Today is the Feast of Philip, Deacon and Evangelist. When I think
about an evangelist, evangelism, spreading the gospel, it makes me
want to apologize for the sins of evangelism. I shared my early draft
of this sermaon with some friends, and one of my friends, listening,
was very firm with me, “I’m tired of people feeling guilty for
evangelizing.” Now, I like being a Christian and I like attending
church, and I think that if more people knew about God’s love that
would be a Good Thing, but I am very uncomfortable telling you what
you should believe or how you should act. I am a fan of ambiguity and
uncertainty about matters of faith. But I am hopeful because we have
in today’s readings a model for the kind of evangelist I can be.
So, today is the Feast of Philip, Deacon and Evangelist, according to
tradition, one of seven honest men appointed to give bread and money
to the widows and poor in Jerusalem. Philip is considered the first
Deacon, the first order instituted by the early church. I like it
that the early church could find seven honest men, and I like it that
their first task was to feed the widows and the poor.
Today’s Gospel unsurprisingly is about evangelism. Christ tells the
Disciples to go out and make more disciples, to baptize, to teach.
All four Gospels include these commands and they all have Jesus
giving this command to the disciples after the crucifixion and after
the resurrection. Let’s set the scene here: Christ has died, Christ
is risen, Christ gives homework: make disciples, baptize, teach. This
isn’t ambiguous.
Philip story in Acts, is also about evangelism. In the story of his
encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch we see service and evangelism,
come together. Now this is also the part where the readings most
speak to me.
When I was in high school and could drive, I started attending church
by myself. I had no idea which church I wanted to go to. Both my
parents were seekers in their own way and I had attended numerous
churches and denominations with them. Intuitively, and likely with a
nudge from the Holy Spirit, I looked for a guide. I looked at my
classmates who I thought were really living their lives as
Christians, and I went to their church. I found a beautiful church
with a wonderfully warm and welcoming youth group.
I was looking for church as the Ethiopian was looking for answers.
The question Philip asks the Ethiopian is “Do you understand what you
are reading? Philip’s question to me would have been, “Do you know
where your going?” The Ethiopian’s answer works for me too: “How can
I unless someone guides me?” If someone asked me, if someone saw in
me what I saw in my those friends, what the Ethiopian saw in Philip,
I could be a guide. I can be that evangelist.
I was struck by another of the Ethiopian’s question, asking about the
prophet Isaiah, “Who is he talking about? Is he talking about himself
or someone else?” The passage from Isaiah is hard to hear.
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and like a lamb silent before his shearer, so he does not open his
mouth.”
It is not hard to imagine that he is identifying with the suffering
that Isaiah describes. One of the rules of many hurting families is
don’t talk about the pain you feel. For many of us, for me, our first
encounter with God’s good news is not through joy but through pain,
loss, sadness. Philip responds to the Ethiopian’s need. Philip’s role
here is simple and unobtrusive, as service ought to be. He doesn’t
give a long sermon. He makes no arrogant claims. He gives him the
larger context to the story, the Gospel story. He is the bridge
between the Ethiopian’s need and God.
I love the movement of the Holy Spirit here. Philip is brought when
the Ethiopian is ready. Philip is taken away when his work is done.
Philip’s every action is a response. Even the baptism is a response
to the Ethiopian’s request. I could do that, respond to someone’s
need. I can be that kind of evangelist.
Philip, Deacon and Evangelist--service and evangelism. Philip’s
service was his evangelism. What kind of evangelist can I be? I can
answer a question. I can walk a brief stretch of the journey with
you. I know I need those things.
So do you remember your homework--make disciples, baptize, teach?
Here’s one way to do the assignment--answer someone’s question, walk
the path with them a little ways, be a connection for them to God.
What kind of evangelist will you be?