Evangelism

Evangelism. We progressive Methodists often shudder at the sound of this word. There are many reasons why, many of them good. Yet I believe evangelism is at the core of our faith. In the Great Commissioning, Jesus commands:

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, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matt. 28: 19-20).

As Rev. Troy Plummer recently preached, so often we confuse evangelism with saving souls and getting people baptized as if what it means to be a Christian ends there. Yet we come from the Wesleyan tradition and so we must ask ourselves, how has becoming a Christian transformed our lives and how are we transforming the lives of others?

My personality does not lend itself to door knocking or the direct inquiry evangelism of “Have you accepted Jesus into your life?” Thankfully, I think there is a place for this in Methodism but our tradition has a history of evangelism through works of righteousness and relationships. We know that no amount of deeds will make God love us any more or less but often our neighbors notice when we do acts of loving kindness and humility, especially in a world so often devoid of them. I think the best form of evangelism then is when we praise God, follow the commandments, and live as the living sacrifices we proclaim ourselves to be during every celebration of Communion. Thus my form of evangelism is to try to be the man that God wants me to be - a living example of Christ - as well as to tell my story to others.

Telling one’s story, though, is not an easy task and is quite a vulnerable act. You open yourself up to criticism and even harm.

I have the utmost respect for Joey Heath. Joey is a modern day evangelist: he has the courage to preach the Gospel – God’s unfailing love for him as God’s creation. Joey spreads the Good News by telling his own story – his struggles to be the kind of human being God wants him to be, his longing to be accepted by our institutional church which denies him, and his hopes and dreams that the United Methodist Church will soon accept him for whom he is – as God already has – as God’s own and beloved.

My own life story and coming to terms with my sexuality and my faith greatly parallel Joey’s and yet our stories diverge because I come from an extraordinarily privileged position. I live in a Reconciling Annual Conference with a Bishop who in the first years of his episcopacy openly welcomed gay and lesbian folk by name. I have the luxury of attending a Reconciling United Methodist congregation where we openly and regularly affirm the sacred worth of all people. I had the privilege of being able to run as a delegate for General Conference as an out, gay, young adult and more or less unknown candidate and then actually be elected.

This comes with its own dangers as well though. I can comfortably forget that there are many congregations in my own conference that still have not heard the Good News that Christ has opened the invitation to all people of every human category. I can comfortably forget that there are GLBTQ children of God and their allies in my own conference who do not feel like they have the support they need to be and feel fully human. This leads me to regularly question: As a member of a reconciling annual conference and congregation, how can I as an individual and we as a community of faith better nurture those within our own regional community as well as reach out to those like Joey who live in congregations and regions and communities that have yet to recognize their sacred worth? I lift this up as a prayer and hope that God might use me and others to transform it into action.

Comments

[Joey]

I am truly humbled by yours words, but also glad to hear that others in the church do remember those that have no place that is truly welcoming to them. Thank you for remembering all of us.

[arb]

amen! very well stated. i agree, we're priviledged to have the church home we have.