Evangelism is a good word and a Biblical concept. The Greek word in the New Testament for gospel/good news is εὐαγγέλιον, transliterated into English as evangelion. Episcopalians need to redeem this historic term and concept if we are going to be true to our history and beliefs. Someone, therefore, who is "gospel-ing" or "goodnews-ing" is evangelizing: they are bringing the Gospel to the world around them.
Some Christian traditions have reduced evangelism to simple and wooden applications removed from a good, historic, and Scriptural understanding of the church (our ecclesiology, i.e., theology of the church). The vehicle for the redemption of the world is Christ's Church. Who we are as the church is intertwined with our beliefs (and approach) to evangelism. This clarity then helps us better understand the words of Jesus our Lord in their rightful context when he says:
Matthew 28:
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Knowing Jesus is a relationship AND a religion (defined properly as good tradition).
In my former parish, I wrote an article entitled Evangelism in the Anglican Tradition (click this highlighted link) now posted on our website. I hope you will give this brief article a read, and while you are there check out the rest of our site!!!
Fr. Tom
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