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Reflections on Evangelism and Re‐evangelization after Arusha 2018
Author(s) -
Koukoura Dimitra
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international review of mission
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.118
H-Index - 11
eISSN - 1758-6631
pISSN - 0020-8582
DOI - 10.1111/irom.12238
Subject(s) - repentance , faith , humanity , injustice , forgiveness , environmental ethics , population , sociology , religious studies , theology , law , philosophy , political science , demography
The church is ceaselessly engaged in evangelization and re‐evangelization. Over half of the earth’s population has not yet heard that God took on human flesh and that through death grants life and resurrection to all humanity. They have not known that God is the God of forgiveness, love, justice, and peace. The world around us is threatened by lethal conflicts, violent expatriation, poverty, social injustice, and environmental pollution. In this turbulent world, the word of God should be sowed. In all Christian traditions, baptized Christians are abandoning their faith, curious for something exotic, or feeling indifference or even animosity toward their Christian faith. In Europe the arrogance of reason (ratio), the persecutions of the atheistic regimes of the past five to seven decades, and the elimination of religion in the individual sphere have finally deleted Christian faith as a potential choice for many young people. Re‐evangelization is thus a common concern. The task of re‐evangelization is difficult. It requires modern communicative strategies. Above all, those who witness to the gospel need self‐critique – repentance (metanoia) and transformation (transfiguration) – so that the recipients of their message may be also transformed. “First one should be illuminated and then transmit the light to the others; first one should be sanctified and then sanctify others.” Reception, however, is also difficult, as represented by the analogy of the fertile and barren field. However, illuminated people – through their words, deeds, and ethos – radiate the light of divine grace: love, understanding, peace, and meaningful life. This remains the deep‐seated longing of all people, even of Europeans, despite their occasional rebellion, contempt, and indifference to the revealed God.