The question I’d like each of us to ask ourselves this morning, is: am I an evangelist or a witness? I’ll come back to the question later.
One afternoon last year, I arrived at the house of a member of the congregation, and the first thing that she said to me was, ‘have you heard the good news?’ I was momentarily taken aback, as I wasn’t sure which bit of good news she could be referring to, and also whether it might be something confidential that I shouldn’t admit to knowing anyway… Fortunately she then clarified that the good news on her mind was the engagement of Prince William. But she had good news to share, and she was keen to share it. You may not have felt the same about the royal engagement, but you might remember feeling similar enthusiasm about something else - your own engagement, an exam pass, a promotion, a baby being born...
As Christians we have good news: that Jesus was born, died and rose again to share God’s unconditional love for us, his forgiveness, and his ever-open arms. Because of that love, we have the sure and certain hope of eternal life.
1 Evangelist In our first reading Paul was sharing that good news in the city of Athens. A city named after the goddess of wisdom and warfare, but a city where a variety of gods and goddesses were venerated. Earlier in the chapter we can read that Paul was greatly distressed by the number of idols he saw, and he debated in the market places with both Jews and Greeks. He found his way to the local equivalent of Speakers Corner, where Athenian intellectuals loved to discuss faith and philosophy.
In this public place, he took the initiative to tell the good news of Jesus. He did so in an admirable way: he does not speak of his distress, but he starts his speech with something that the audience could relate to, their altar ‘to an unknown god’. Having got their attention, he builds on what they already know, quoting their own poets, challenging them to repent and introducing the person of Jesus. On this occasion Paul is acting as an evangelist - this is a Greek word that means somebody who tells the good news.
In his letter to the Ephesian Christians, Paul says that only some people are gifted in this way, through the work of the Holy Spirit. You might be breathing a sigh of relief at this, because it means that we are not all expected to stand at speakers corner. Even in the 21st Century church however, there will be some gifted in that way - and it is important that they understand the traditions and culture of our century and the context in which they work - it’s no good quoting Greek poets on George Lane!
I believe God has gifted people who can speak out for him today. Not necessarily at speakers corner, but in the pubs, at the school gates, on radio phone-ins, letters pages in the newspapers, or on the internet. God has given people the gift to tell the good news in a proactive way.
2 Witness The other word with which I began was witness.
Jesus told all his disciples that they were to be his witnesses. In our reading from Peter’s first letter he is telling his readers that even if they are not called to be proactive in sharing the good news, they should be ready to respond to any enquiry that they receive. From the NRSV we heard: In the KJV it comes out like this: Peter is writing this to all the Christians of the churches in the area we would now call Turkey. Not to the Christians with special gifts, but to all of them. And were he here today, he would say it to each and all of us. “Be ready to give an answer.”
If somebody asks ‘why are you wearing a cross?‘ - be ready to give an answer.
Or ‘why are you so cheerful?’ - be ready ready to give an answer.
Or ‘why do you go to church?’ - be ready ready to give an answer.
Or ‘why do you believe in God?’ - be ready ready to give an answer.
It doesn’t have to be complicated theology; but it should be honest. It shouldn’t be a speech you learn ‘off by heart’ - but it should come ‘from the heart’. This is what a witness does in court: speak of their own perspective, what they have seen or heard. It’s not their job to convince the jury - but they do have to give their evidence.
And Peter says we are to give our answer with gentleness and reverence. That means without threats or coercion, but sharing the good news as one hungry person tells another where to find food. Starting with a positive, rather than a negative. Peter writes also about the way in which we witness through our actions. ’Keep your conscience clear.’ And Jesus said, ’If you love me you will keep my commandments.’ Often our actions speak so much louder than our words. A kindness offered to somebody in need may communicate more that a thousand words.
3 Contrast & compare Let me compare and contrast the roles of the evangelist and witness.
Three differences:
- Only some called to be evangelists, but all are called to be witnesses.
- Evangelists are proactive, taking the initiative in sharing the good news. Witnesses are reactive, responding to the questions and needs of others.
- Evangelists get to choose the time and the place (and need to do so with care). Witnesses need to be ready to respond at any time.
Three similarities:
- Both however are sharers of the good news of the love of God.
- Both should be gently sensitive to the culture and traditions that they encounter.
- Both should celebrate and invite, rather than condemn or reject.
Conclusion Some of us may be evangelists - if we are open to the possibility, God will show us. But all of us are called to be witnesses.
[PS Nobody in Greece has worshipped the old gods for hundreds of years. We think of Greece as a Christian country now - and 97% of Greeks consider themselves members of the Greek Orthodox church.
That change did not happen overnight, but Paul the evangelist sowed the seeds when he visited Philippi, Thesalonika, Athens and Corinth - and those seeds grew through the Christians witnessing to their neighbours. The people of an ancient and wise civilisation were won over to a faith which came from a far-off part of the Roman Empire - not by force or by fear, but because their hearts accepted the good news of the love of God. ]