Reclaiming the E Words (Luke 2:8-20)

A few days ago on Facebook, "evangelismcoach.org" quoted Billy Graham saying, "‎Evangelism is not complete until the evangelized become the evangelists."  When I shift through all the baggage I have with the word "evangelism" and its variations "evangelical," I like and agree with the Reverend Graham's quote. But there is a lot of baggage surrounding the E words.

When many of us hear the word "evangelism", we cringe thinking of someone we have never met sticking a tract in our hands asking us if we know where we are going when we die.  The tract laden evangelist fails to mention (or understand?) that following Jesus is not about where we go when we are dead, but about who we follow now.  The word "evangelism" also creates images of big tent meetings - like the ones Billy Graham was famous for - where hundreds, maybe thousands - walk down the aisles to become Christians.  But months later, where are these new Christians?   Have they made an emotional journey down an aisle to get a ticket to heaven or have they become followers of Jesus and his teachings?  Do they even know Jesus' teachings?  Jesus held a few "big tent" meetings himself - so they can't be all wrong.  But there are some inherent problems with them. 

Then the word "evangelical" has been used (misused - in my mind) to describe those who prefer a smaller more conservative government structure over a larger more socially oriented form of government.  I cringe the most when I think of the absurdity of mixing one's preference for government structures with the Kingdom of God.  I am certain that the Kingdom of God can exist and flourish in any government structure including totalitarian regimes, communism, etc.  And the way Jesus describes the Kingdom of God (a place where we put others before ourselves, where the greatest is last, where we take care of those in need without asking if they are worthy of our care) sure doesn't sound like capitalism to me. Nor does it sound like any form of government I have ever heard of. 

And yet, Reverend Graham is right.  Followers of Jesus do their job when they tell others about Jesus.  In the scripture today... we see the shepherds do the most authentic form of evangelism.  They aren't passing out tracts; they aren't wooing others by selling tickets to heaven; they aren't twisting arms. And they aren't confusing politics with finding Jesus.  They are simply telling others what they've seen and heard...

Luke 2:8-20 ⁸ And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; ¹¹ for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² "And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger." ¹³ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ¹⁴ "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." ¹⁵ And it came about when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." ¹⁶ And they came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. ¹⁷ And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. ¹⁸ And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

We may not have seen and heard angels this morning when we got out of bed.  But if we are followers of Jesus we have seen and heard something worthwhile or we wouldn't be bothering with Jesus at all!   Like the shepherds, we can simply tell others about how we have seen Jesus too.