Friends,

I can write about how we need to stay focused but I can't stay focused. I've done too much research on Venezuela. I didn't watch the video of Renee Nicole Good's death.

I've been on medicare for 8 days and spent 2 hours getting the information into one of my health care providers computer systems. Along the way I had to promise to pay out-of-pocket if it doesn't go through.

At the same time, the skiing is great. The sky is clear. It's tough to find our footing in this time and place. I trust that God is near.

-Liz

Share the Good News!

Christians are obligated to share the good news. Evangelism.

Now that you've made all your arguments against "obligations" and "evangelism" I'll expand. First of all, evangelism means "sharing good news". The evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) shared the good news by writing down the story of Jesus. But good news is literally, news that is good for the person hearing it.

Good news is dinner for the hungry, healing for the sick, standing up for the immigrant, welcome for the non-binary. It is non-violence in a violent world. It is insisting on truth. It is care for the poor and changes to the systems that oppress our neighbors.

Jesus describes the good news in Mark 1 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15). By the end of the chapter he has healed people, sent away demons, and called disciples, all examples of good news.

(You will notice there were no theological principals offered, or required.)

Is evangelism required? An obligation? In our more liberal churches we avoid too many requirements for our faith. And indeed, Paul reminds us that it is not our actions that save us, but simply our trust/faith in God. At the same time James' letter suggests that "faith without works is dead."

In his book Evangelism, Bryan Stone suggests that the most important the church can do as a purveyor of good news is to be distinctly different than the world around it. To stand out as a an organization. To take on what others don't take on.

I propose that evangelism happens when we take a stand, and do the right thing, and do it in public so that others can see it.

It is not something we do because we want to be known, or want to new members, or want to feel good. We do what we do because it is needed by the people of the world. We share good news out of love.

And in this time and place, we have all of the usual ways to share good news with food pantries and discretionary funds and second-hand shops. We have all the usual needs to proclaim good news about ending oppression and care for those who are set-aside by society.

And we also have the opportunity to simply declare a vision of what should be true. Black lives should matter. Immigrants should get due process. Police should not shoot unarmed people. Armies should not kill civilians. International law should be followed. Government officials should not get booty from nations they have attacked. Everyone deserves health care, food, and housing.

Our challenge as church is to find our voice. We must continue our direct service ministries. We must continue to work to change systems. And we must proclaim the truths that are good news.

What is your church doing, or thinking about doing these days? How are you being here in your particular place? Just reply to this email to let me know what's happening. ​
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Riverside Church in NYC and Episcopal Divinity School offers MLK NOW 2026 on January 18, 11 am to 4:30 pm. Worship, Lunch (for sale), and programming. Join me! (Registration required for all but worship.)

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Amy Grant offers The 6th Of January (Yasgur's Farm), her reflections on what we lost on January 6. Moving! (4:10)

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