Question: “Should only those evangelize who have received the gift of the evangelist (Eph 4:11)?”
Answer: It is indeed sometimes said that evangelism is not the task of every Christian. Based on 2 Timothy 4:5, it is argued that you cannot say to a butcher, for example, “Do the work of a gardener”. The bottom line is that only those who are specially gifted by the Holy Spirit have the task of evangelizing.
In my opinion, this cannot be right. If we pursue this idea consistently, it would also have to mean this:
- Should only those who have the appropriate gift give help (1 Cor. 12:28)?
- Should only those who have the appropriate gift serve (Rom. 12:7)? Answer: Gal. 5:13
- Should only those with the appropriate gift teach (1 Cor. 12:28)? This would mean that parents would have to refer their children who have questions about a passage of Scripture to a teacher, and husbands who are not gifted in teaching would not teach their wives when they ask questions (1 Cor. 14:35).
- Should only those who have the gift be shepherds of one another (Eph. 4:11)? Answer: Heb. 10:24
- Should only those who have the gift show mercy (Rom. 12:8)? Answer: 1 Pet. 3:8
- Should only those who have the gift give (Rom. 12:8)? Answer: 2Cor. 9:7
- Should only an evangelist like Philip (Acts 21:8) evangelize because he has the gift? Are not parents, for example, the “chief evangelists” of their children, regardless of their gift?
These few examples show that these activities can be carried out by those who have neither a special gift nor a special commission. It is true, of course, that the Lord sovereignly distributes individual gifts and emphases in ministry, thereby defining areas of responsibility. However, I do not believe that this means that other believers can withdraw from these activities and then sit back.
In all things, it is important to ask the Lord to show us where the focus of our tasks lies. And yet we can all be ready and willing to serve the Lord in any way we can. We want to be balanced: Not everyone will be able to preach the Gospel in public or have conversations at the book table, and that’s OK because the Lord sovereignly equips. But witnessing to neighbors and schoolmates or handing out a tract here and there – we can all do that.
By the way: Bible verses like 2 Corinthians 3:3; Philippians 2:15.16; and 1 Pet. 3:15 apply to all Christians!