作傳福音者的工作Dothe Work of an Evangelist
作者: Steven Lawson 譯者: Maria Marta
保羅在最後一封書信中，指示他親愛有忠心的兒子提摩太：「作傳福音者的工作」（提後四5）。年邁的使徒保羅藉著這些說話，不僅為年輕的提摩太，而且為每一個地方的每一代人，確立了教牧事工的永恒準則。
帶有使徒權柄，這種吩咐的命令就具有約束力了。所有牧者務必作傳福音者的工作。他們務必熱切地宣傳福音的信息，敦促人們唯獨信靠耶穌基督以致得救。那麽，這種牧職性的傳福音（pastoral evangelism）應從哪裏開始呢？
首先，每一個牧者必需對自己傳福音。任何牧者在呼籲人悔改之前，他必須信靠耶穌基督。使徒保羅勉勵提摩太說，「你要謹慎自己，留心自己的教訓。在這些事上要有恆心，因為你這樣作，不但能救自己，也能救那些聽你的人」（提前四16）。也就是說，每個牧師首先必須審察自己的靈魂。一個人傳福音的成效，首先最重要的是，取決於他在恩典中的正確地位。
在改革宗的牧師當中，清教徒巴克斯特（Richard Baxter）對當天其中還有許多未歸正的牧者演說：「要看到恩典的工作在你自己的靈魂裏徹底產生效果。你們要自己謹慎，唯恐你缺乏你所傳給別人的上帝的救恩。」簡單說來，那就是牧師必須擁抱他們所傳講的信息。
司布真（Charles Spurgeon）曾寫道：
「一位沒有神恩賜的牧師，就好比一位被推選去教授光學的盲人，他對光和視力作哲理性的講論，向別人論述，解釋精緻的光影，以及五光十色光線的精妙組合，而他自己卻絕對落在黑暗裡！這種牧師又好比一位啞巴，被高舉登上管理音樂的職位；也好比一個對交響樂和音樂和諧作滔滔講論的聾子！」（摘自《註意！牧師們》，甘霖譯，略有修改）
可悲的是，未歸正的牧師確實存在。馬丁·路德在重生前是神學博士和聖經教授。約翰·衛斯理在歸正前是一個海外傳教士。每一個牧師在能有力地向其他人宣講福音之前，必須確信自己的救恩。
第二，每一個牧師務必向他的家庭宣講福音。在家中傳福音，以帶領他自己的妻子與耶穌基督建立關系為開始。我永遠記得那次長老會議，我們當中的一位牧師分享他妻子在前天晚上歸正的見證。她是教會中最友善的人之一，但我們不知道她還未歸正。這種情況出現過多少次？為此，每一個牧師務必注意他自己妻子的屬靈景況。
同樣，他也務必關注他的孩子。傳福音應及早開始，包括諸如閱讀聖經，要理問答，和家庭靈修等訓練。我信靠基督，是我父親在晚上讀聖經給我聽的結果。此外，在家中傳福音應該包括非正式交談、試探性提問，和在孩子面前有一個前後一致的敬虔生活楷模。
第三、每一個牧師務必傳福音給他的羊群。他必須有一個清醒的認識，不是所有教會成員都是重生的人。每一個牧師的傳福音工作必須以他的講台事工為中心，同時他要定期將福音呈現給會眾，並向他們發出清晰，決定性的呼籲。他務要懇求他的會眾回應福音以致得救。當他為羊群的歸正作出規勸，甚至懇求時，他的聲音應清晰，語氣當急迫。
當然，這種傳福音驅動力不能與濫用和操控的方法相混肴。我決不主張聽眾舉手，走向講台前，機械地重複禱告，然後被宣布得救------整個過程不到5分鐘。但我堅持認為我們所傳講的福音必須令人信服。這過程必須與十字架的大膽宣講；到基督面前的熱情呼籲；懇切的勸說，唯獨藉著信心來回應的敦促同時進行。牧師必須發出要求悔改的福音信息，和對不信之永恒後果的嚴重警告。
第四、每一個牧師務必在社區傳福音。這個策略有別於每單個人的傳福音，這取決於牧師的恩賜和機會。身為一個得人漁夫，他務要到魚的所在地。他必須離開幹旱的陸地，航行到深海，把網撒出。牧師必須冒險進入社區，分享福音，敦促人們相信耶穌基督。社區外展包括搭建與不信者溝通的橋梁。這也許包括在辦公室、餐廳、或住家主持聖經學習活動。它也可能包括在當地電台開播節目，發行報紙，或創建網絡博客。這意味著透過福音的呈現來顯示關懷行動。無論使用什麽策略，取得這樣的進展需要去到未歸正的人當中，坦然地分享基督。
可以恰當地說，最大的喜樂就是認識基督，其次是使人認識基督。願每一個牧師都喜樂地著手進行這份特許的傳福音者的工作。
本文原刊於Tabletalk雜誌。
Do
the Work of an Evangelist
FROM
Steven Lawson
In
his final letter, Paul charges Timothy, his son in the faith, to “do the work
of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5). By these words, the aged Apostle establishes
the timeless standard for pastoral ministry, not only for young Timothy but for
all pastors in every generation and in every place.
With
Apostolic authority, this imperative command comes with binding force. All
pastors must do the work of an evangelist. They must earnestly proclaim the
gospel message, urging people to trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. So,
where should this pastoral evangelism begin?
First,
every pastor must preach the gospel to himself. Before any pastor can call
others to repent, he must believe in Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul exhorts
Timothy, saying, “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere
in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself
and for those who hear you” (1 Tim. 4:16). That is, every preacher must examine
his own soul first. The success of one’s evangelism is, first and foremost,
dependent upon his right standing in grace.
In
The Reformed Pastor, Puritan Richard Baxter addressed the ministers of his day,
many of whom were unconverted: “See that the work of saving grace be thoroughly
wrought in your own souls. Take heed to yourselves, lest you be void of that
saving grace of God which you offer to others.” Simply put, pastors must
embrace the very message they preach.
Charles
Spurgeon writes:
A
graceless pastor is a blind man elected to a professorship of optics,
philosophizing upon light and vision, discoursing upon … the nice shades and
delicate blendings of the prismatic colours, while he himself is absolutely in
the dark! He is a dumb man elevated to the chair of music; a deaf man fluent
upon symphonies and harmonies! He is a mole professing to educate eaglets
Sadly,
unconverted pastors do exist. Martin Luther was a doctor of theology and
professor of Bible before he was born again. John Wesley was an overseas
missionary prior to his conversion. Every pastor must be certain of his own salvation
before he can powerfully preach the gospel to others.
Second,
every pastor must preach the gospel to his family. Evangelism in the home
begins with shepherding one’s own wife in her relationship with Christ. I will
never forget an elder’s meeting in which one of our pastors shared that his
wife had been converted the previous night. She was one of the nicest people in
the church, yet, unknown to us, she was unconverted. How often is this the
reality? To this end, every pastor must give attention to the spiritual state
of his wife.
Similarly,
he must give the same attention to his children. This evangelism should begin
early and involve disciplines such as Bible readings, catechizing, and family
devotions. I came to faith in Christ as a result of my father reading the Bible
to me in the evenings. Moreover, home evangelism should include informal
conversations, probing questions, and a consistently godly life modeled before
the children.
Third,
every pastor must preach the gospel to his flock. There must be a sober
realization that not every church member is regenerate. Every pastor’s
evangelistic work must center in his pulpit ministry as he regularly presents
the gospel with clear, decisive appeals. He must implore his congregation to
respond to the gospel and be saved. There should be a distinct urgency in his
voice as he exhorts, even pleads, for his flock to be converted.
Certainly,
this evangelistic thrust is not to be confused with abuses and manipulative
methods. I am not contending that people raise a hand, walk an aisle, parrot a
prayer, and be declared saved—all within five minutes. But I am insisting that
our gospel preaching must be compelling. It must come with bold proclamations
of the cross, warm appeals to come to Christ, and passionate persuasions that
urge people to respond by faith alone. Pastors must give gospel messages that
call for repentance and issue severe warnings of eternal consequences for
unbelief.
Fourth,
every pastor should evangelize the community. The strategies will differ from
one man to the next, depending upon his gifts and opportunities. As a fisher of
men, he must go where the fish are. He must leave dry land, sail out into deep
waters, and cast his net. Pastors must venture out into the community, share
the gospel, and urge people to believe upon Christ. Community outreach involves
building bridges to unbelievers. This may include hosting a Bible study in an
office, a restaurant, or a home. It can involve a local radio program, a
newspaper editorial, or an Internet blog. It means showing acts of mercy with a
gospel presentation. Whatever the strategy, making such inroads requires going
where unconverted people are and unashamedly sharing Christ.
It
has been rightly said that the greatest joy is knowing Christ and the second
greatest is making Him known. May every pastor enter joyfully into this
privileged task of doing the work of an evangelist.
This
post was originally published in Tabletalk magazine.