Evangelizism has a throat clenching, conservative sound to it sometimes. Efforts that include knocking door-to-door or holding a revival in a tent on a sunny Sunday afternoon. I am not apposed to this kind of evangelism, but what if we spent more time living in the culture we are hoping to evangelize then expecting them to come to us?
St. Patrick and his efforts to evangelize the barbarians of the 4th and 5th Century give great insight to a modern approach. Patrick was kidnapped by the Celts and made a slave. He learned their language and culture which gave him an opportunity to turn his captivity into prostilization, into relationship. After being the catalyst to many conversions, Patrick began a movement to set up monasteries all over the country. His monasteries were placed in the middle of the town and open to all, not a closed place for quiet monks.
A lifestyle of worship includes evangelism. Making time to involve ourselves in the culture of those who don't know the One True God is necessary if they are to be reached. It requires a strong faith in the one evangelizing and an open mind to think from a non-churchy point of view. The label "barbarian" may be a bit strong for our day.
St. Patrick and his efforts to evangelize the barbarians of the 4th and 5th Century give great insight to a modern approach. Patrick was kidnapped by the Celts and made a slave. He learned their language and culture which gave him an opportunity to turn his captivity into prostilization, into relationship. After being the catalyst to many conversions, Patrick began a movement to set up monasteries all over the country. His monasteries were placed in the middle of the town and open to all, not a closed place for quiet monks.
A lifestyle of worship includes evangelism. Making time to involve ourselves in the culture of those who don't know the One True God is necessary if they are to be reached. It requires a strong faith in the one evangelizing and an open mind to think from a non-churchy point of view. The label "barbarian" may be a bit strong for our day.
How about "normal" people?
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