Apparently evangelicals are confused about evangelism.

In the GQ article "George W.'s Personal Jesus," Guy Lawson tells of Bush's "coming to Jesus" which took place in Midland, Texas on April 3, 1984. In telling this story, Lawson includes quotes from the man that was with Bush when he "received Jesus Christ as his personal savior," Arthur Blessitt.

Bush wrote an autobiography in 2000, A Charge to Keep, which detailed many of his significant spiritual experiences. However, the book does not say anything about the events of April 3, 1984. Lawson asked Blessitt why this event was not included in Bush's book, and Blessitt said he did not know. Then he followed with this statement:

It is a phenomenon inside the evangelical world for people not to talk about Jesus to outsiders.

I had to read that three more times to make sure it said what I thought it said. See, although I have already admitted that I do not consider myself to be an evangelical, which means I am no expert on the subject, I thought that the whole point of evangelism was to talk about Jesus to "outsiders" in order to bring the Gospel to them! It is rather difficult to bring the Gospel to people who do not know about it if one does not talk about Jesus.

Given that I am no expert on being an evangelical, I decided it would be a good idea to try to find some reliable information on the matter. A good reference point is found at Religious Tolerance.org, and several of the sources I cite herein I originally found at that site. According to this February 11, 2005 article from the Chicago Sun Times,

A widely accepted definition comes from British historian David Bebbington, who says evangelicalism has four hallmarks, namely beliefs that: lives need to be changed, the gospel needs to be actively spread, and the Bible should be held in unique regard, as well as an emphasis on the sacrifice Jesus Christ made, dying on the cross to atone for the sins of humankind.

(emphasis added). Next, I offer first this excerpt from a book review by Ron Maness of Guarding the Holy Fire: The Evangelicalism of John R.W. Stott, J.I. Packer, and Alister McGrath by Roger Steer:

So, first: what is an evangelical? Alister McGrath, perhaps the most prolific author among the current generation of Anglican evangelicals, lists the following four key elements: “1) A focus, both devotional and theological, on the person of Jesus Christ, especially his death on the cross; 2) The identification of Scripture as the ultimate authority in matters of spirituality, doctrine, and ethics; 3) An emphasis upon conversion or ‘a new birth’ as a life-changing religious experience; and 4) A concern for sharing faith, especially through evangelism.”

(emphasis added). Joseph Tkach of the World Church of God (which is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals and not at all what it once was) also cites McGrath:

Alister McGrath, an evangelical Anglican, offered six major distinctives of evangelical Christianity: 1) The supreme authority of Scripture, 2) Jesus Christ as incarnate God, 3) the Holy Spirit, 4) personal conversion, 5) evangelism, and 6) the importance of the Christian community[.]

(emphasis added). Ah, but what is evangelism? The online BELIEVE Religious Information Source has an extensive discussion of the subject. Here is part of that discussion:

A comprehensive definition of evangelism came out of the International Congress on World Evangelization (1974). According to the Lausanne Covenant, "To evangelize is to spread the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins and was raised from the dead according to the Scriptures, and that as the reigning Lord he now offers the forgiveness of sins and the liberating gift of the Spirit to all who repent and believe. Our Christian presence in the world is indispensable to evangelism, and so is that kind of dialogue whose purpose is to listen sensitively in order to understand. But evangelism itself is the proclamation of the historical, biblical Christ as Saviour and Lord, with a view to persuading people to come to him personally and so be reconciled to God. In issuing the gospel invitation we have no liberty to conceal the cost of discipleship.

(emphasis added). From the foregoing, it seems that 1) a person cannot be an evangelical without evangelizing, and 2) not talking about Jesus with "outsiders" is not evangelizing.

Other sources confirm the preceding sentence. Columnist Cal Thomas--that would be "very conservative and evangelical Christian" Cal Thomas--puts the matter thusly:

An evangelical Christian is one who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and who has repented of sin and accepted Jesus as his or her savior. The evangelical believes he has the privilege and obligation to share the "good news" that Jesus came to save sinners with others so they might go to heaven rather than hell.

(emphasis added). The Religious Tolerance.org page says that "Barna Research Ltd....is the main Evangelical polling organization in the U.S." Actually, it is now Barna Research Group and is one of five divisions of The Barna Group. Part of Barna's definition of "evangelical" is a belief in "a personal responsibility to share their religious beliefs about Christ with non-Christians."

As a result of the foregoing definitions, I am amazed that, according to Blessitt, "It is a phenomenon inside the evangelical world for people not to talk about Jesus to outsiders." That violates one of the intrinsic elements of being an evangelical.

Scripture also shows that the Gospel is to be spread to "outsiders." In the NRSV translation, Paul says in Romans 10:12-15

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on Him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent?

(emphasis added). He follows with these words from Romans 15:20-21:

Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news, not where Christ has already been named...but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him shall see, and those who have never heard of him shall understand.”

(emphasis added). And Paul gives these instructions in Colossians 4:2-6:

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time pray for us as well that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison, so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should. Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.

(emphasis added).

So there you have it. According to 1) the definitions of "evangelical" and "evangelism" from evenagelicals themselves, and 2) Paul's letters (which are part of Holy Scripture and thus part of the infallible, authoritative Word of God according to evangelicals), the "phenomenon" described by Blessitt is the antithesis of being an evangelical.