| All those who are actively engaged in the mission of evangelization believe that what they are doing is God’s will. They are aware that evangelization can not be just a personal interest or hobby, but it is strictly linked with their faith and commitment in Jesus. However there are times when temptation sneaks in, “ is it just my decision or is it truly God’s will”?
Christians believe that God, the Creator of the universe, calls creatures into existence, keeps them in existence through His breath of life and enters into a special dialogue with mankind. God is “the One who calls”(Romans, 9:12). From the very beginning, immediately after Adam’s sin, God tries to begin a dialogue with him: “The Lord God called to Adam, ‘where are you Adam?’(Genesis, 3: 9). Throughout the history of salvation, God keeps his dialogue, calls, chooses and sends his representatives to speak in his name to his people.
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God’s Covenant
A very important thread that runs through both Old and New Testament, which is intimately linked with evangelization, is the theme of the covenant that God wants to establish with mankind and the whole creation. The covenant God wants is meant for the redemption of mankind. The covenanted nation is chosen, called and sent by God on a mission of salvation. Each member of the covenanted nation has a personal covenant with God, is chosen, called and sent by God on the same mission of salvation. The personal call of an individual must be seen within the larger context of the covenant with God.
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Covenant with Noah
“Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: ‘I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you, the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you, every living creature on earth. This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.’” (Genesis 9: 8-10, 12-13)
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Covenant with Abraham
“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’” (Genesis 12: 1-2,3)
“On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram.” (Genesis 15: 18)
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Covenant with Moses
“’Moses! Moses!”, the Lord called. Moses said, ‘Here I am.’The Lord said, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.’” (Exodus, 3: 4,6,9-10)
“Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words." (Exodus 24: 8)
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New and eternal covenant with Jesus
“After supper Jesus took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22: 20)
Jesus’ covenant is addressed to mankind and Jesus’ disciples are called, chosen and sent to announce this Gospel to all nations.
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Chosen, called and sent by God
God’s call to Abraham, to Moses or to any other prophet is always meant for a mission. God sends those he calls on a mission and promises his grace and support. The God who calls and sends is also the God who supports and upholds those he calls.
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The prophet Isaiah (the second Isaiah) reminds the people of Israel of their call and mission.
“Listen to me, O Jacob, Israel, whom I have called.” (Isaiah, 48: 12)
“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles.’” (Isaiah, 42:6)
When God calls, he reveals himself by recalling his great deeds in favour of his people: “But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you. I said, You are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah, 41: 8-10)
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The prophet Jeremiah describes his call and his mission in an autobiographic and very touching way:
“The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’ ‘Ah, Sovereign Lord, I said, ‘I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.’ But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord.Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, ‘Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.’” (Jeremiah 1: 4-9)
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Jesus calls his disciples personally one by one. He looks for them in the place where they live and work.
“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me’, Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4: 18-20)
At times, Jesus changes the disciple’s name into a new name to better express the mission the disciple is called to.
“Jesus looked at Simon and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas, which means rock.’” (John, 1: 42)
“Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” (Matthew 4: 21-22)
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| 2d. |
After his resurrection, Jesus continues calling his believers through the Holy Spirit. This is the testimony of each believer’s experience. St Paul says of his call and mission:
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God. Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.” (Romans 1:1, 5)
Paul affirms that all believers in Rome share the same call:
“And you also are among those who are called by Jesus Christ. To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints.” (Romans 1: 6-7)
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Chosen, called and sent through Jesus, in Jesus, by Jesus
Jesus Christ is the Word of God. Through the Word God created and gave order to his creation. In the Word every creature was thought of, created and loved. Through his Word, God planned his salvation for all creation. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will, to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” (Ephesians 1: 3-6)
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Paul writes about his call to evangelize:
“But when God, who set me apart from the womb of my mother and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles…” (Galatians 1: 15-16)
Paul reminds all believers that their call comes from Jesus Christ, through his Spirit and leads them to evangelize:
“You were called by Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:6),
Paul reminds the Christian community in Rome. To the Christian community of Ephesus, Paul says, “You were chosen in Christ” (Ephesians 1:11).
“In Christ we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1: 11-14)
Often Paul emphasizes that God’s call is not linked to the merits or qualities of those who are called, but only to God’s grace.
“Those God predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” (Romans, 8: 30)
Paul drawing from his own experience, confesses that his call is entirely God’s grace:
“For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.” (1 Corinthians, 15: 9-10)
Paul continues analyzing his vocation as a source of strength in face of difficulties. The God who calls is also the God who sustains those who are called:
“So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life, not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.” (2 Timothy, 1: 8-12)
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Those who are chosen and called are sent to “serve”
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1Peter 4: 10-11)
Paul says that the freedom given by Jesus’ Spirit to all believers enables them to serve in love. “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Galatians 5: 13-14)
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The Risen Lord shares with his Church the ministry of evangelization. The common mission to evangelize is the foundation of unity and mutual support of all believers.
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus… For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only the grace to believe in him, but also to suffer for him.” (Philippians 1: 3-8,29)
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Conclusion
It is not “mankind” that ascends to God, but God who descends to “mankind” and begins a dialogue with them. The covenant that God establishes with mankind is not a pact between equals; it is God’s grace. It is always God who makes the first step. It is God who loves first. This is a fundamental characteristic of God’s revelation as recorded in the Bible; it gives great confidence and hope to all those who are called and sent to a specific ministry or service. Those who are chosen, called and sent to evangelize, are living witnesses of the God, who dialogues with humankind and upholds and gives support to those who accept his plan of salvation. Evangelizers are living witnesses of God’s universal salvation. They are ready to go all over the world, to the end of the world, to announce Jesus’ Gospel to all nations.
“For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10: 12-15)
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