Relationship of Evangelism to the Holy Spirit - Centering on the Lausanne Covenant’s Evangelism Definition

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to study the relationship of evangelism to the Holy Spirit. All learning begins from definition. Because the definition makes exact understanding of the learning possible and applicable methods and strategies in practical life being drawn. So does the evangelism. Many scholars have defined what evangelism is so far. The best of them is the definition of evangelism in the Lausanne Covenants 1974 as is generally known. It helps us grasp properly the essence of biblical evangelism. When we make sense of evangelism, one of the most overlooked factors is that the starting point of evangelism is the Trinity, not human beings. God the Father was to send his son into the world for humanity’s redemption, God the Son was voluntarily to come into the world for the fulfillment of redemption, God the Holy Spirit was to apply salvation to sinners. Thus, evangelism is closely related with the Spirit. In these settings, the researcher inquired into what role the Holy Spirit played in each of three phases of ‘presence’ (P­1), ‘proclamation’ (P­2), and ‘persuasion’ (P­3), which they were significant terms in regard to the definition of evangelism the Lausanne Covenant defined. For this, each of three chapters begins with the meaning of P­1, P­2, and P­3 on details, and then analyzed how the Spirit has an effect on evangelists and hearers in each stage of them. In this respect, this article would have some implications. To begin with, we can reveal clearly what evangelism is or not. Secondly, Holiness is the best strategy for evangelism when we consider the crucial role of the Holy Spirit in each step. Thirdly, the necessity of evangelism based on relationship, as the way and strategy of evangelism, will be emphasized more. Fourth, we can avoid the risks of viewing evangelism and social involvement as a black and white issue because words and deeds are complementarily entangled in evangelism. Finally, evangelism, in a sense, is the process including three phases (3­P).