Returning from a joyous weeks holiday in Croatia with friends, I felt a nudging in my spirit. While in a foreign land, and despite the barrier of language, I nonetheless missed opportunities to talk to people about Jesus Christ, or at least point towards him. Sure I was on holiday, but does that mean my testimony and call to witness should be on holiday too? Yesterday morning I went on my first prayer walk back in Swansea troubled by this thought, and took my Bible with me. I had one of those classic moments of opening the Bible and randomly choosing a story or scripture to read. I landed on Acts 8:1-8.
Here is a story of not just one man (Phillip) but an entire community scattered across foreign lands and proclaiming Christ EVERYWHERE THEY WENT. That caught my attention…and I read the verses closely to see what more I could learn. Here’s what I found and was stirred by:
- It took persecution for the church (v1) in Jerusalem to leave a place of familiarity and proclaim Christ where he had not been proclaimed before and see many people saved. Christianity today seems to thrive best where there is greatest persecution. In a spiritually luke warm climate, it is easy to acclimatise our faith and be ineffective. We can fool ourselves into thinking that ‘one day’ when things ‘are easier’ – THEN we will get excited and have more time to proclaim Jesus – but this is a lie. For those of us living out our faith in countries where persecution is not a matter of life or death, we need to be on our guard. For satan would love a church that is comfortable and sees no urgency to proclaim the gospel. Whatever our personal situation, whether in want or living with plenty, every day should have, will have, opportunities to proclaim Christ.
- Every disciple should proclaim Christ. (v2). Interesting that it was the apostles who stayed – everyone else scattered throughout Judea and Samaria – but as they went they preached the Word everywhere they went. (v4). Evangelism is for everyone. Sure, we see the gift of evangelism in scripture and here we see Philip singled out in action – but everyone who scattered, proclaimed Christ. We should not hand the responsibility for evangelism to others who we think are more gifted. God will bring people across our path everyday, and you may or I may be the only Christian someone will meet and have the opportunity to hear about Jesus.
- Evangelism with power. (v6). We all know that we should attract others to our faith by the witness of a life that is full of love, good deeds, and the fruit of the Spirit. Tick. But I think the church has fallen into thinking that this is now our primary strategy, which is difficult when you live in a culture that promotes similar values, and in fact has taken its values from the Bible in the first place. But here Philip doesn’t waste time, he proclaims Christ. Not with good deeds, but by opening his mouth AND by signs and wonders. No wonder it says that the people paid close attention to what he SAID when they SAW what he did. Which got me thinking again.. Jesus preached AND performed miracles. As did the first disciples. As did Paul. As did Philip. If they preached the performed signs and wonders to show that the gospel they preached was of God then why on earth would I think I don’t need that same power? I think in general the church has slipped into what is more comfortable – a strategy of good works. But this alone will be an unsuccessful strategy.
- Do we know how to proclaim the Word? (v4). If someone asked you what the gospel means, would you know what to say? What if someone doesn’t ask – how do you proclaim the Word then? These are things I think about and feel challenged by. And at what cost? My reputation? My job? My friendships? Let’s not kid ourselves – in the chapter before Stephen was killed for proclaiming Christ. In this chapter men and women are dragged off to prison. In my natural self this causes me to want to quieten down about my faith, not rock the boat. Play it safe. And truthfully, that kind of attitude scares me.
On the way to the airport returning home the taxi driver learnt that I am a church pastor, having just ‘confessed’ some dodgy things! He exclaimed in jest, ‘You don’t look like a pastor, and now I have told you all these things!” My wife replied “Does he not look like a pastor?”, to which he replied jokingly, “Not even close!” We all laughed, but I wasn’t sure whether to take what he said as a compliment or not! Look, I am not saying that we should not win people over with our good works, and hopefully we will live our lives in a way that people around us would say “I thought you were a Christian”, or “I knew there was something different about you” or “I want what you have!” Certainly we wouldn’t want a response of ‘You don’t look like a Christian… not even close!”. Of course we should live such good lives in the world that people will want to know (1 Peter 2:12), of course we should let our light shine before men so that they will see our works and praise our Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16). But evangelism that is by good works only is not biblical and at times will not be effectual. We need to, I need to, open my mouth. Proclaim Christ. Trust for the power of God to give evidence of the truth I proclaim. And see the great joy that will be experienced by those that come into the knowledge of the One who died for them. (v8).
How will they hear unless someone tells them? (Romans 10:14).
