Don’t be a “Harold!”

When the angels appeared in the night sky to proclaim the good news of Christ’s birth, they didn’t just put on a grand show—they gave believers a clear blueprint for evangelism. Like the angels, every Christian is called to be a herald of Good News.

In that old English word—herald—we discover both the beauty of our calling and the common misconceptions surrounding evangelism.

Who is “Harold”?

In the popular Christmas hymn “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” we encounter a word rarely used in modern conversation. Many Christians have heard the amusing story of a Sunday School child who, after singing the hymn, innocently asks the teacher, “Who is Harold?”

Allow me to introduce you to him—or at least, what he represents.

In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus commissions His followers:

“[Jesus] said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’” (Mark 16:15)

Many believers assume they are off the hook here, thinking only pastors or trained ministers are qualified to “preach.” However, looking closer at the original Greek text, the word often translated as “preach” (kerysso) is much more accurately translated as to herald.

A herald is simply a messenger—like a royal ambassador sent ahead to let a city know the king is arriving. The Apostle Paul saw himself as an appointed herald, apostle, and teacher called to proclaim Christ’s resurrection (2 Tim. 1:11). Jesus instructs all His disciples to be heralds of the exact same message: “The Kingdom of God is near.”

In Christ, every believer receives this invitation and solemn charge. Yet, many of us contemplate the invitation, freeze up, and fail to RSVP. When we let fear, busyness, or self-doubt take over, we stop acting like heralds and start acting like “Harold.”

5 Marks of a “Harold”

How do you know if you’re slipping into a “Harold” mindset when it comes to sharing your faith?

1. Focusing on winning arguments instead of winning souls: A “Harold” tends to debate to prove a point rather than demonstrate Christ’s love.
2. Writing off hard hearts: A “Harold” assumes hardened hearts are “unconvertible” and gives up too quickly.
3. Getting consumed by busyness: A “Harold” gets wrapped up in the noise of daily life and loses sight of the eternal reality that people need a Savior.
4. Fearing human disapproval: A “Harold” is overly worried about offending others or what people will think of them.
5. Staying on the sidelines: A “Harold” feels isolated in their anxiety, letting fear keep them quiet and inactive.

Embracing the Call

In an increasingly dark world, God is inviting us to shine like the angels on that night in Bethlehem. He is providing a stage for believers to joyfully and confidently share the message of salvation.

A well-known business axiom says, “You can’t sell what you don’t believe.” When we struggle to trust God’s promises, our sinful nature tempts us to pull back and act like “Harold.” But when we rest fully in Christ’s forgiveness and know our standing is secure in His righteousness, our hearts overflow with gratitude—and our speech naturally overflows with praise. In Christ, we share what we truly believe. Let’s leave “Harold” behind and be heralds of the King!