New Evangelization: Same Old Message

When I first heard the term new evangelization, I cringed a bit. The message hadn’t changed, especially with a 2,000 year old Church. As far as I knew, new evangelization was just… evangelization. The point is to bring the gospel to all nations (Mark 16:15). So, I thought, what’s so new?

At the time, I was starting to get involved in ministry, so I really didn’t have a good comparison of what evangelization looked like decades before. I also wasn’t involved enough to know where exactly it was going. You see, evangelizing doesn’t look the same everywhere or in every time. You can’t teach the same to everyone. One group might be very accepting of the message of hope while another might scrutinize the miracles that took place. Perhaps the second group needs a more practical approach with facts and dates.

There’s a reason there’s four gospels chosen for the Bible. Each gospel writer tells the story a little differently. Matthew is long and detailed. Mark is short and to the point. Luke is calculating. John is thought-provoking with deeper meaning and symbolism shown throughout. (Those impressions are up for debate because we all read them differently, and that’s okay!) The disciples that went forth to proclaim the Good News all had different styles, and God knew that. He sent them to specific places, leading them to where He wanted them to go at the time He wanted them to go there.

I have many catechist and theological friends, all strong practicing Catholics, but I wouldn’t imagine we could each speak the same to different crowds. Some do well with an older, already Catholic crowd, diving into the deeper faith for those already practicing. Those same people would scare off non-Christians in a second. Others are gentle in their approach, talking more about hope and salvation through faith (not sugar-coated it or skipping the need for the sacraments mind you!) They would be shunned by some strict traditionalists, ahem, misunderstood I imagine. The bottom line is that you have to meet a person where he or she is and go from there.

So why is the new evangelization new? Well, it’s not technically new. Perhaps it’s a misnomer. Evangelization has been changing with the times and throughout the world’s locations since the beginning. St. John Bosco went out into the streets to perform tricks to gain the attention of young boys, then he would preach a gospel message to them. He’s the patron saint of youth ministry and juveniles. This isn’t the same method Paul used by far, but both used their love of Christ and a desire to spread His Word in a way suited to the gifts God had given them.

Evangelization is always changing with the times according to the needs of the people, but the message of Love, repentance, forgiveness, and salvation does not change. So, I still think the phrase is a bit unnecessary, but I know it refers to the current ‘new’ methods, such as music and youth ministry and games. We must do what we can to spread the gospel.