Understand Christian mission and evangelism. You'll explore the Great Commission, examine different approaches to evangelism (Alpha, missionary work, social media), and discuss whether Christians should actively try to convert others in a multi-faith society. You'll evaluate the relationship between evangelism and social action.
Before exploring mission and evangelism, let's review what we learned about the Church's community role.
Mission: The Church's overarching calling to spread the Gospel and serve people in Jesus's name. Mission includes both evangelism and social action.
Evangelism: Sharing the Christian faith with others and inviting them to become Christians. This is a key part of mission.
For centuries, Christians have believed they are called to spread their faith. This comes from Jesus's final command.
The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20):
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."
Acts 1:8: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you... and you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth."
These passages form the theological basis for Christian mission.
Traditional evangelism focuses on converting people to Christianity.
Evangelical churches particularly emphasize evangelism as a core practice.
Many Christians emphasize that mission includes social justice and practical help.
Example: Christian Aid works to address root causes of poverty globally.
Proselytizing means pressuring or manipulating people into converting. Evangelism is respectfully sharing faith and inviting belief.
Most Christian churches distinguish between respectful evangelism (which they affirm) and aggressive proselytizing (which many reject).
Alpha is an 11-week introduction to Christianity, run by thousands of churches worldwide. Participants attend dinners, watch videos, and discuss Christian faith in small groups.
Why it works: Creates a welcoming, non-threatening space. Low pressure. Allows people to ask questions.
Criticism: Some argue it represents a subtle form of evangelism targeting those in vulnerable situations (e.g., addiction recovery).
Christian perspective: Proponents see Alpha as honest evangelism—clearly Christian, but open and inclusive.
Thousands of Christian missionaries work in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. They combine:
Growth impact: Christianity is growing fastest in Africa and Asia, partly through missionary work.
Ethical questions: Do missionaries impose Western values? Do they respect local cultures? How do we balance evangelism and cultural respect?
Modern churches use YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to share faith:
Advantage: Reaches young people who don't attend church buildings.
Challenge: How do we balance authentic witness with performative social media culture?
The tension: Should Christians actively try to convert people from other faiths?
Traditional view: Yes—Christianity is true, so sharing it is loving and necessary.
Pluralist view: No—all faiths have validity. Evangelism can be disrespectful and colonial.
Middle ground: Christians can respectfully share their faith without dismissing others' beliefs. Interfaith dialogue is possible.
Drag each activity to the correct category. Think about whether each activity is primarily evangelism (sharing faith), social action (meeting practical needs), or both.
Essay question (12 marks): "Christians should not try to convert others." Evaluate this statement.
What to include:
Structure: Introduction → Point 1 + evidence → Point 2 + evidence → Counterargument → Conclusion
Test yourself on the key concepts from this lesson.