Evangelização: o que é e como praticar o testemunho cristão
Evangelizar significa anunciar boas notícias: no Novo Testamento, a mensagem de que Deus reconciliou a humanidade consigo por meio da vida, morte e ressurreição de Jesus Cristo. Não se trata de vencer debates nem de impor dogmas, mas de proclamar com clareza a salvação e demonstrar essa fé em atitudes práticas.
O mandamento de Jesus e a Grande Comissão
Antes de sua ascensão, Jesus confiou aos discípulos a responsabilidade de levar a mensagem do Reino a todas as pessoas. Esse envio não depende da força humana, mas da capacitação do Espírito Santo dada à comunidade de fé.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them to the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have enjoined you. And behold, I am with you all the days, until the completion of the age.(Matthew 28:19,20)
And he said to them, Go into all the world, and preach the glad tidings to all the creation.(Mark 16:15)
but ye will receive power, the Holy Spirit having come upon you, and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.(The Acts 1:8)
From that time began Jesus to preach and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh.(Matthew 4:17)
A proclamação verbal caminha junto com o testemunho diário. No Sermão do Monte, Jesus adverte que as boas obras visíveis confirmam a mensagem falada e glorificam a Deus diante do mundo.
Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have become insipid, wherewith shall it be salted? It is no longer fit for anything but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot by men.(Matthew 5:13)
Ye are the light of the world: a city situated on the top of a mountain cannot be hid.(Matthew 5:14)
Nor do men light a lamp and put it under the bushel, but upon the lamp-stand, and it shines for all who are in the house. Let your light thus shine before men, so that they may see your upright works, and glorify your Father who is in the heavens.(Matthew 5:15,16)
Por que a mensagem do evangelho tem poder
A eficácia da evangelização não está na retórica ou na habilidade de quem fala, mas no conteúdo da mensagem. O apóstolo Paulo afirma que a proclamação de Cristo crucificado carrega em si o poder transformador de Deus para gerar fé no coração do ouvinte.
For I am not ashamed of the glad tidings; for it is God’s power to salvation, to every one that believes, both to Jew first and to Greek:(Romans 1:16)
So faith then is by a report, but the report by God’s word.(Romans 10:17)
For I did not judge it well to know anything among you save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.(1 Corinthians 2:2)
But I make known to you, brethren, the glad tidings which I announced to you, which also ye received, in which also ye stand, by which also ye are saved, (if ye hold fast the word which I announced to you as the glad tidings,) unless indeed ye have believed in vain.(1 Corinthians 15:1,2)
whereto he has called you by our glad tidings, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.(2 Thessalonians 2:14)
A postura do cristão ao testemunhar
Falar da fé exige equilíbrio entre clareza bíblica e mansidão. O Novo Testamento orienta que a defesa da esperança cristã seja feita com respeito, respaldada pelo amor prático entre os irmãos e pela disposição de priorizar a missão acima de interesses pessoais.
but sanctify the Lord the Christ in your hearts, and be always prepared to give an answer to every one that asks you to give an account of the hope that is in you, but with meekness and fear;(1 Peter 3:15)
By this shall all know that ye are disciples of mine, if ye have love amongst yourselves.(John 13:35)
In this is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit, and ye shall become disciples of mine.(John 15:8)
for thus has the Lord enjoined us: I have set thee for a light of the nations, that thou shouldest be for salvation to the end of the earth.(The Acts 13:47)
But I make no account of my life as dear to myself, so that I finish my course, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the glad tidings of the grace of God.(The Acts 20:24)
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach glad tidings to the poor; he has sent me to preach to captives deliverance, and to theblind sight, to send forth the crushed delivered,(Luke 4:18)
For whosoever shall desire to save his life shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s shall save it.(Mark 8:35)
Jesus answering said, Verily I say to you, There is no one who has left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, that shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time: houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions, and in the coming age life eternal.(Mark 10:29,30)
A proclamação das obras de Deus entre os povos
Tornar o Senhor conhecido não é uma ideia exclusiva da Igreja primitiva. As Escrituras mostram, desde os profetas e salmistas, o propósito contínuo de Deus de manifestar sua fidelidade e santidade a todas as nações da terra.
Give ye thanks unto Jehovah, call upon his name; make known his acts among the peoples.(Psalms 105:1)
And in that day shall ye say, Give ye thanks to Jehovah, call upon his name, declare his deeds among the peoples, make mention that his name is exalted.(Isaiah 12:4)
to whom God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you the hope of glory:(Colossians 1:27)
But do thou speak the things that become sound teaching;(Titus 2:1)
And I will magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am Jehovah.(Ezekiel 38:23)
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