What is evangelism?

Question 11017

Evangelism is the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who have not yet believed. It is not a programme, a technique, or a personality type. It is the task given to every believer by the risen Lord Himself, and it is rooted in the conviction that people without Christ are lost and that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). Getting the definition right matters, because confusion about what evangelism is has led to everything from manipulative sales tactics dressed in Christian language to a passive silence that calls itself “lifestyle evangelism” but never actually gets round to saying anything.

The Great Commission

The command is given in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” The central imperative is “make disciples” (mathēteusate), and the going, baptising, and teaching are the means by which this is accomplished. The commission is not addressed to the apostles alone but to the church as a whole. It is not time-limited. It continues until Jesus returns.

Acts 1:8 provides the pattern: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” The expanding circles, from local to regional to global, describe the trajectory of the church’s evangelistic mission. The power for this mission is not human persuasiveness or organisational excellence but the Holy Spirit. Evangelism that does not depend on the Spirit’s work is evangelism that will produce either no fruit or false fruit.

What the Gospel Actually Is

Evangelism requires a gospel to proclaim, and Paul defines it plainly in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” The gospel is the announcement of what Christ has done: His substitutionary death for sinners and His bodily resurrection from the dead. It is not advice about how to live a better life. It is not an invitation to a religious community. It is not a self-help message with Jesus added. It is the declaration that the holy God has acted to save guilty sinners through the death and resurrection of His Son, and that this salvation is received through repentance and faith.

When the content of the gospel is diluted, softened, or replaced with something more comfortable, what results may look like successful evangelism statistically but produces converts who have never understood what they are being saved from or what they are being saved by. Genuine evangelism tells the truth about sin, about judgement, about the cross, and about the free offer of grace to all who will believe. It does not manipulate, pressure, or deceive. It announces, explains, and invites.

Every Believer’s Responsibility

Evangelism is not the exclusive domain of pastors, missionaries, or those with a particular gifting. Some believers do have a special gift for evangelistic communication (Ephesians 4:11), but Peter’s instruction to “always being prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15) is addressed to all believers without exception. Every Christian is a witness. The question is whether they are a faithful one. This does not mean every believer must preach on street corners or knock on doors, though some are called to do so. It means every believer should be able to explain the gospel clearly, should be willing to speak about Christ when the opportunity arises, and should live in such a way that those opportunities do arise.

The relationship between life and lips matters. A life of genuine Christian integrity creates credibility for the message and opens doors that no amount of technique can force open. But a life without words is not evangelism. People cannot be saved by watching a Christian be kind. They need to hear the gospel, “for faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). The best evangelism combines a life that raises questions with a willingness to answer them.

So, now what?

Evangelism is the privilege and responsibility of every believer: to announce the good news of what Jesus Christ has done for sinners, to explain it clearly, and to call people to respond in repentance and faith. It depends on the Holy Spirit for its power, on the Scriptures for its content, and on the willingness of ordinary Christians to open their mouths and speak. The church does not need new methods as much as it needs renewed courage and a fresh conviction that the gospel is still “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). People are dying without Christ. The church has the answer. The command to go has never been rescinded.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16