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 and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.(Matthew 28:19,20)
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to the whole creation. (Mark 16:15)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth."(Acts 1:8)
From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."(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 has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. (Matthew 5:13)
"You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. (Matthew 5:14)
Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.(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 Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.(Romans 1:16)
So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.(Romans 10:17)
For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.(1 Corinthians 2:2)
Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.(1 Corinthians 15:1,2)
to which he called you through our Good News, for 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 God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear,(1 Peter 3:15)
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."(John 13:35)
"In this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples. (John 15:8)
For so has the Lord commanded us, saying,
‘I have set you as a light for the Gentiles,
that you should bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.’"(Acts 13:47)
But these things don’t count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which 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 has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to heal the broken hearted,
to proclaim release to the captives,
recovering of sight to the blind,
to deliver those who are crushed,(Luke 4:18)
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it. (Mark 8:35)
Jesus said, "Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News, but he will receive one hundred times more now in this time: houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecutions; and in the age to come eternal 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 Yahweh! Call on his name!
Make his doings known among the peoples.(Psalms 105:1)
In that day you will say, "Give thanks to Yahweh! Call on his name! Declare his doings among the peoples! Proclaim that his name is exalted!(Isaiah 12:4)
to whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.(Colossians 1:27)
But say the things which fit sound doctrine,(Titus 2:1)
I will magnify myself and sanctify myself, and I will make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am Yahweh."’(Ezekiel 38:23)
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