"I want to evangelize but don't know how"

Everyone has a preferred pastor or priest whether you are Catholic or Protestant. Usually, what you appreciate about the particular things that make him (or sometimes in the case of Protestants, her), have to do with their understanding of the Gospel or topics related to it and that they are communicating it in a way that you understand or are moved by. Every Christian is called to spread the kingdom of God in thought, word, and deed. Each time we recognize this call, we can respond in our hearts with something to the effect of "I am not equipped. Someone else is better equipped. Therefore, it is good that I do not and that they do." However, there is a problem here. "What does "equipped" mean?" and ": What are we doing about it?" are two questions we really ought to answer if we are to approach the throne of Judgement and say, "We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!" (Luke 17:10). Evangelization has four key elements in whatever expression it is found, knowledge of the audience, knowledge of the message, a genuine/pure desire to will the good of the other regarding salvation, and a means of communicating the message.

First, we must know whom we wish to share our faith with. Even if evangelization cannot discriminate, we must use discretion for each person we communicate with. This need extends itself to everything we say and do with this person. If we are bitter about something at one point, we cannot expect our audience to take our claims to Christian joy and healing seriously at another. Here is where Christian love plays a fundamental role in everything we do and is called to accomplish. In the world we now live in, is very sensitive, often equivocating their beliefs and sexual desires with their person. It is also important to note that people have trauma. This is where evangelization is not first an act of speech but listening. Genuine love requires knowledge of the person. People are so accustomed to the pulpit-pounding, shooting more or less true claims of objectivity at them without reference to the individual. The USCCB says, "Evangelization brings the good news of the Gospel to all who seek the life-giving message of faith in Jesus Christ." it seems important to point out that "seek". Although we all seek this good News, not all are open to it, only God can provide this. Thereby, people form a caricature of what is meant, and even if wrong, they feel it is a condemnation of themselves who are not conformed to perfection.

Second, evangelization always begins in our own hearts. Even if this sounds like the standard "doesn't be a hypocrite" statement it goes beyond that. In truth, we ought not to try to lead others to something we have not experienced, it would be like having your guest try the food before, you the cook has. You really have no selling point or guidance on how to best experience, and even if it is the best meal possible, you still are blindly leading others and claiming to do so as though you can see. Rather to say "evangelization begins in our own heart" means that we must first profoundly and consistently encounter the love of God to be healed of our hurts. Ultimately, if there remains any unresolved hurt within us it is a place, we have not yet fully received the love of God (this makes it sounds easy but sometimes it is hard to see exactly why we haven't and how to better receive). This is to say one cannot evangelize if they have not been evangelized. Whenever you hear great evangelists speak and even see some of their life up close, you will realize that this is a person who has not only encountered God's love but actively participates in it. It seems to me if we are to be effective, we must "know" the Good News of Jesus Christ in every way and meaning possible. We must be madly in love so that we cannot hardly speak without proclaiming the goodness of God or sharing our relationship with Him. This knowledge is always intentionally gained. We should further, exhibit our knowledge in our personality. 

Third, why are we doing this? If we have any motivation other than "'I found him whom my soul loves' and who shall I keep from Him who knows me fully and loves me still?" or some form of that, then we will do more harm than good. Only sharing the love of Christ, directly and indirectly, can allow us to "be not afraid". Peace comes from no other source, than Christ. We must undertake discernment within ourselves about every aspect of our efforts and indeed only Christ can change their hearts. Everything we do must be a response to what God is doing in our hearts. If we are to have any success in this effort, it must be preceded by God's grace. We begin by asking for it and when it becomes clear that it is our turn to say something to them, it is then we reveal the love Christ has given us. We are responsible for praying for and desiring the salvation of others, our witness, and how we go about it, but we are not responsible for their sins, hardness of heart, or their relationship with God. 

Lastly, the means we undertake are crucial. In our day, the genuine presentation of arguments on matters we disagree about is more felt as attacks than love for the reason mentioned above. It is good to be aware of those differences, but it is not necessarily their intent to believe heresy. Rather, it is the belief in supposed truth that leads us to be at odds with each other. However, apologetics is concerned with this problem not so much evangelization (even if apologetics is a single expression of evangelization). Evangelization, although not negligent of the mind, is first directed at the heart. The heart is where we hurt, and the mind more often follows the heart than vice versa. The means we employ must come from our prayer, knowledge of our audience, and embodiment of the message. This is where we are free to specialize. Some are better at counseling, some teaching, some writing, some painting, some acting, etc. If we are not skilled in all expressions of evangelization, we need not think that we are failing to answer the call in the means, we are prepared to do it in. We should not limit ourselves but rather accept our limits, endeavoring to expand where possible.

In conclusion, evangelization takes many forms, it is not necessarily shouting the contents of scripture on a street corner, but more engaging in authentic relationship with a heart transformed by the Lord. In fact, this may push some away from love of God. If we know how to love other well and wish to, evangelization naturally flows from/through those efforts. Ultimately, we have immortal souls, and they will dwell somewhere to be sure either heaven or hell at the end. We cannot go about this work if we do not genuinely care about those we endeavor to serve by our prayers and efforts. If we do not have a prayer life or understanding of what it finally means to be a Christian, we will never be able to be a co-worker of Christ. God alone is capable of bring souls to him, which He is doing with us. It is precisely this love which we have found that is the Kerygma to which we are attracted. Maybe you are not a priest, catechist, or theologian, maybe you don't need to be. May be all you need to do is love well, maybe more. No matter how you do it, may it be God's will, your good and theirs. May it be Christ, who does all you do. Be their preferred preacher.

Written by Carter Carruthers & also available at Missio Dei