I see a couple schools of thought here on the evangelist thing. I am one who is very much into dimensional understanding. We've commented in the past that all are at different levels, or stages of relationship with Christ. For me, there are three major categories. It stems from the tabernacle. There were three veils, there are three compartments to the tabernacle in the outer court, inner court and holy of holies.
Outer court is illuminated by "natural" light. For me, it's the infancy stage of the Christian walk. The altar of sacrifice and the laver are the only two articles stationed in the outer court. They represent initial salvation and baptisms. It's the elementary, or introductory level of relationship to the Father through Christ.
Next step is in the inner court, also called the holy place. It is here where the priests maintain the fire, bread and constant burning of incense. It's all about ministry. It's the priests responsibility to keep the bread fresh, the wine full, the wicks trimmed and the fires burning. They had to gather specific ingredients for the incense. They had to grind it, measure it and use it only for this specific ministry. But the emphasis all through this is on ministry. For me, this is where the evangelists come into play.
It's where all of our church activities come into play. Our programs, our conventions, our counseling, youth groups, sunday schools, choirs, witnessing, educating, teaching, preaching . . . every church related ministry originates from this realm, from this level of relationship with the Father.
But there's a whole other realm of God we're actually called to that few people ever truly experience. And that's the holy of holies. When we're "in" God's presence, there is absolute rest. There is no more emphasis on ministry in this arena. This is where some of you are being overwhelmed by personal revelation that is replacing what you "thought" you knew and understood about God. Truth always overwhelms knowledge because it can't be learned or taught. It can only be revealed by God and received by us. And it all takes place in the holy of holies of God.
However, having said that, there is still a need for all the 2nd dimensional ministries listed above, including evangelists. I would never tell someone to stop exercising the anointing God has given them. There are still people out there who still need elementary teaching, who still depend on ministry activity and it's all still necessary.
But my personal concern is with the churches that build boundaries in the 2nd dimension and call it the 3rd. They call it the holy of holies, but all the while, they continue in their emphasis of ministry activity. It's not that it should stop, but it's the emphasis and motivation of it that should mature into something deeper than what it is.
Okay, that's the first school of thought . .the other is a bit shorter. And it would still be "yes, we still need evangelists" in the sense that "we" are the evangelists. But we're not the traditional evangelists that are to go out and pound the streets and claim the world is going to hell unless they turn to Christ. Our message is literally good news. It's to pronounce resurrection, it's to raise the awareness in others that salvation is unconditional.
Whether they choose Christ now or not, the power of the cross has gone beyond the reaches of the mind of men's consciousness and we've been wholly and fully redeemed to the Father. The day of the Sabbath has come and grace is manifesting to us all. When you tell a person that the price is already paid and nothing is required of them, no admission of guilt, sin, or death is necessary. That their final destination is not a place of destruction or eternal torment and this is not a hoax.
When they begin to see the light in that, it will soften their hearts to where accepting Christ will be a natural response rather than a forced one out of intimidation and fear.
Either way, evangelists are still needed.
