Evangelism - Academic Writing

Evangelization missions as described by the Holy See, demonstrates the ethos and purposes behind the mission of Jesus Christ, the position of the church in support of mentoring the Christian ministry, and how effectively reciprocal interfaith dialogues are connected to Christian evangelization. Part 27 of the Dialogue and Proclamation document created by the Pontifical Council underscore this in that it states that, “ the power of the spirit” is linked to the heart of a faith conversion, in the mission Christians are given by Jesus Christ (Holy See, 1991). Christians are fundamentally called to this pillar of active participation and action as followers of Jesus Christ, as highlighted by the Paschal ministry.

b) Use by the Selected Author

Throughout the Pontifical Council’s, “Dialogue and Proclamation“document, the Council uses the model of Jesus Christ’s evangelization as a common thread tied to the “Dialogue and Proclamation’s” document workings in and around interfaith dialogue. The Pontifical Council calls out the two common elements of “Nostra Aetate”, binding its connection to the characteristics and study of the mutual relationship in and around religious plurality. Part number 17 of this document further states the significance of “Lumen Gentium” in relationship to evangelization in that it, “impels [the] church to enter into dialogue and collaboration….with good found among non-Christians” (Holy See, 1991). Yet, although it goes further to state, “history becomes salvation history” (Holy See, 1991), in part 25, it is juxtaposed with the fact that it acknowledges in part 31, “the incompatibility between some fundamental elements”(Holy See, 1991), leaving the debt of the dialogue to be reciprocated and/or isolated by Christians in often pluralistic common spaces. The Pontifical Council outlines the inherent risks in the mission of evangelization and challenges of interfaith dialogue, but relies on its hopes for the conversion of communities to towards the Christian message of faith.

c) Further reflections

In reflecting on the Pontifical Council’s outline for interfaith dialogue, it carefully narrates the roles of the Dialogue and Proclamation’s document to reconcile itself to the Church’s ultimate mission of interfaith dialogue leading to the evangelization of people to Jesus Christ. However, while the Pontifical Council tediously ties all the strands of evangelization to bring forth the principals of the benefits of interfaith dialogues in the spirit and intent for Christ’s mission, the dialogue feels left open to ones discernment and belief. Source: Pontifical Council for Interfaith Dialogue. Dialogue and Proclamation: Reflections and Orientations on Interfaith Dialogue and the Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May 19, 1991. Holy See. Vatican