Today, I decided to take a break from some of my summer "project reading," and read one of the books I received at Together for the Gospel (2010). For whatever reason, I choose Mack Stiles' Marks of the Messenger, a book written as somewhat of a follow up to his Speaking of Jesus. Marks of the Messenger defines "basic ideas that make up healthy evangelism before we ever share our faith" (112). In so doing, Stiles gives us an highly approachable, brief book (122 pages plus notes), so its well oriented to almost any Christian (perhaps a middle school reading level and up). Below are some of the quotes I found most helpful as I worked through Marks of the Messenger this afternoon and evening. These quotes are good, and I hope they inspire you to read the book, but be reminded that these quotes are only as effective as intended (many times more effective than in isolation) when read in their full contexts. On meeting both spiritual and physical needs (a false dichotomy?): So, is caring for others 'the gospel'? Is that evangelism? No, not without the spoken message of the gospel of Jesus. The gospel message is the message that produces salvation. So we should never confuse meeting physical needs with sharing the gospel. Caring for others represents the gospel, it upholds the gospel, it points to the gospel, it's an implication of the gospel, but it is not the gospel, and it is not equal to the gospel (68-69).
On boldness in presenting the gospel: Boldness is not a lack of fear. It is faith in something bigger than our fears so that we appear fearless (82).
On the church living the gospel through loving for each other: For all the work that is put into evangelistic outreach and all the training that goes into personal evangelism and the method of evangelism, for all the books that are written about apologetics, Jesus commissions genuine believers to exhibit Godlike unity so that the world may believe that God sent Jesus [John 13 and 17] (105).
The last chapter of the book offers a Manifesto for Healthy Evangelism which basically restates and summarizes the whole book into a couple pages. You can read the manifesto, and a little more, at Google Books; I strongly recommend doing so.
Semper Reformanda
