Sunday, November 25, 2001


                   evangelist a "publisher of glad tidings;" a missionary preacher of the gospel (Eph. 4:11). This title is applied to Philip (Acts 21:8), who appears to have gone from city to city preaching the word (8:4, 40). Judging from the case of Philip, evangelists had neither the authority of an apostle, nor the gift of prophecy, nor the responsibility of pastoral supervision over a portion of the flock. They were itinerant preachers, having it as their special function to carry the gospel  to places where it was previously unknown. The writers  of the four Gospels are known as the Evangelists. - from Dictionary.com

               GLAD TIDINGS!  GOOD NEWS!  This is the message of an Evangelist.  As we can read from Dictionary.com's definition, the writers of the four Gospels, the Good News, were Evangelists.  These writers were not only Disciples of Jesus, but they also followed His  teachings and performed healing work.  Jesus directed them to heal, prosper and bless the masses.  This was their work and is also the work of all those called to the ministry whether they pastor a church or just teach the Good News!  Since I do not plan to pastor a church, my work fits the definition of the word Evangelist.

                In Religious Science, the term Evangelist is not used.  I am the first person, and I researched this, to use it.  Most Religious Science ministers pastor churches or do other work rather than qualify their work as teaching the Gospels or the Good News.  In this philosophy we do not "preach" instead we "teach."  There is a reason for using the term "teach" as opposed to "preach."  We can preach about things we do not know and things we cannot prove; i.e. heaven and hell as destinations and the devil as real.  But to teach, we must be able to demonstrate or prove that which we are to teach.  In other words, we must teach from "knowing" that what we teach brings results.  A math teacher must know math and be able to demonstrate this knowledge in order to teach it.  A minister of Religious Science must be able to demonstrate the principles that we teach, which are also the principles that Jesus and his Disciples demonstrated. Ministers of Religious Science are called to a Healing and Teaching work and the Healing work provides the basis for the Teaching of Religious Science.  The only way we can demonstrate our qualifications to teach is by demonstrating that which we teach, otherwise we become "preachers" who preach that which we cannot prove.  It would be like a math teacher writing on the bulletin board 4x4=13.  Everyone would know they were not qualified to teach math.  This is our great work as Religious Science ministers and teachers, to prove our work by demonstration.  In other words, we must demonstrate God.

              I have chosen to tag this work as Evangelism as this word defines the vision of this great work that God has given me.  On this web site, on the Radio Show and in my public speaking appearances, I am taking the Good News, the Gospels, and teaching "Religious Science as the Religion of Jesus."  Jesus taught every principle that we teach in Religious Science as defined by Dr. Ernest Holmes in the Science of Mind textbook.  He is the only Great Mystic that has done so and demonstrated it completely.  Jesus also taught everything that is included in Joel Goldsmith's work and  Miquel Ruiz's, "Four Agreements" and almost every other metaphysical/spiritual book of value.  Dr. Ernest Holmes, Joel Goldsmith and Miquel Ruiz have just restated Jesus' teachings in a different way.  But the teachings are the same.  Jesus demonstrated them completely - Dr. Holmes, Joel Goldsmith and Miquel Ruiz have demonstrated them to a great measure but not to the degree of Jesus, of course, which is why he is called the Master Teacher and to some their Savior.  Jesus taught "consciousness" but most people do not understand this since the "preachers" of the past have taught that He was our Savior, rather than our Teacher.  In fact, he is our Savior in that his teachings can "save us" from experiencing much of the miseries of the world.

          Religious Science credits Jesus with the technique of Spiritual Mind Treatment, also known as, Scientific Prayer, which is the most effective method of prayer known to the world.  But the masses of people who do not understand "consciousness" do not bother to study Scientific Prayer or the principles that Jesus taught, because they are waiting for Him to "Save" them or they have "accepted" that what He did they cannot do.  Jesus stated, "these things I do and greater things still shall you do."  I think this is worth investigating, don't you?

            The Good News in the Gospels is not what Jesus did or what the Disciples did, but that we too, can learn to do those things and greater things still.  But first, we have to understand the principles that Jesus taught.  Teaching these principles is the work of an Evangelist, someone who brings the Good News!

              Beginning next week, we will look at the principles that Jesus taught that are outlined in both the Bible and the Science of Mind textbook.  We may even throw in a little of Joel Goldsmith and Miquel Ruiz's Four Agreements just to make it interesting.  As we become acquainted with the foundation of these principles, we can begin to Heal, Prosper and Bless, ourselves, each other, and the world that we live in!

                  
 And So It Is!             
                                                            
Letting Love use me in Its own Good Way,
Henry Lee Bates