The Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) called upon seminarians to share their faith in Jesus Christ urgently with others, advising them “don’t decide for someone else that they don’t want to hear the Gospel of Christ.”
“The word ‘evangelism’ scares a lot of folks off, even though it’s just the Greek world for ‘gospel’ or ‘good news’ — but it carries a lot of baggage, doesn’t it?” preached Archbishop Foley Beach on October 22nd during Asbury Theological Seminary’s chapel service.
Beach’s message showcased the evangelistic message of the fledgling denomination that was founded in 2009 and that he has led since 2014. Asbury hosted Beach as part of the seminary’s Anglican formation and mission day on its Wilmore, Kentucky campus.
Asbury is a multidenominational seminary in the Wesleyan tradition that, while not an official seminary of the United Methodist Church, educates approximately one quarter of all new pastors serving the 7.8 million-member U.S. branch of the global denomination.
“Why does scripture tell us to share our faith?” Beach asked. “Why should you be willing – and have an urgency – to share your faith?”
Beach outlined ten points in answer to his question, beginning with the charge that Christians should share faith in Jesus because of the need of others.
“The brokenness around us in our world is so great,” Beach observed. “People are suffering, wounded, miserable, self-medicating and desperate for answers. “
The Archbishop, who once served as a Baptist youth minister, explained that Christians should share Jesus with others because of our love for them.
“It’s not enough to love each other – we must love those who are not yet a part of the church: the broken ones out there who Jesus died for,” Beach insisted. “We reach out so that others can be drawn into a relationship with us and, by doing so, into a relationship with God.”
Beach asked the assembled seminarians whom they knew in their lives that seemed so far from God that they are tempted to dismiss them.
“Everyone is just one step from the Kingdom of God,” Beach declared. “Don’t decide for someone else that they don’t want to hear the Gospel of Christ. Pour out your heart in prayer for them and the Lord will bring you to see them as he does.”
The Anglican leader also noted that Christians should share Jesus with others because of the command of Jesus.
“It’s a glorious thing to be saved by the cross of Jesus Christ, but it’s not enough to be saved – we have been entrusted with the Gospel so that we can share it,” Beach asserted. “If you know the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, then you have been entrusted with the incomparable treasure of the Gospel. You are a steward of the message of salvation. Just as one day we will be called to account for how we handled our money, we will one day be called to account for how we handled the Gospel: did we hoard it, did we hide it away thinking that it was ours to keep? Or did we share it? Did we introduce our friends to our friend Jesus Christ?”
Beach cheered that the sheer joy of telling the Gospel was another reason to share it.
“Our experience of Jesus should bubble up out of us,” Beach, who has worked closely with parachurch ministries including YoungLife, smiled. “If you’ve ever had the privilege of leading someone to faith in Jesus Christ, you know the joy that that is.”
The love of Christ within Christians, and that Christians should share Jesus with others because God is depending on them were also cited as reasons for evangelism.
“God has no ‘Plan B’ for spreading the Good News: you and I are it,” Beach told the gathered students. “We are his hands and feet, his mouthpiece and arms of love. If not us, who then?”
But Beach added that Christians share Jesus with others because it is impossible to be quiet.
“When you’ve experienced Jesus Christ you can’t help speaking and talking about it,” Beach shared. The Archbishop also said that Christians should share Jesus with others because it helps Christians themselves grow in knowledge of Christ.
“Failing to share your faith stunts your spiritual life,” Beach claimed. “Sharing our faith not only has an impact on others, it has an impact of you.”
Beach noted that much is at stake, including people’s lives and their eternity.
“We know so many people who are lost and don’t know where they are going,” Beach reported. “We share Jesus with a world that does not know where it is going.”
Beach cited the gift of the Holy Spirit as another reason to share about Jesus with others.
“When the power of the Holy Spirit comes upon our lives, it’s not for us and meeting our personal needs,” Beach insisted. “It’s that we might bear witness to Jesus.”
“Let’s go — let’s get on with it – let’s make disciples,” Beach concluded. “If not us, who? If not you, why?”
Update: Over on the Seedbed blog, Winfield Bevins sits down with the Archbishop Beach for a video interview about what God is doing through the Anglican Church in North America. Click here to view the interview.
Comment by TCap on November 9, 2015 at 3:52 pm
Sometimes my PCUSA church seems embarrassed to spread the good news. We rarely talk about that. Focus is rarely on Jesus’ atoning sacrifice. Instead, we talk about social action. I feel like we are missing the boat.
Comment by Skipper on November 13, 2015 at 11:05 am
They may focus on Social Action to clear the mind of other things. In World War II there were churches (denominations) that allowed members to murder anyone they didn’t like, especially Jews, and still be considered members in good standing. Those in the Confessing Movement, like Dietrich Bonheoffer, referred to these as “Destroyed Churches”. Today we again have “Destroyed Churches” that allow members to live immorally. Stick with the Truth of God and you will be blessed.