Evangelists as Stewards or The Stewardship of Souls

Evangelists as Stewards or The Stewardship of Souls EVANGELISTS AS STEWARDS
By Leslie G. Thomas

Introduction: Stewardship is preeminently a Bible subject, and it would be difficult to over-emphasize it. “According as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). “Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Corinthians 4:1). The doctrine of stewardship is applicable to any part of our Christian duty and we should have a general and comprehensive view of the subject, but that view alone will not suffice. We must understand its application to the various duties which the Lord has assigned to his children. The particular phase of the subject for this study is with reference to evangelists. “And he gave some to be ... . evangelists” (Ephesians 4:11). “Here, moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). No evangelist can be faithful to his duty, unless he tries to learn and to put into practice that which God has ordained for him to do. Therefore, in considering this subject, let us ask....

I. Who or What Is an Evangelist?
1. The term from: which we have our word “evangelist” occurs only three times in the New Testament. However, the verb from which it comes, and the noun from which, in turn, the verb is derived, are frequently found in that volume. The meaning of the noun form is “good news” or “glad tidings,” while the verb means “to proclaim” good news or glad tidings. The word “evangelist,” therefore means, according to its etymology, a “proclaimer” of good news or glad tidings.

2. But this, however, is only the generic meaning of the term. In this sense, Christ, the apostles, all the early teachers, and, in fact, all Christians, were evangelists. They were continually telling others the good news concerning their salvation, the glad tidings concerning what God had in store for them.

3. But in Ephesians 4:11 (“And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers”) the word “evangelists” is evidently used in a more definite and specific sense. This is true for the following reasons:
(1) Because in that passage the term is used in connection and in contrast with other specific and of-ficial names, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, and teachers.
(2) Because, on any other hypothesis, a distinction between “evangelists” and any other class of Christians would be without significance.

4. There were, without doubt, many evangelists during the early days of the church, yet the term is applied to only two men in the New Testament—Philip (Acts 21:8) and Timothy (2 Timothy 4:5).

5. That these men had a specific work to do is clearly implied from the references just cited and the observations just made, and that they did the work of evangelists is clearly taught in the divine record. This leads us to ask....

II. What Are the Duties of an Evangelist?
1. This question can best be answered by considering what the New Testament says about the men who are therein spoken of as evangelists.
(1) Philip. Acts 6:5; Acts 8:5 ff; and Acts 21:8 record all the New Testament says about him. He was one of the seven appointed to serve tables in the Jerusalem church and when that church was scattered abroad, on account of the persecution that arose concerning Stephen, he went to Samaria, preached the word there, and baptized the believers. And, upon being directed by an angel of God, he went to the way wherein an Ethiopian eunuch was returning home from Jerusalem, where he had been to worship, and, being further instructed by the Spirit of God and invited by the eunuch, he preached unto him Jesus and baptized him. Then, leaving the eunuch, “he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.”
Thus, from the brief record of his evangelistic labors, one would naturally infer that his chief business was to preach the gospel, whenever and wherever he had an opportunity, and to assist those who were willing to accept it in obeying the Lord.
(2) Timothy. This man was Paul’s son in the gospel, having, in all probability, been converted by him during his first great missionary journey, and a close associate in the work of spreading the kingdom of Christ among men. Two of this great apostle’s epistles were addressed to him—First and Second Timothy. Near the close of the second epistle, which was evidently written just before Paul’s death, we find this statement: A “But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). These words clearly imply that 
Timothy was an evangelist, and their obvious purpose was to express, in a few words, a summary of all the duties that pertained to his ministry. Detailed instruction was given to him in both epistles. Consider, for example, the statement as found in 1 Timothy 4:13-16 : “Till I come, give heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying’ on of the hands of the presbytery. Be diligent in these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest unto all. Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee.”

2. Thus, without attempting to specify every individual duty, we note that in a general way evangelists were to teach and baptize people; gather the converts into convenient assemblies or congregations for their edification, improvement, and worship; see that elders and deacons were duly chosen and appointed to their respective offices; and labor earnestly for the general welfare of the churches.

III. The Duration of the Work of the Evangelist.
1. Some people have taught that the evangelist be-longed to the supernatural age of the church, and that with the passing of that period, the office of the evan-gelist ceased, just as did the office of the apostles. This view, however, does not seem to accord with the facts in the case.

2. The following considerations clearly indicate that the work of the evangelist is of perpetual duration :
(1) The work that he was ordained to do is a per-petual work. As long as people remain in sin, it will be the duty of the church, through her own chosen and appointed representatives, to teach and baptize them; gather the converts into convenient assemblies or congregations for their edification, improvement, and worship; see that elders and deacons are duly chosen and appointed to their respective offices; and labor earnestly for the general welfare of the churches.
(2) From the very beginning the evangelist received his commission from the church, and not directly from Christ, as did the apostles and prophets. Timothy seems to have been recommended for his work “by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium,” and was set apart unto it “with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery’’ (See Acts 16:1-3; 1 Timothy 4:14).
(3) Paul’s instruction to Timothy clearly shows that the work of the evangelist was to continue throughout the gospel age. “And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). This was in keeping with the general commission, as given by Jesus.
(4) All subsequent history shows that the office has continued until the present time. Witness the work of the post-apostolic church, the Reformation, the Res-toration, and that of the present time.

IV. Qualifications of the Evangelist.
1. He must have a genuine faith in the deity of Je-sus, and must never question his absolute authority as Lord and Christ. “But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, I believed, and therefore did I speak; we also believe, and therefore also we speak” (2 Corinthians 4:13). “For I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Timothy 1:12). “Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye cruci-fied” (Acts 2:36). “Moses indeed said, A prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me; to him .shall ye hearken in all things whatsoever he shall speak unto you. And it shall be, that every soul that shall not hearken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people” (Acts 3:22-23). “And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The following paragraph, complete, from an article in The Christian Evangelist, May 26, 1938, by Edward Scribner Ames, for forty years pastor of the University Christian Church, Chicago, entitled, “Disciples, Baptism, and Union,” is a fair sample of the widespread disbelief in the basic teaching of the New Testament regarding Christ that is rapidly gaining momentum in its mad rush among the professed followers of Christ.

“Disciples almost completely succeeded from the be-ginning in basing their church fellowship on this spir-itual loyalty to Christ. In the confession which they ask prospective members to make they emphasize its practical and not its theological or formal aspect. When a candidate is asked whether he believes in Jesus Christ, ‘belief' is meant in' a practical sense, in the sense of love and devotion to his spirit and leadership. It does not imply belief in the Virgin Birth, in the bodily resurrection, or in any theory of divinity or deity; much less can it imply that one must believe in Jesus as one who would prescribe immersion in water as a condition of entering into an intimate and saving fel-lowship with him.”

2. He must be a man of consecration and proven character. “No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of this life; that he may please him who snrolled him as a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:4). “Keep thyself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22). Instead of following the apostle’s advice to this New Testament evangelist, some men today take the plow and look back; some indulge in questionable habits and sinful practices; some hold on to distracting business connections; and some seek “security” by dividing loyalties, that is, they seek to please some lustful supporter by compromising the word of God.

3. He must be a courageous man, and not a timeserver. “I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to them-selves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables. But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry” (2 Timothy 4:1-5).

Any gospel preacher, worthy of the name, should always be willing to speak out on any question regard-ing the teaching of the Bible and the welfare of the church. This does not imply that he should forever be talking about conditions, about which he knows little or nothing, but it does mean that he should always be willing’ for his position on vital questions to be known, and that he should be willing to make use of all op-portunities for using his influence for the advancement of the cause of Christ here in this world.

4. He should be a trained man. “Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:1 b). “The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, bring when thou comest, and the books, especially the parchments.” Although only a step removed from the executioner, Paul was still interested in his books. The. proper hind of training is essential to successful work as evangelist. This does not imply that a formal education is always necessary, but experience and observation unite in testifying that those without the advantage of formal training who have succeeded in their work, di-d so m spite of it, and not because of that lack. Abilene Christian College is doing a great work along this line, as well as other schools among us, and should have the encouragement and support of all loyal and faithful disciples of Christ who desire to see greater good accomplished in the future.

5. He must act from conviction and be driven by an urge. “For if I preach the gospel, 1 have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel. For if I do this of mine own will, 1 have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship intrusted to me” (1 Corinthians 9:16-17). “For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew' first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). “They therefore that were scattered abroad went about preaching the word” (Acts 8:4).

“If just one soul were saved to Christ, just one,
By any effort I have made, or work have done;
That’s worth a life of earnest toil, or sorrow,
To waken to the gladsome light of such a morrow.
“If just one soul were saved to nim from evil’s blight,
And that soul leading to the light still other souls:
Father, mother, children win each to the end of time- -
Leading souls to him—
It makes one’s heart to yearn and eyes grow dim
To think of sa\ing just one soul to him.”

V. The Evangelist of Today.
1. Just as in the days of the. apostles, the work of the evangelist today is to endeavoi to win men to Christ and his way of living. He has the same gospel as the early evangelists had—the only true gospel, cf. Galatians 1:6-9—-but conditions have changed, and he must take these things into consideration. No man can be successful as an evangelist today and at the same time ignore the new situations which he finds all around him in this new age.

2. The evangelist today finds himself “in a time of vast confusion, imminent peril, urgent need, and challenging opportunity.” Some of the conditions which affect his work are
(1) The present character crisis and disrespect for authority. This is an age of materialism, of vice, and of crime. People, as a rule, are no longer interested in those spiritual values, which claimed the attention of the masses a generation or two ago. This fact must be taken into consideration by the successful of today.
(2) Disillusionment of the so-called Christian world. Witness the World War and its aftermath. Observe the conduct of individual professed Christians, and entire churches, as well. In many instances pro-fessed followers of Christ are no better, and sometimes not as good, as the man who makes no profession. Churches are often quarrelling and dividing, instead of leading men into that holy fellowship of Christ. Such conduct on the part of those who claim loyalty to Christ, whether the so-called Christian world, the church, or the individual Christian, has left the wrong impression on the non-believer. In his eye, Christianity has faded.
(3) The newer implication of being a Christian. This is a natuial outgrowth of the condition just men-tioned. The world is expecting more of people than simply becoming respectable church members. The New Testament has always demanded more than that. Yet in our day we see gross sins of yesterday, which have become respectable today. Compare the divorce evil, dancing, and general moral delinauencies.
(4) The growing spirit of tolerance. Bigotry, of course, should have no place m the Christian evange-list’s program, but he must not be deceived by a false conception of tolerance. He has no right to compromise the word of God or fail to press the fight for right on every side. He must go out, not in the spirit of a conqueror with a desire to dominate another, or simply to add numbers to the church, but in the spirit of one who has made a great discovery, and desires above everything else to share it with others. Com pare the action of Andrew and others, as recorded in the first chapter of John.
(5) Changing conditions in American life. The ra-dio and the picture show are daily influencing thousands of people. The technique of advertising through the press, on the billboard and the screen, and over the radio, has developed to the extent that the lives of millions have been changed. Witness cigarette smoking and beer drinking on the part of women and girls.

3. All of these things have produced a different at-titude on the part of people in general, and no man can be successful in the work of an evangelist today and pass them by unnoticed. The gospel must be made to appeal to people with the present-day attitude. The gospel has not changed, but the people have, and if they are to be reached with the gospel, adequate methods of evangelizing must be employed. This does not mean that something must be done which is contrary to the spirit of the New Testament, but it does mean that the use of modern means of reaching the people must be employed. In addition to the pulpit, he must take hold of the very things which have been used to educate people in the wrong way, that is, he must use the radio, printed page, billboard, and, in short, every legitimate means at his command. The battle must be pressed on every side.

“Lead on, 0 King Eternal,
The day of march has come;
Henceforth in fields of conquest
Thy tents shall be our home.
“Through days of preparation
Thy grace has made us strong,
And now, 0 King Eternal,
We lift our battle song.”