The Work of an Evangelist
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2 Timothy 3:1-5, 4:2-5
1. But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. 2. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3. inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, 4. treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5. holding the form of religion but denying the power of it. Avoid such people. 4. 2. preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. 3. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, 4. and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. 5. As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.
I am ever amazed at how the words written 2000 years ago about events of the day have so much similarity to what is going in the world in this day and time. Times of stress? I know that Katrina and Niger and Iraq and all the other issues of the day all together don’t compare to WWI or WWII. At least not from what I image it was like to live through one or both of those wars. But those of us who were born after that time only have our own experiences to draw upon. Good and evil seemed to be a little more clear cut in those days. The enemy was more clearly defined. It was easier to be united around one single cause.
The internet and 24-hour television bring us every detail of events throughout the world (at least from the editorial point of view of the news source!) It can be overwhelming to hear about devastation, war, starvation, natural disasters, social unrest and everything else distressing, discouraging and disheartening going on in the world. Or we are numb to it all because it isn’t really personal when viewed in only 1 dimension. Often it isn’t until we are personally touched by a tragedy, a loss, or other experience, that we begin to understand the experiences of others.
These verses offer lots of room for political commentary--to which I am so often and easily drawn and prone! I will refrain from all of that this morning, as that can be wearying as well. The bottom line is that no matter what happens in the world--to others or to us--our faith determines how we are to appropriately respond. We can believe the end is near and live either as if there is no point in looking to a bright and glorious future because all is hopeless; or as if we better get busy and prepare ourselves and each other for the 2nd coming!
I choose the latter! I don’t think this world is anywhere near the point that Christ will return--we still don’t get it--as a nation or as Christians! We still aren’t willing to do the hard work--preach the word, stand firm in our faith, gather together for prayer and for worship. God isn’t our priority. I don’t mean this as a condemnation on the world or on anyone else. I mean that as a collective body of Christians, we are still divided by denomination and doctrine, rather than united in what Christ preached and modeled for us.
From my point of view we’ve still got a lot of work to do! I guess we’d better get busy!
My hope and prayer today is that you’ll be steady in doing the work of an evangelist. And that you’ll hold firm with unlimited patience as you fulfill your ministry as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Mary
