Evangelism

Just before the General Synod in July, Fr. Keith preached a sermon on evangelism, the theme of the Synod. His thoughtful discourse prompted me to write this article in response. In it, he reminded us that evangelism has been, and is now a concern of Protestant churches of the 'evangelical' tradition. It is certainly not confined to them, but they have given the impression that it is somehow their exclusive concern. The means of their evangelism is confined to preaching exclusively in whatever form: radio, TV, pulpit discourse, or face to face encounter.

But when we read The New Testament a different form of evangelism emerges. In Paul’s epistles and elsewhere, we find a very different presentation of the message of Jesus. The message of Jesus came to people sharing a common meal, hosted by someone who had received this message after meeting some of Jesus’ first followers.

In the Near East and throughout the Roman Empire, it was a common practice for friends to meet together for a formal meal or banquet, hosted by one of them at his home. This meal took place in a banquet room set aside for this purpose. Those present reclined on benches around a large table. There were certain formalities to do with the breaking and distribution of bread and the drinking of wine. As you can see this clearly resembles the meal that Jesus and his Disciples shared in the upper room. And it is in the context of this banquet meal that the host told the story of Jesus' ministry, the last days and hours of His life, and His resurrection. This is how the story was spread from Jerusalem to Antioch, to Corinth in Greece, and to the heart of the Roman Empire the city of Rome, and throughout the Mediterranean world, and beyond to Africa and Spain, and even to far off Britain. It was a story told and illustrated by the breaking and distribution of bread and the pouring out and drinking of wine from the common cup, and with the repetition of these words of Jesus - do this in remembrance of Me.

The placing of the message, and the life and death of Jesus in the context of a familiar meal is how the early Christian Church evangelized the world of its day. It was so effective because this story was told at a shared meal. For the people at that time it was a common human experience to eat together as it is for us, and there is nothing better than to hear a story told over a shared meal. And this story promises to bring you into a direct relationship with the main character in the tale - who not only was executed and who died, but who encountered His followers after being risen from the dead. Remember how the Disciples on the road to Emaeus met the risen Jesus when He took bread and broke it before them at the evening meal. The banquet meal may not have been the only way that the story of Jesus was told. But we may be sure that it was always connected with the breaking of bread. What we do know is that from beginning of the Church until the Reformation, this story was told at the Eucharist Sunday.

How can the Eucharist be the means of evangelism today? It is left to us to work out how to do this. This is not an easy task. I can only say that the essential elements of this meal rests on what has not changed in the human experience. Meeting together to share a meal with friends and hearing a good story is the same now as it was in the First Century.

Let me be clear about about one thing. This is not a proposal for radical changes to the regular Sunday liturgy. Evangelism is not aimed at the community of practicing Christians. Evangelism is directed at those who have little or no contact with, or understanding of Christianity. But everyone understands the importance of a shared meal and the welcome it implies, and in the Eucharist, word and action come together in the shared meal in a way that illustrates and re-enacts the drama of the life and redemptive death of Jesus. The broken bread and poured out wine is a compelling picture of His broken body and His out-poured blood.

Richard+