Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

The Ethics of EvangelismIn a world torn apart by rising nationalism,economic unrest, and threat of nuclear war, wherein mustthe Christian play his part in such troubled times? Has theworld condition so changed that Christianity can not stillbe an instrument for bringing peace and order out ofchaos? Yes, the Christian still constitutes the means,which is above all other means, for bringing the world intoconformity with the will of God. However, before attemptingto introduce Christian principles of living intobusiness, politics, or world affairs, the Christian must firstseek to be the means for bringing other people into asaving and life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ.God has always employed His elect to glorify Hisname; hence, the chosen ones must understand the how,when, where, and why of glorifying their Redeemer.During Old Testament times, Israel fell into grievous sinswhen the people misunderstood or strayed away from thepurpose of their very existence as a chosen people.Likewise Christians today need to understand "The Ethicsof Evangelism."Nature of EthicsBut what do the terms ethics and evangelism mean?Philip Wheelwright defines ethics as:that branch of philosophy which is the systematic study ofreflective choice, of the standards of right and wrong bywhichit is to be guided, and of the goods toward whichitmay ultimately be directed.Since the reader may never have taken a course inphilosophy, he need not assume that this paper has norelevance to him — for one may define philosophy as "anattempt to see life, and to see it as a whole." This involvesone's growing in appreciation as to the purpose, plan, orreason for living. Therefore, everyone is to some extent aphilosopher — since he has some general idea about"what makes life tick."Ethics, as a branch of philosophy, has a definitescope with specific limitations. No person can make a"moral choice" who can not think reflectively; therefore,anyone who is so mentally retarded that he could notunderstand the law of personal possessions could not bemorally responsible for stealing. Similarly, one must beable to carry out any alternatives of the decisions which hemay make. Consequently, ethics would not include thosedecisions where either of two alternatives would be impossible.For a cripple, whose legs can not hold him, tomake a choice between sitting and running is ethicallyimpossible — since he has not the power to fulfill thelatter choice.Rev. Donald WeilersbacherPastor of San Diego R. P. ChurchNow before a Christian can enter into a discussion ofethics, certain assumptions must be presented. From ametaphysical viewpoint the Christian assumes that God isthe Ultimate Reality of the universe. He can neither proveby scientific experiment this assumption, any more thananother can disprove it. The step is one of faith. This faithis based upon the epistemological argument that God hasgiven a special revelation of Himself through the Person ofJesus Christ: so that having been enlightened by the HolySpirit, God's elect may find saving faith in Him throughthe written Word. Likewise he assumes that through thereading and application of the Holy Scriptures, one cansee the teleological aspect of ethics: God has specificpurposes which must be considered in making moraldecisions. Finally, all of the raw material of knowledgeproduced by the application of these assumptions must besubject to coherence as the criterion of truth. This termcoherence means "systematic, inclusive consistency,constantly subject to revision." For although God'sstandard of ethics never changes, man's understanding ofHis will is constantly subject to re-examination andreinterpretation. Consequently, the subject of Christianethics can never be of a static nature; since the Living Godreveals the dynamic principles which the redeemed striveto understand and apply in their daily living.Nature of EvangelismHaving discussed the nature of ethics, the followingdefinition of evangelism given by D. H. Walters may behelpful:Evangelism, in the broadest sense, means any testimonyborne to another by a Christian, with a view to makingChrist known and accepted.According to this definition of evangelism, every Christianmay be included as a possible center of evangelism, andany other person may be considered as the possible objectiveof evangelism. However, such a definition shouldbe modified by explaining the four basic assumptions ofevangelism. These assumptions logically follow theprevious discussion of ethics. In order to considerevangelism within the scope and limitations of ethics,there must be value in evangelism, a duty of evangelism, adesire for evangelism, and a power for evangelism.Evangelism can not result from a personal whim withoutmoral urgency, half-heartedly performed, and without aspiritually dynamic motivating, enabling, and energizingprinciple. Such a thought is inconsistent with ethics andunfruitful in practice.8 COVENANTER WITNESS