"Evangelical" Christians

There's been a lot in the news recently about "Evangelical" Christians but I would bet that if you pinned a media type down, they really couldn't tell you what an "evangelical" is compared to other Christians.

As Christians, we are all supposed to be "evangelical". While the news media likes to make the term negative, all "evangelical" means is "spreading the 'good news' ".

Jesus tells us this several places in the gospels

In Mark, Jesus instructs us.

"When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.^{[b] 10} For the Good News must first be preached to all nations.^{[c] 11} But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

Many non-believers have always interpreted evangelicals as trying "push their beliefs" on them. But consider this..... If you've watched the best movie you ever seen, been to the best restaurant or club you've ever been to, or have a passion for a particular sports team, you will naturally share that with others.

So why wouldn't you share the best thing to ever happen to your soul?..... receiving Christ as your savior.

The one thing Christians have to recognize is that our enthusiasm for God needs to be tempered. We need to be responsible for our audience because we don't want non believers to get defensive. When people are defensive, they can't hear the "good news".

A few years ago, I invited a woman to church and she told me "I've pretty much given up on God" and I responded "That's cool, just know that God hasn't given up on you".

She was actually dumbstruck by that pithy little quote, but it gave me an opening to let her know that God will meet you anywhere, anytime; you just need to say the word.

So let's go out and be "evangelical" and bring the light to those who need to see it.