I know this sounds like something you would hear at an evangelical conference or something, but it is something I think about a lot. I blogged in the past about evangelization versus catechesis, and I think it is worth bringing up again.
I taught in the public school for three years before working at a Catholic school. I worked as a substitute teacher in a variety of rural schools. My last year as a sub, I was the full-time sub at a high school. Basically, I witnessed many kids who hadn’t even a basic understanding of Christianity, and by basic, I mean stuff that I think people should know just to be half-way literate living in our Western culture (don’t get me started about how ignorant people are!). Nonetheless, when I visit the public schools, work out at the YMCA, go to concerts, re-connect with friends from high school, etc, I am reminded how difficult it can be to reach out to non-Christians. By “reach out” I mean discuss religion in a way that is respectful but also true to my beliefs, and even evangelize. I am, by nature, a rather personable type, and sometimes I find it difficult to discuss tough religious or political issues with friends, especially when I know we will not see eye-to-eye. I can’t just say “homosexual marriage is wrong because the Church says so,” or because it is against natural law, especially when the other person’s position is the way it is because of almost entirely emotional reasons: “denying anyone the right to marry isn’t ‘nice.’” Yet, despite the difficulty, we are called to engage others, and even evangelize them, to share the good news of Christ.
I am not saying we should become out-and-out annoying wear-it-on-your-sleeves Christians who, by always talking about evangelizing, end up alienating just about everybody away from Christ (we can turn more people off than we bring in by our evangelism techniques!). I could never become this type of person anyway, because it is just counter to my personality. But let’s face it, holding to Church Teaching is not easy in current American society, and how we respond to the “unchurched” is important.
I think St. Francis’ words are applicable, that we should preach the gospel and use words if necessary. I know that my parents have been a good witness over the years by being caring and stable friends and mentors to those who had very little stability in their own lives. They model Jesus through their actions. In a society with high divorce, suicide, and depression rates, maybe one way to evangelize is to simply offer a stable, loving, and firm witness by the way we live. I get the impression that a lot of kids and adults I meet and teach know something is missing from their lives (even though most of them have every material good they could ever want), yet they can’t quite put their finger on what that is. What we offer, the good news of Christ, offers faith, hope, and love (agape) in a world filled with doubt, despair, and phony love. Maybe emphasizing the countercultural aspect of following Jesus is a good way to go too, because many people feel quite alienated by the way our culture is going.
Any thoughts?
David Bennett
Jennifer
asimplesinner
Fr. J.
Chad Toney
Jorge Flores
Jonathan B
carmelbennett
nicenehobbit
Jason S
jaybird68
papaz
June 16, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Your “How not to evangelize” click is well-written, and true.
I don’t have any ideas–everything you said above might’ve come from my own keyboard, and I’m sure that’s true for many of us. While in the parish Evangelization Team’s first effort at Disciples in Action, however, one of the (Paulists’) ideas was, after our week-long mission and with much mention in the bulletin way beforehand, to set up little Scripture study meetings in folks’ homes all through Lent (and beyond, if these groups wished to continue). We hoped to have small numbers present in each group– Catholics, perhaps fallen-away Catholics, and maybe a neighbor or two who weren’t Catholic but who would come and discuss Scripture. My gosh, we are so slow at these things, but the few “cells” of (Catholic-led) Scripture studying did go beautifully. However, we lost the priest who had begun all this for us and with us, and I think we just lost the momentum. I’ll be looking in here for any ideas, tho’. Thank you for tackling this.
June 17, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Starting a lunch-time bible study and inviting friends works. Starting a monthly topical study, say on bio-ethics works. Lay volunteers or better yet parish clergy going door to door in the parish works wonders, too.
I always find it amusing when Catholics bring up the saying of Francis on evangelization. The idea that one could remain silent and yet evangelize seems to warm some like a cup of hot tea. Missed is Francis’ point that the language of one’s life and one’s lips should be the same.
Evangelization is simple. It just takes being bold.
June 17, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Gil,
The reason I like St. Francis’ quote, even though some use it to mean “if I am nice and help people that is the same as evangelizing,” is because I have known so many Christians over the years who were all talk. They would wear their faith on their sleeve, but their lives hurt the witness. Of course none of us if perfect, but I like the Catholic emphasis on works and holiness, because works do matter (just ask people who have benefited from others’ good works and good behavior). Words obviously matter too, but it seems to me a lot of people have the word part down, sometimes the action/life part is harder to sustain (at least I know in my life this is often the case). I think Francis’ quote reminds us of that.
I think you have good ideas. I admit I am looking for good, genuine ways to evangelize the non-Christians. I admit I need work in this area, partly because I lost my faith for awhile as a Protestant in part because of ridiculous evangelism techniques I encountered.
June 17, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Your point regarding all talk evangelism is well placed. I think that all good ways to evangelize come within the context of friendship. Our evangelism isn’t a program or a technique because it is Jesus who we are introducing and the Holy Spirit who is acting. If our life gives off the sweet odor of Christ and not the stinky smell of the world only then can we be an effective witness.
June 18, 2008 at 1:03 pm
I witnessed many kids who hadn’t even a basic understanding of Christianity, and by basic, I mean stuff that I think people should know just to be half-way literate living in our Western culture… I am, by nature, a rather personable type, and sometimes I find it difficult to discuss tough religious or political issues with friends, especially when I know we will not see eye-to-eye. …especially when the other person’s position is the way it is because of almost entirely emotional reasons…
I use a somewhat pedagogical approach. I tell the person that it’s their job to convince me of their opinion rather than try to argue my point; I ask “Why?” a lot. It’s amazing how many people have never actually thought out why they hold a position; they just hold it because of some vague “feeling.” I try to elucidate it out of them by asking basic questions and trying to get them to establish first principles and define terms. If they just say that they “feel” something I say that I feel the opposite so how can they convince me that their feeling is right and mine is wrong. I basically try and guide the person into making a logical and reasoned argument for probably the first time in their life.
We should allow gay marriage.
Why?
Because not letting people get married isn’t right.
Why not?
Because it’s unfair.
How do you know it’s unfair?
Because it feels that way to me.
Feelings aren’t a reason. I feel the opposite; why are your feelings right and mine wrong?
They just are.
Let’s start from the beginning. What is marriage?
Definition (usually some vague notion involving “love”)
If that’s the case, why should the state recognize marriage at all? In what way is marriage beneficial to the state so that it should be recognized?
Huh?
This can be a very difficult and time-consuming task. Most people lack basic reasoning skills having never had to use them before. Teaching a person basic logic often takes longer than the typical half-hour conversation. Things can get especially difficult because discussing or debating most topics require a foundation in not only logical reasoning but history, political theory, ethics, etc. and most people just don’t have that. Personally, I think that Logic should be taught in Elementary School so that by the time they reach High School the kids would at least know HOW to think. This would clear up a lot of the problem.
June 19, 2008 at 1:51 pm
James G,
How very well stated. I like that technique that you demonstrated.
David,
This is a good posting (again) on the need to evangelize. We certainly need (try) to live out our lives like Christ intended, thusly showing others that it is possible to be humble, holy, and Christian in a secuular world of extreme selfishness.
Gil Garza,
Starting with friends and inviting others to study/social groups is an excellent idea.
Tito