Is evangelism in danger of becoming about 'bums on seats'?

[Kouyate42]

Now I KNOW the point of evangelism is to convert people,but I’m wondering whether there’s an attitude of ‘conversion at any cost’ where all that seems to matter is getting people to sign up to a Christian class (such as Alpha) or something, or even commit to Christianity, without ensuring a total understanding of what precisely that involves.

I’ve seen this more in Protestant evangelism than anything else where it seems to be a game of bombarding people with carefully-chosen Bible verses before getting the person to ‘sign up’ to be a Christian or come to a class/Bible study or whatever as quickly as possible. Little attempt is made to get people to understand Christianity as a whole or ensuring that once that initial ‘conversion’ is made, the person has the support to remain within that church or faith grouping. It seems more about being able to claim you’ve got ‘X’ amount of people into church/Bible study.

Any thoughts?

 

[Alan55]

Now I KNOW the point of evangelism is to convert people,but I’m wondering whether there’s an attitude of ‘conversion at any cost’ where all that seems to matter is getting people to sign up to a Christian class (such as Alpha) or something, or even commit to Christianity, without ensuring a total understanding of what precisely that involves.

I’ve seen this more in Protestant evangelism than anything else where it seems to be a game of bombarding people with carefully-chosen Bible verses before getting the person to ‘sign up’ to be a Christian or come to a class/Bible study or whatever as quickly as possible. Little attempt is made to get people to understand Christianity as a whole or ensuring that once that initial ‘conversion’ is made, the person has the support to remain within that church or faith grouping. It seems more about being able to claim you’ve got ‘X’ amount of people into church/Bible study.

Any thoughts?

Perhaps we hang out in different crowds, but I don’t observe nearly as much emphasis on numbers. In fact, Catholics tend to downplay numbers far too much in my opinion, perhaps out of fear of being judged ineffective.

Evangelism certainly aims at bringing unchurched people into a relationship with Christ, but for Catholics that includes a relationship with the Church, including baptism, eucharist and confirmation. A “strange warming of the heart” (John Wesley) is just the beginning. Attending mass, conforming one’s behavior to good moral standards, growing in one’s knowledge of the faith, serving others, etc. is part of the rest. In practice, that looks a lot like attendance at Alpha, Cursillo, RCIA, or other such programs.

“Total understanding” is a very high bar. People have to start somewhere, and their minds and hearts may take a while to catch up with the change in their habits, particularly attendance at weekly (or daily!) mass or participation in a program.

I think the best model for a total conversion is RCIA when it is done well. It aims, over time, at a growth in knowledge, participation in distinctly Catholic activities, and building relationships with ordinary Catholics. It also builds in liturgical moments that help the participants realize that something important, something real is happening and that they have decisions – commitments – to make. It’s not perfect, but it’s proven very effective and life-changing for many.

 

[Allegra]

I think the best model for a total conversion is RCIA when it is done well. It aims, over time, at a growth in knowledge, participation in distinctly Catholic activities, and building relationships with ordinary Catholics. It also builds in liturgical moments that help the participants realize that something important, something real is happening and that they have decisions – commitments – to make. It’s not perfect, but it’s proven very effective and life-changing for many.

I agree, and I would add that CHRP programs seem to have a similar effect for both cradle Catholics and new converts.

 

[anruari]

I think you misunderstand the intention of programmes like ALPHA. and RCIA.

Their purpose is to educate and enlighten potential converts and thereby to draw them to a point of Conversion.

The goal of the initial invitaion to such a meeting: be it ALPHA, or any other introductory study is very precisely to draw a potential convert into an environemnt where they can be taught in a structured manner, what they need to know to make a true conversion.

The RCIA is the name for the formal course which a convert to Catholicism must complete, it defines the rituals they must go through, and defines a minimum level of Catechesis they must recieve.

The job of we lay people is definitely to get bums onto those seats. - but to do it by a witness of genuine Christian Love, and then to support those people as they go through the course and help them to come to that true conversion.

 

[anruari]

Also the only method by which one can become a Christian is the Rite Of Baptism.

In Catholicism you must attend the RCIA course, and go through the other required Rites that precede this baptism. Most converts either non Christians or converts from other Christian groups must wait until the Easter period before completing this process.

 

[WingsOfEagles]

If you can’t get their “bums in the seats” how are you going to get through to them at all? Sometimes, you have to start out easy and slowly allow the person to grow in his/her faith.

 

[Kouyate42]

If you can’t get their “bums in the seats” how are you going to get through to them at all? Sometimes, you have to start out easy and slowly allow the person to grow in his/her faith.

I’m not saying that getting them into church pews ISN’T going to build their faith, but the fact remains that someone is not going to remain in faith, or indeed have ANY faith if it is based on false foundations. I can vouch for that personally.

I must also clarify what Imeant when I said ‘total understanding’ too. Some denominations seem all too keen to gloss over some areas of Christianity whilst promoting others more freely. Something which I find the Catholic Church does much better is that all areas of Catholicism are pretty much laid out bare for all to see and the Church is never shy to hold to those beliefs. For me personally, if you are promoting a certain church/faith position, you should promote ALL beliefs equally.