The Levels of Evangelization
"For the Church, evangelizing means bringing the Good News into all the strata of humanity, and through its influence transforming humanity from within and making it new: "Now I am making the whole of creation new." But there is no new humanity if there are not first of all new persons renewed by Baptism and by lives lived according to the Gospel." [1] This quote establishes two things, 1) what we have meant by "evangelization" and 2) what it concerns i.e. the whole person. The quote we ended with in the New Evangelization said we must "seek by every means to study how we can bring the Christian message to modern man". Each level we are about to distinguish between has mostly to do with employing the most effective means for the audience. This audience-specific methodology is how one goes about doing their best to "pass on" not only the faith but life in Christ. It would seem there are four distinctions worth mentioning in the way of discussing levels of evangelization, that result from the openness of the recipient and one's relationship with them: implicit, surgical, general, and explicit.
First, our way of living should speak for itself. This we shall call implicit which is always the first step in handing on the faith. This phase presupposes one is already "transforming humanity" in oneself. At his level one demonstrates and befriends, starting with almost exclusively with premises, rarely stating things that would need much proof for a non-believer. Living differently changes the world. Much of this category is grown through prayer and the sacraments. This part of the process is really more about oneself than others, and then about others thereby. If one does not take the task of joy and personal holiness first, it can deter people, making them think an unhappy and jealous person is what faith produces. However, if humanity is actually transformed, it produces a "human being fully alive". Therefore, if one is at peace, genuinely interested in living for Christ with abandon, and strives after loving others well, they wittiness to Christ in their very person whence comes their credibility. Correlatively, evangelization flows organically, it is not a results-driven task, but simply a natural derivative of a life well lived.
Second, once one can speak with a certain authority on the life of the Christian and the content of the Gospel, the fragrance of one's life can draw those nearest to them. This we shall call the surgical/invitational level. The Christian can ask very particular questions that hint at truths, and be more active about it than the implicit stage allowed for and is usually aimed at something specific, typically inviting the individual deeper through encouraging prayer, attendance at a spiritual event, sometimes directed at a diverse audience, fraternal correction/spiritual works of mercy fall into this category. Having received for oneself that great life-transforming love and grace, and living perpetually in it, one can make grace-driven “micro-interventions” into the lives of others. This, again, flows naturally from love, and not artificially from judgment. One always knows there is a place every person needs to be called deeper. For example, I asked a classmate if he had ever been to the Newman Center, and he was gratified at the possibility. He was really struggling with many in his life questioning him about his faith and otherwise felt hopeless about growing in his faith. That simple gesture was used by God to bring Him immensely deeper in his faith and others in his life thereby. The goal is to simply nudge them closer to Christ maybe by challenging a proposition or giving an invitation but always a small and simple movement from the heart. This is the highest level one can expect with a colleague or friendly stranger.
Third, once one is skilled in speaking mercifully and has a growing relationship with those one evangelizes one may begin the General level. At this point, one can discuss primarily indisputable and common experiences and briefly mention how faith responds well to such things e.g. mental illness, usually directed at diverse audiences that are more and less willing to follow Christ. Catechetical classes and Bible studies are settings where the audience is naturally more open to investigating the truth of faith. Once this further openness is found, the opportunity becomes exponential for God to work, deepened discussion and more numerous invitations are accepted. This is a pivotal moment in the effort of evangelization, not only is a soul brought closer to Christ but also in friendship with the fervent Christian. Discipleship is nothing else than an organic, Christ-centered friendship and this can be the beginning of it. It may also be necessary due to one’s finitude, or the other's lack of faith-filled friendships, to encourage other relationships in their life and apply boundaries to past relationships. After all, we are not Christ and Christ has to leave the 99 for the 1 to bring the 1 into the fold (Matthew 18:10-14, Luke 15:1-7).
Fourth, when there are no longer any obstacles or at least unknown obstacles to the recipient of our efforts, we are free to openly challenge or inform/discuss or friend without a concern of having them give up/turn away. This is also the mode employed when answering questions asked by the recipient. We shall call this level explicit and particular. This comes usually after a person has warmed up to the idea of the Catholic perspective and has a clear motivation to accept the truth of Scripture and its Traditional interpretation. This stage can be understood as Catechesis, wording can still be important since love is the goal of all belief, but no topic is really off-limits, and truth will be received even if undesired in the moment. Fraternal correction is most certainly a necessary part of this stage if needed. If by this time they have not welcomed a habit of prayer, study, and the sacraments into their lives, they need to.
In conclusion, these distinctions are no science, but in fact, an art. This means that there can be places in a person's life where the fourth mode may be chosen and other parts where they are too blind for the first level to be effective. This is to say that whatever means is chosen it is always important to know one's place in the life of those one intends to love through evangelization. If one chooses to discuss only what another person disagrees with, it is very likely that the would-have-been-recipient-of-the-evangelical-effort is no longer going to take anything one says as truth, but folly (this is not their fault either). These things are precisely why lofty ideas are not chosen as topic for an internet blog. Evangelization finally is the means one takes to assist God in drawing them to Himself. If there is anything not of God which is incorporated into this effort it will fail, and as such must come from a relationship with God and a love guided by the Holy Spirit. ". The work of evangelization presupposes in the evangelizer an ever-increasing love for those whom he is evangelizing."[2] One should realize evangelization is like match-making the sinner to the redeemer, as is helping them to fall in love with God. It is often the case that the one who evangelizes needs much correction concerning their efforts, due to poor ordination of zealousness and word choice. This is precisely what distinctions like this post provides are meant to help with, not be a science, but an assist in seeing the nature of the process.
FN:
- EVANGELII NUNTIANDI, 18
- EVANGELII NUNTIANDI, 79.
Written by Carter Carruthers & also available soon at Missio Dei
