Work of Evangelists
By Ellis Crum
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When an evangelist is visiting a congregation with elders, he must remember that he is to work under the supervision of these spiritual superintendents. Should an evangelist happen to be present when a congregation is having a business meeting, he should remember that he is a visitor, not a member of the local congregation. Even if he has been invited to sit in on such a meeting, he should remain silent unless asked to speak. He should not attempt to influence decisions that are strictly local. I have heard of more than one preacher who has attempted to affect the outcome of a work or program where he has no authority and is not even a member! An evangelist out of order is just as bad as any erring disciple. His position or office does not give him authority in an area where God has not delegated. Preachers are out of order when they try and select officers in congregations where they are trying to set things in order. They are also out of place when they do anything more than investigate and appoint officers in older congregations, which have called them with a view to making a plurality or increasing the number of elders or deacons. Of course it is the responsibility of the evangelist to refuse to appoint any who are not qualified. We will have more to say about the selection and appointment of officers at a later date. Suffice it to say for now that the appointing power and selecting power are two separate acts.
In congregations where there is trouble in the eldership which cannot be settled by themselves, the New Testament scriptures authorize the calling of an evangelist to hear charges against the elders. "Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear" (1 Tim. 5:19, 20). The statement authorizing the hearing of the charges by an evangelist would of necessity authorize two or more members to prefer charges against sinful shepherds. Some of the tasks that befall an evangelist are not pleasant; nevertheless, if he is going to "do the work of an evangelist," he must be ready for service at all times. In hearing accusations the evangelist must heed the Spirit-given charge issued by Paul: "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and the elect angels, that you observe these suggestions without discrimination; that you act with no favoritism" (1 Tim. 5:21, Berkeley Version). He must avoid the age-old timesaver, prejudice, which enables him to form opinions without bothering to get the facts.
An evangelist should warn his hearers, young and old, against forming snap judgment and "swallowing" everything they hear. When a shark swallows an urchin fish it rolls up in a ball. However when inside the shark it unrolls and destroys from within. We, too, should be careful what we swallow! There are some things that we should definitely not swallow. We should not swallow fiction for fact, or error for truth. There are other things that we should swallow. Someone has said, "Swallowing angry words is much easier than having to eat them." Among other things that Christians need to swal-
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Evangelists need to work with elders too; they have a responsibility toward their eldership and home congregation. Many do not seriously consider this obligation; they act as if they were a law unto themselves. God has a perfect system of checks and balances in all of His creation. In the government of the kingdom of heaven on earth there are divine safety measures which prevent unscrupulous men from making havoc of the local congregation. Elders set apart evangelists, and evangelists in turn ordain elders which have been selected by the local membership. Evangelists need to counsel with their elders. The apostles and elders conferred according to Acts 15. Elders should make themselves available and should so act that ALL members would feel free to approach them with any problem.
Following the example of Paul and Barnabas, evangelists should report their work to their home congregations. "Upon their arrival they called the Church together and proceeded to report in detail all that God, working with them, had done, and how He had opened for the Gentiles a door of faith. And they remained a considerable time in Antioch with the diseiples" --(Weymouth's N. T. in Modern Speech, Acts 14:27, 28). The bishops of my home congregation seldom fail to call on me to report concerning my evangelistic labors when I return to the assembly. If great periods of time elapse when there is no contact with the home congregation, it would seem wise for the evangelist to write his brethren regarding his activities. It should be noted that Paul and Barnabas reported to the whole assembly, not just a brief report at an "officers' meeting." The brethren will feel more like getting behind those in the field if they know more about their efforts in the kingdom. While some preachers are at fault for not reporting, (they do not want to be subject to anyone) it may he that some of the blame falls upon the bishops for not requesting or providing opportunity to outline their work. Congregations who love the Lord will want to know of the progress and hardships of their evangelists; they will want to assist them in every way possible. Those who are doing "the work of an evangelist" will not be ashamed to give an account of themselves.