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.
having gone, then, disciple all the nations, immersing them into the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all, whatever I commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days—until the full end of the age."(Matthew 28:19,20)
and He said to them, "Having gone into all the world, proclaim the good news to all the creation;(Mark 16:15)
but you will receive power at the coming of the Holy Spirit on you, and you will be witnesses for Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."(Acts 1:8)
From that time Jesus began to proclaim and to say, "Convert, for the kingdom of the heavens has come near."(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.
You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt may lose savor, in what will it be salted? It is good for nothing from now on, except to be cast outside, and to be trodden down by men.(Matthew 5:13)
You are the light of the world, a city set on a mountain is not able to be hid;(Matthew 5:14)
nor do they light a lamp and put it under the measure, but on the lampstand, and it shines to all those in the house; so let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and may 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 good news of the Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who is believing, both to Jew first, and to Greek.(Romans 1:16)
So then faith [is] by a report, and the report through a saying of God,(Romans 10:17)
for I decided not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified;(1 Corinthians 2:2)
And I make known to you, brothers, the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you also received, in which you also have stood, through which you are also being saved, if you hold fast [to] the word—what I proclaimed as good news to you—unless you believed in vain.(1 Corinthians 15:1,2)
to which He called you through our good news, to the acquiring 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 God in your hearts. And always [be] ready for defense to everyone who is asking of you an account concerning the hope that [is] in you, with meekness and fear,(1 Peter 3:15)
in this will all know that you are My disciples, if you may have love one to another."(John 13:35)
In this was My Father glorified, that you may bear much fruit, and you will become My disciples.(John 15:8)
for so the LORD has commanded us: I have set you for a light of nations—for your being for salvation to the end of the earth."(Acts 13:47)
but I make account of none of these, neither do I count my life precious to myself, so that I finish my course with joy, and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify [to] the good news of the grace of God.(Acts 20:24)
"The Spirit of the LORD [is] on Me, || Because He anointed Me || To proclaim good news to the poor, || Sent Me to heal the broken of heart, || To proclaim to captives deliverance, || And to blind receiving of sight, || To send the bruised away with deliverance,(Luke 4:18)
for whoever may will to save his life will lose it; and whoever may lose his life for My sake and for the good news’ sake, he will save it;(Mark 8:35)
And Jesus answering said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or fields, for My sake, and for the good news’, who may not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and fields, with persecutions, and in the age that is coming, continuous life;(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 thanks to YHWH—call on His Name, || Make His acts known among the peoples.(Psalms 105:1)
And you have said in that day, || Give praise to YHWH, call on His Name. Make His acts known among the peoples. Make mention that His Name is set on high.(Isaiah 12:4)
to whom God willed to make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this secret among the nations—which is Christ in you, the hope of the glory,(Colossians 1:27)
But you—speak what is suitable [according] to the sound teaching.(Titus 2:1)
And I have magnified Myself, and sanctified Myself, || And I have been known before the eyes of many nations, || And they have known that I [am] YHWH!"(Ezekiel 38:23)
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