The Ethics of Evangelism

By Bob McEvoy - Posted at The Salty Scrivener:

Text. Matthew 10:8b-15

Jesus has called his disciples, and now they get some really practical good advice for ministry, part of their ‘Seminary Evangelism Module’ – and its not just good advice for them, but for us also as we seek to represent the Saviour in this godless world.

1. Wisdom in Accounting.
If there’s anything that causes scandal in the church it’s MONEY.

• Ministry is a ‘Not for Profit’ exercise. Freely you have received, freely give One doesn’t become a minister to earn a living, despite the fact that there are some denominations that pay their ministers exceedingly well – our salvation was a free gift, and while we are warned here that a labourer is worthy of his hire, we are never to charge people to hear the gospel, never to turn ministry into a ‘good living for a living.’
• Evangelism doesn’t employ bribery. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts,. You won’t need your money! Encouraging people to seek wealth and prosperity doesn’t cure souls or build the church spiritually. Evangelism is addressing the soul, not the wallet.
• Evangelists are not to have an outward appearance of prosperity. 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs. It’s not a good witness for the evangelist to appear to be outwardly ostentatious. They weren’t to have the trappings of wealth, 2 coats, etc. No private jet, no limo, no mansion, … And yet,
• Workers are not to starve. for a worker is worthy of his food. Despite all of that, there is a balance to be struck. While the person who goes out in the name of the Lord is not to be wealthy, not to be greedy, not to have his heart set on worldly gain, – he is not to be hungry! The last thing a Christian worker needs is to be worried about how he’s going to pay for the next meal. There is a fine balance!
Now, not only are we to be wise in our attitude to money, but we also need:-

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