Foreigners As Located Evangelists In Mexico
The apostle Paul told Timothy to do the work of an evangelist. (2 Timothy 4:1-5). Paul in this passage is telling Timothy that he, as a preacher has a work to be done within the church. He is not conferring any title on him. He is not putting him in charge of the church. He is teaching him that the evangelist of the church has a work to do.
I. EVANGELIST MEANS PROCLAIMER OF GOOD NEWS. The work of an evangelist refers to a definite work. Eph. 4:11, because he is to help in the perfecting of the saints (Eph. 4:12). Philip in Acts 21:8 had been designated as an evangelist. Timothy, as stated above in II Tim. 4:5 was commanded by Paul to do the work of an evangelist, All passages of the New Testament dealing with evangelists conclude that an evangelist has a WORK to do and there is not a title, or a position of importance attached to this great job that must be done. We do not denominationalize the job by becoming a "pastor" or being considered as part of the clergy, because the church the Lord established is not a denomination, nor are his servants members of any clergy or clerical system whatsoever. We can easily conclude from our text that if an evangelist is not doing the work of an evangelist, but persists in using the title, he then, is not a New Testament evangelist, but some other kind.
II. WHAT IS THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST? Philip proclaimed Christ publicly and privately whenever there was opportunity. (Acts 8:12,38.) Timothy, a New Testament evangelist preached the Word, reproved, rebuked, and exhorted his hearers in the Word of God. (2 Tim. 4:1-2). Titus, also a New Testament evangelist was commissioned by Paul to complete the organization of New Testament churches by ordaining elders in each congregation (Tit. 1:5). Titus was to rebuke them sharply that they would be sound in the faith (Tit. 1:13). He was to edify and indoctrinate the church, (Titus 2:1-5). An evangelist is to perpetuate the Gospel by teaching others who would also faithfully teach it, (2 Tim. 2:2), who would do the work of evangelists. A New Testament evangelist gives his full time to reading, exhortation and doctrine. He meditates on spiritual things and gives himself wholly to them. (I Tim. 4:13,15). He is to warn the people against the danger of apostasy. (I Tim. 4: 1-6). A faithful evangelist protects the church from false teachers. (I Tim.1:3). He assists in building local churches,(I Tim. 1:3), because Timothy tarried at Ephesus and Paul left Titus to do a job in Crete. (Titus 1:5). In a nut shell, the work of a New Testament evangelist is to preach the Word (II Tim. 4:2); guard the faith (I Tim. 6:20-21); and apply the Word of truth, the Holy Scriptures to all people, in all places, and under all conditions as it is needed, in order that the Lord might be glorified and that men might be saved. (II Tim. 2:15)
A New Testament evangelist is not a member of the clergy, because the clergy is foreign to New Testament teaching, nor is he in charge of the church or churches where he labors from time to time. The only authority he has is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all of his might, without fear or favor. He doesn't even have the authority to make people obey and keep Christ's laws. He can only inform those who will listen to him. If they won't listen to the Word, he is to shake off the dust of his feet and move on to where he can be heard.
III. WHAT ABOUT FOREIGNERS DOING EVANGELISTIC WORK IN MEXICO? Mexican law states that only people born in Mexico can enjoy certain rights and privileges in that country. However, an evangelist's first responsibility is unto God, rather than man. (Acts 5:29).
A North American, a Presbyterian, was imprisoned for seven years for selling Bibles on the streets in Mexico, A North American preacher, from one of the liberal churches, was deported, simply because contrary to Mexican law and through ignorance of the law on his part, he was acting in the capacity of a "located" minister. Actually, according to Mexican law, about the only right a foreigner has in Mexico is to be a visitor or a tourist.
Regarding our work along the far western U.S. - MEXICO BORDER, as foreigners in Mexico, my wife and I are members of the San Luis R. C. Sonora, Mexico, church at 1608 16th of September Avenue. We live just across the international border at San Luis, Arizona, USA. We support this church with our means, our talents and our influence. Marvel teaches children and I preach and teach publicly in the building, as well as hold meetings in other churches in Mexico and all up and down the U. S. -MEXICO border. We both are fluent in the Spanish language and use it in our teaching. We do this with permission of the local church and at the church's invitation. We are not Missionaries as such, to Mexico. I am NOT in "charge" of anything. Of the five male members in the San Luis R. C. Sonora Mexico church, four of us preach. The other male being a teen-ager of 14 years. Since this church is now in her own building, Mexican law states that the building, property, and fixtures be inventoried and registered over to the Mexican government, and that there must be some one (a Mexican citizen by birth), responsible, a representative of the local church, who is accountable for the property to the government. Brother Luis Trevino, a fine young men of 21 years, from Reynosa Tamps, Mexico began work here in January 1966 by invitation of the local church. By Mexican law, Bro. Trevino is the preacher (the one responsible to the government). My wife and I are not recognized as public teachers either by the churches in Mexico or by the government of Mexico, but as "visitors." In the church I am considered as only another member, all equal in God's sight, doing his part in the Kingdom of Christ, nothing more. Brother Luis Trevino, as mentioned above, is "the preacher" for this church and is personally responsible and accountable to the government as the local church's representative. I have no authority here whatsoever except what Divine law allows, and that is to preach the Gospel to the very limit of my ability, which I have been doing in Mexico since 1954. I can not go from house to house passing out Gospel literature since I am a foreigner, without violating the law. Both native Mexicans as well as foreigners are forbidden by law to preach "live" on the radio. Only under certain conditions can it be preached by "tape", and not then if the station owner is a Roman Catholic.
In the faithful little churches in Mexico all up and down the far western U. S. -MEXICO border there is no clergy system. All brethren are equal in their sight as well as in God's sight, which is the way it should be everywhere. When support doesn't come, like Paul, we all work with our hands at our "tent making", which is honorable as well as scriptural, and should not be frowned on by preachers in other places who have been blessed with full support in a country that can't even begin to know the meaning of hunger, sickness, and suffering, as contrasted to a country that has been under the domination of the teachings of the Roman Catholic church for over 400 years. Pray for the churches in Mexico. Pray for the native evangelists in Mexico. Finally, pray for the visitors in Mexico.
P. O. Box 641 San Luis, Arizona USA-85349