Evangelism: The word "evangelism" comes from the New Testament Greek verb euaggelizo meaning "to bring good news." The original image from which the word comes is that of a joyful runner coming from the victory of a battle, the birth of a child or other happy event to announce it to those who will be blessed by the news.

Followers of Christ are announcing the victory of the cross and Christ's resurrection over the power of sin, the devil and death. The Gospel is unqualified Good News for the individual and society and both for time and all of eternity!

For the individual there is grace and mercy, victory over the power and punishment of sin, forgiveness and the discovery of true worth in Christ.

For society there is the possibility of movement towards right relationship (i.e. 'righteousness' in Christian language), harmony and peace.

For those who would like more clarity on the relationship between Christ, the Kingdom and the Church, please click here.

A New Testament example: from Paul's letter to Philemon.

• The historical setting is that Paul, while in prison, led to Christ a fellow prisoner - a runaway slave, Onesimus, and Paul now asks his former master - Philemon, to set Onesimus free.
• The basis for this request is that the Gospel, recognizing the equality of man before God-in-Christ, has implicitly in it the seeds of social transformation requiring the end of slavery.
• The Gospel, understood as Jesus intended, does away with social class or status based on position or economics (v.16).
• Paul's appeal to Philemon for this change is not on the basis of law or duty (there was no such basis in the culture of that time) but of love born of the Gospel (v.8-9).

This is an example of a way in which sharing the Good News of Christ can be the best and most direct means to social transformation and changing the world. The end of injustice can be legislated and attempted to be enforced by brute strength, but history shows legislation alone cannot change the human heart to want to do what is right. (At best, law can make a person aware of what is right. And sometimes human law is in fact wrong.)

I want to share Christ often and invite you to do the same. Sharing Christ changes people and this world now and for eternity.

My prayer has therefore been this: "Holy Spirit, give me boldness to share Christ 'in season and out of season' so the Father will be praised, souls saved from hell for eternity, and social healing and transformation be the blessing on this age."

There are many means of sharing the good news of the Kingdom of God. For examples and encouragement please click here.