The Greek word from which we derive “evangelism” is “evangel” meaning “good news.” Yet, today, when we hear “evangelism,” is that good news or bad news? We may think of a revival service, perhaps in the distant past, where an altar call was given.

Sometimes, our mind conjures up images of a “TV Evangelist” in a silky suit, begging for money. Other times we think of pushy doorbell ringers or people on the street who approach and ask questions about eternal destination. Unfortunately, these expressions of “evangelism” often produce a negative, distorted view of what communicating the good news or “gospel” of Jesus Christ is all about. So, let’s look at Jesus.

For Jesus, sharing the gospel, or “good news” started with who he was before it became what he did. The same is true for us. “Who” precedes “what” in authentic evangelism. “Being” precedes “doing.” Evangelism is not an isolated or compartmentalized “program” in the local church. Authentic evangelism is the sum total of who we are and how we communicate the gospel. It is our witness, in word and deed, to Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Just as Jesus embodied the gospel of the “Kingdom of God,” we are called to the same being and doing that points people to the transforming grace of Jesus Christ.

Both as individuals and congregations, who we are as representatives of Christ precedes and validates what we do as witnesses for Christ. If we don’t model authentic Christian discipleship in word and deed, our efforts to “reach people” for Christ to “evangelize” them simply do not ring true. If new people come to our church and do not experience a gracious, welcoming, healthy community of faith, they may very well keep searching for a place to connect with Christ and the church or stop looking all together. So often, “evangelism” is given a bad reputation by Christians acting badly. Far too often, our attitudes and actions discredit the presentation of the gospel to those who are not believers. We need to make sure who we are as representatives of Christ is the best “magnet” to draw people to Christ and his gospel.

Evangelism certainly takes intentional effort in the local church. The goal must be to produce authentic Christian disciples, grounded, shaped and transformed by the grace of Jesus Christ. As Robert Webber writes in Journey to Jesus, “If we are to be an evangelizing church in today’s world, we must begin with a healthy, vital body of believing, worshiping, nurturing,discipling and socially active people—a church that is the continuation of the incarnate presence of Jesus in the world—a communal embodiment of what is preached.” Evangelism at its best is both imitating and representing Christ in word and deed. It’s both “being’ and “doing.” Who we are, in Christ, precedes what we do.