• 500 years to the birthday of John Calvin
• 2,000 years to the birthday of the Savior
’Tis the season for looking ahead
• to a whole year of celebrating Calvin’s legacy
• to the soon coming celebration of Christmas
’Tis the season for looking around
• to a dark world needing to behold the life that is the light of all people
’Tis the season for spreading that light, for reengaging Christ’s mission. Of course, all seasons are seasons for mission. But this is a special season for mission. Advent and Christmas soften many hearts, injecting them with a spirit of generosity and an openness to elevated thinking.
There’s no better time to be doing evangelism than now.
Are you so inclined? Are you evangelistic in mission? Do you wear the label “evangelical” proudly?
Many Presbyterians don’t.
I do.
Okay, I admit that the label carries baggage. Some evangelicals have behaved badly. Some have allowed their theological passions to blend too seamlessly with partisan politics. Some seem to use the Bible as a mallet rather than as an escalator. Some treat the content of faith as a handful of simple sound bites, rather than the complex and nuanced collection of narratives, poetry, correspondence, prophetic challenges and the like that comprise the Scriptures God actually inspired.
Nevertheless, evangelicals do have one thing right that keeps me identifying unabashedly as one of them. They believe that the heart of our mission is the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind — the first of the six Great Ends of the Church in the Book of Order (G-1.0200). And they believe that church leaders should equip members to articulate their faith so they can witness to others the saving grace of Jesus Christ and invite them into a new life in him, which is the first of 19 enumerated duties for church sessions (G-10.0102a).
Alongside the great, worldwide Christian movements — Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, Baptist, Pentecostal — we in the Reformed camp are often labeled categorically as “Evangelical.” Many of our partner denominations in the World Alliance of Reformed Churches have the word “evangelical” in their name, as in the Dominican Evangelical Church, the Evangelical Reformed Church (Germany) and the Lesotho Evangelical Church.
Rightly so. Our theologians have formulated the evangel (i.e., gospel) with unequaled clarity. Our liturgy re-enacts the evangel every time we gather for worship. Our sacraments proclaim the evangel to all who have ears to hear.
Nevertheless, our specific efforts to witness to non-believers are notoriously weak. General Assemblies have written covenants, developed tools, and initiated programs to mobilize and empower evangelistic endeavors. But those efforts have borne limited fruit. Some congregations have boomed in growth via evangelism – such as Highlands Church in Paso Robles (Outlook, Nov. 17, p. 16), but most are losing ground and doing little to reverse the trend.
The resolution adopted at the past General Assembly meeting — “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” — provides yet another impetus for growth, particularly in the 2009-10 biennium. It urges every governing body, agency, entity, and network in the denomination “to commit to foster the growth” of the church in evangelism, in discipleship, in servanthood, and in diversity.
But, we can’t get there without taking the initiative where each of us lives. The elected General Assembly dispersed to their homes and churches last June. The Louisville staff can only work behind the scenes as facilitators. The real work of sharing the love of Jesus in word and deed has to be carried out by Sunday’s pew sitters who mix with neighbors, colleagues, classmates, and friends through the rest of the week.
Will you help grow the church deep and wide? While celebrating Calvin’s legacy from days of old, will you help share Jesus’ grace today? In this joyous season, will you speak into the generosity of spirit and the softness of heart growing in your neighbors and friends?
— JHH
