One minister recently claimed that if he had a hundred million dollars he could "win the world." A Christian writer at one time stated that the Kingdom of God can move only as money is provided. These two incidents give us some idea of the blind proselytizing that characterizes the work of the ministry.

The idea of "church growth" is to get as many people into a building as possible regardless of the calling of the Lord or the growth of the individual in Christ. The concept of sowing the seed of the Kingdom is not always present. The worth of the church is measured by the number of heads present on Sunday morning.

Every sincere, experienced believer knows it is impossible to judge the worth of an assembly of believers by the number of members. Still the "numbers game" continues to be played with very few exceptions.

The Lord said He would build His Church. The Lord adds to the Church daily such as should be saved.

Sometimes there is work for us to do. Timothy was charged to "do the work of an evangelist" (II Timothy 4:5). But every gift and ministry must be guided by the Lord. If it is not, the product is worthless in the Kingdom of God. The Book of Acts reveals clearly that Paul was guided in all he did.

After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. (Acts 16:7)

For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. (Acts 18:10)

Of special importance is the understanding that the purpose of the present age, the Church Age, is to call out and build up the Body of Christ. Some passages of Scripture inform us that when the Lord perfects a remnant of saints He will appear with them. At that time many nations of people will come to the Lord.

The evangelist is one of the major ministries of the Body of Christ. The goal of the evangelist during the Church Age is to recruit new members for the Body of Christ. He is one of those who builds up the Body in this sense.

In a larger sense, all members of the Body are "evangelists." To evangelize is to bring the "good news" to those around us. Each member of the Body by means of his or her unique gift, whether giving, making intercession, being helpful, teaching, administrating, "evangelizes" in the sense of helping bring the good news to other people.

It is important, when discussing the role of evangelism during the Church Age, to recognize the difference between evangelizing and witnessing. Formal evangelizing is the process of leading those people whom God has called, His elect, to a belief in Christ so they may receive the forgiveness of their sins. The candidates for salvation are then to repent and be baptized in water.

Witnessing, on the other hand, is the act of revealing the Person and will of God. Each member of the Body of Christ is to be a witness to the heavens and the earth of the Person, will, way, and coming Kingdom of God.

To be continued.