Five Themes in a Theology of Evangelism: Meeting the Challenge of Contemporary Spirituality

Traditional ways of thinking about evangelism can be confronted by the convoluted spiritual journeys of people outside the Church. Engaging positively with popular spirituality and culture creates challenges for Christian witness which call for new theological perspectives on evangelism. Five themes in particular can be described: understanding what it feels like not to be Christian; interrogating the skills of making community through the experience of Church; creating new forms of Good News shaped for current experiences in society; honouring the whole person’s life experiences; and finding time and space to ‘be with’ those who need Christian hope and love but who do not necessarily wish to be part of Church.