And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). The words "all" and "every" are all-inclusive. This is total evangelism. Christ is for the world. The world is His. He made it. He has redeemed it. The world must know it. "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matt. 24:14). Christ must be preached to "every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" (Rev. 14:6). It is significant that, wherever the gospel is preached the world over, adherents are won. The seed springs up. "But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him" (Acts 10:35).
1. Total Vision
A church that would evangelize the world must have total vision. It cannot consider "any man common or unclean" (Acts 10:28). It must recognize that there are no racial or social barriers to the gospel; in Christ there is neither "Jew nor Greek, ... bond nor free" (Gal. 3:28). It must believe that He "hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth" (Acts 17:26). It must accept the dignity of all men before God and their possibilities through His grace.
Men who manifest a superior attitude or who depreciate other people suffer a corresponding loss of influence with those people. This fact must be faced or progress of the gospel will be forever hindered. The millions of Africa and Asia can be moved. But it will be by men who truly love them. Christ at the well of Samaria demonstrated His contempt for the "iron curtain" of racial prejudice. He flouted tradition by conversing with a Samaritan woman. This shocked the disciples (John 4:27). But He knew that they could never become world evangelists without "total vision." Nor can we!
2. Total Effort
We cannot achieve total evangelism without total application of all our resources, both individual and denominational. When Christ called Peter and Andrew, they became men who were totally committed. "And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him" (Mark 1:18). All that was theirs was His. They were His, to spend and be spent. Such commitment involves (a) time, (b) talent, and (c) finance.
Time
To everyone is given the talent of time. Probationary time is short; therefore our time of service is brief. The gospel minister is available twenty-four hours a day. For him, there can be no eight-hour work day. "We have no time to lose. The powers of darkness are working with intense energy, and with stealthy tread Satan is advancing to take those who are now asleep, as a wolf taking his prey. We have warnings now which we may give, a work now which we may do, but soon it will be more difficult than we imagine. . . . The Lord is coming...We hear the footsteps of an approaching God, as He comes to punish the world for its iniquity."—Evangelism, pp. 218, 219.
Talent
"God bestows various talents and gifts upon men, not that they may lie useless, nor that they may be employed in amusements or selfish gratification, but that they may be a blessing to others by enabling men to do earnest, self-sacrificing missionary work."---Ibid., p. 266.
Finance
A man's treasure will follow his heart. A worker cannot withhold his tithes and offerings and at the same time persuade others to give freely of their means. "Our heavenly Father bestows gifts and solicits a portion back, that He may test us whether we are worthy to have the gift of everlasting life."—Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 408. Total evangelism involves total giving.
Organizationally, the effort of the church must be total. All of its agencies must be evangelistic. All energies must be bent toward the winning of souls. The resources of the church are many; all of its departments have their definite evangelistic function. This is total effort.
3. Total Effect
The total effect of total vision and total effort empowered by the Spirit of God is the enlightenment of the earth. "And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory" (Rev. 18:1). From the sun-swept boulevards to the trash-littered alleys of our major cities, the message goes. In mansion and mud hut it is heard. "The earth" is "lightened." Not city by city, but creature by creature. The light of the gospel will blanket the earth like fallen snow. "Hundreds and thousands were seen visiting families, and opening before them the Word of God. Hearts were convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit, and a spirit of genuine conversion was manifest. On every side doors were thrown open to the proclamation of the truth. The world seemed to be lightened with the heavenly influence."—Evangelism, p. 699.
There is great need for the spirit of evangelism to motivate all the activities of the church —its laity and its ministry. Our watchword must be "Evangelize!"
