“Just as the whole
economy of salvation has its center in Christ, so too all missionary activity
is directed to the proclamation of his mystery.” (JPII - Redemptoris
Missio, 44)
In its simplest form evangelization is sharing your faith with another person
either explicitly in speech or implicitly in how we live out our faith. Another
simple definition of evangelization comes from the Catechism of the Catholic
Church. It says evangelization is, “The proclamation of Christ and his Gospel
by word and the testimony of life, in fulfillment of Christ’s command.” (CCC,
905). While simple to understand at face-value, once we begin to unpack the
definition we will find that there is more to it than what appears on the
surface.
However, before we get into the different aspects of evangelization it is
important to remember that in many ways we can make evangelization too complex.
With this complexity comes inaction all too often. Jesus kept it very simple.
He called his followers to heed his words and to follow his example. This
example included evangelizing others and calling them to radical conversion
which leads to following Jesus by word and deed.
This formula of evangelistic discipleship and helping others do the same is
evangelization in its simplest form – WITNESS + PROCLAMATION = EVANGELIZATION.
Yet, the Church’s understanding of evangelization also maintains a complex
dimension. If we are to fully grasp these complexities and implement them, we
must be firmly grounded in the simplicity of the Gospel first and foremost.
Many years ago I had an exchange with a very well-educated Reformed Protestant.
We had a long history of exchanging apologetic arguments back-and-forth without
either of us giving much, if any, ground. During one of our discussions he
asked me how I understood the Gospel and he challenged me to tell him what it
was. After a deep breath and a shrug of my shoulders, I started to impart to
him a theological treatise that would bore St. Thomas Aquinas. After I was done
with my presentation of pride and wind I waited for his gratitude to come
spilling out in order to stroke my ego one more time. That isn’t quite what
happened.
He asked why I thought the gospel was so complex. He then asked how I would be
able to proclaim the good news to “all the nations” with such a long-winded and
confusing presentation on the need for Jesus, which all of us have. He also
questioned how I would be able to bring a simple uneducated person who may live
a very modest life to faith in Jesus if it took several college degrees to
understand what I was saying.
At the time, his challenge didn’t do much to change my mind, because I was too
proud to see God working through my “adversary.” Over time, though, I was found
that he was correct to challenge me. I was presenting the need for Jesus in a
much too complex manner. There is a great need to present to the gospel message
in a simple fashion. While the depths of Christianity and the understanding of
Christ and his Gospel can be infinitely deep, we must not plumb those depths at
the beginning of our evangelical efforts or we risk leaving many people behind
who are not able to understand all of what we are saying. There can be a
failure to understand that the gospel is a message of God becoming man, he
lived in time and space, and he died and rose from the dead in order to draw us
to his Father. As St. Paul tells Timothy, “This saying is trustworthy and
deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1
Tim 1:15)
May we not fail to keep this simple message of faith at the front of our minds.
The great commission is a call to all of us to heed the call to evangelize:
“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded
you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matt
28:18-20)
