One of the most surprising things about moving from Pennsylvania to north Florida was the presence of Bibles in Starbucks. Now mind you, I’ve been to Starbucks coffee shops all around the globe. It’s no secret that the company is known for progressive policies and—at least a few years back—the liberal thinkers whose quotes would be placed on the coffee cups. But when I moved to Florida, I would walk into Starbucks and there were Bibles open, pastors counseling their parishioners, and groups of people in study groups.
Whereas most of Western civilization has become decisively post-Christian, some of the deep South remains culturally Christian. The upside for leaders is that it still means something in this part of the country to be a member of the clergy. But, on the downside, cultural Christianity brings with it some false assumptions.
Conversant Means Converted
The first assumption is that everyone who is conversant about God or the Bible is a Christian. It’s just not true. One of the most vital skills for a Christian leader in the South is the ability to discern true believers from those who are merely religious. This means moving from superficial questions to ones that stir southern discomfort, which leads me to my next point.
The second assumption is that elders are called almost exclusively to the flock. Elders in this part of the country can be tempted to see the church as a static institution that needs to be managed instead of God’s people sent to the world. We’re tempted to think more about the upward and inward dimensions of the church rather than see it as an outward movement.
“Elder” Includes Evangelism
When Paul defined the role of an elder for Timothy, he said an elder must have a good reputation with outsiders (1 Tim. 3:7). Paul also commanded him: “Do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5). Paul also told Titus that an elder must be hospitable (1:8).
Let’s park on “hospitable” for a moment. When Paul calls elders to embody hospitality, he’s not talking about having members over for dinner—which we should—but he’s speaking literally about the “love of strangers.” This means that elders must be connected to those outside the church. We must make some margin in our lives for the lost.
If you’re anything like me, this doesn’t come naturally. It’s right for pastors to want to strengthen and solidify the church, but our call includes working beyond the church and modeling the mission of the church. That’s why Paul says, “Do the work.” It’s no coincidence that he uses that term, work. For most men in ministry, evangelism will be just that. It will be work.
Let me warn you. Our strategy for accomplishing this task can’t simply be to acquire or hire someone for the job—to get an evangelist on the team. No, we can’t just outsource this part of our call. If our church is going to grow in evangelism, it will be because her elders lead her there. We also can’t attack evangelism merely on the level of teaching. It’s more than a subject to discuss; it must be addressed on the level of our example.
So, ask yourself. How are you using your home? Are the men on your elder team holding one another accountable to share their faith? Is doing the work of an evangelist part of the way you evaluate guys who feel called to ministry?
For me, doing the work of an evangelist has begun with doing the work of repentance. I have to admit that I used to be better at spending time with outsiders. But after moving South, I’ve grown more comfortable with the culture, and I’ve begun to gravitate toward those who are like me. I have my Bible out at Starbucks too.
I don’t simply understand the problem. I’m part of the problem. But doing the work of an evangelist remains essential.
Paul’s goal in making this a requirement for elders is not simply to give them another plate to spin. The work of evangelism protects the future of the church. It ensures that our strategy for church growth and health is not merely shifting saints from one congregation to the next.
Success for the church must include elders who evangelize, elders who build a multiplying culture, and elders who are testifying about new conversions.
Doing the work of an evangelist also keeps all of our work glued to the gospel. To be called to gospel ministry means that our job is to see the good news connect with people and the culture. Befriending lost people in the community, seeking to understand them, and serving them is a vital way we learn how to truly connect with real people when we are teaching and preaching. It helps us to speak the language of the community to which we are called. Or to say it another way, it enables us to look beyond the Bibles in Starbucks and speak to the souls who so desperately need the Savior.
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
