, Christ gave them this command:
And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Matthew 10:7
Later Jesus gives the well-known command in Matthew 28:19-20 just before his Ascension. Thus, we see how disciples were not only followers of Christ, but were also instructed to preach the gospel.
Paul as evangelist
One of the most famous Evangelists of the New Testament is Paul. Did you know that it was not Paul’s calling to preach the gospel? Acts 18 tells us that Paul’s occupation was a tent-maker. Paul worked with leather and other materials and made tents from them – this is how he got his income. But still we read that Paul also did missionary work and spread the gospel to different countries. It is therefore possible to practice a certain profession, but also to do evangelistic work. It is not only trained ministers who may preach the gospel – each of us is given the task to bear witness to the Lord.
Everyone is called to evangelize
The Bible gives us a clear answer to the question of whether one must be special or a theologian to preach the gospel. God expects all believers to serve each other with his wonderful gospel.
Even though you may not be a minister by profession, this should not hold you back from sharing God’s Word with others. God will always be by your side; teaching you more about him every day. Let us each live out our calling through our “occupation” of believer.
