Evangelization is Crazy Stuff

Posted By reynor | Filed Under Quotes & Excerpts

We’re going to talk about a scary word today. At least it seems scary to some people: EVANGELIZATION.

Just saying the word can perhaps cause two spontaneous images to pop into the minds of many:

1. Rock star preachers in pin-striped suits who seem really ticked.

2. Nicely dressed folks knocking on doors on Saturday mornings.

These are pretty extreme. Neither are very appealing. The first is too imposing, the second is too… invading. Uncomfortably invading.

I think the spin doctors of the media culture like to paint evangelizing Christians as nice but nerdy solicitors leaving something in our door rather than as Navy Seals saving us from drowning. The funny thing is, evangelization is more akin to the Navy Seal than to the nice guy.

Many Catholics are painted as people leading lives of quiet desperation, doing lots of spiritual gymnastics, surrounded by their statues and stained glass rather than as walking tabernacles bringing Jesus into the dreary workplace, malls of mediocrity, and money-hungry marketplaces of the world to shake them all out of their complacency.

I think we have no idea what evangelization really is anymore. We live in such a pluralistic society. Anything and everything goes in the spheres of values and beliefs, paths to peace and self-contentment… “as long as it makes you happy.” But what does that mean? Happiness?

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