December 23, 2008 | In: Lay Vocation, Society, Worldviews
Need for Catholic Evangelization
I just had a humbling, eye-opening experience. My family delivered gifts for Project Angel Tree, an evangelical program that helps prison inmates purchase Christmas gifts for their children. As an evangelical program, they asked us to use the opportunity to share the Gospel with the families to whom we bring the gifts and, if the door opens, to lead them to Christ.
When we got to each home, the families welcomed us warmly, gratefully accepted the gifts, and conversed with us freely. Then, my wife asked (as nonchalantly as possible), “Are you involved with any of the churches in the area?” Immediately, a wall went up. The suspicion was palpable. I could almost here the thought, “So, here’s the catch. This is why you’re being so nice. You’re trying to get me to join your religion. I knew nobody would be so generous without an ulterior motive.” Jodi felt it too. After a hesitant answer, “N . . . no. We’ve always meant to, but . . .I’m not really into the church thing just now,” Jodi replied, “Well, part of what we’re here for is to be sure you know about the greatest Gift of Christmas.” We then gave them a gift of age-appropriate Catholic books for the children and the conversation moved on.
By the end of our visit, the families were invariably comfortable with us again, but I left with an uneasy feeling. As Catholics, my wife and I should have known how to evangelize, but we should also have known how to evangelize like Catholics.
When most of us think of “evangelizing,” we think of the evangelical version. “Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Would you like to pray to accept Him into your heart?” For most evangelicals, once such a prayer is said, it’s job done. Such a version of evangelization is foreign to Catholics, but sharing the Gospel and leading people to the faith should not be. Catholics know that faith is not about a single choice. It is about an ongoing relationship with Jesus through His Church. Catholic evangelization is about establishing a relationship with a person and bringing Jesus into that relationship. Catholics don’t use acts of charity as an opportunity to make new members. Acts of charity speak of Christ in themselves — they are the message. We establish a real relationship through acts of charity and Christ becomes part of that relationship.
I felt badly about doing such a poor job evangelizing, but perhaps without reason. Our act of charity spoke volumes to the families that we visited. Our personal conversation, getting to know each other, established a relationship. By telling the families that we were there as Christians, we told them that God is love. Perhaps an ongoing relationship would be possible with one or more of the families, and through that relationship the family could come to know Christ.
The experience made me reflect on how we respond to our culture. This Christmas has had an unprecedented number of attacks on Christianity. From the “There is no God” sign put up by Freedom from Religion in Washington to the “Pink Nativity” featuring to Joseph figures and two Mary figures put up by homosexual activists, there has been plenty for Catholics to react to.
But what is the best response to a culture that has not only rejected Christianity, but views it with suspicion? We have been for too long coasting on our existing infrastructure, promoting the faith among the faithful and engaging in battle against those who would upset the cultural Christian status-quo. Not that we should stop doing these things, but they do nothing to speak to our culture. If more Catholics would discover and exercise a Catholic evangelization, what power would we discover to transform the culture form the inside?
Related Links:
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
