Evangelism in an Age of Despair

Evangelism in an Age of Despair, Andrew Root, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2025, xiv + 289pp

 If you are looking to read about evangelism in a way that will stretch your mind, understanding and is deeply theological throughout (which I hope we all are) then this text with the somewhat depressing title is right for you.  This is a really good and challenging book that is theologically rich and while dealing with some complex matters is attractively written.

The premise is that we live in a world today where ‘we seek happiness in nearly every waking moment.  We want so badly to be happy that its making us sad’ (pxii).  The focus is on offering a ‘theology of consolation’ and so we have primarily a theological book that makes the clear, bold and perhaps almost self evident claim that the good news is really good news to a society in despair.  ‘Evangelism is the invitation to receive consolation, to receive ministry …Evangelism is the invitation to lean into one’s sorrows to find the sacramental presence of the living God changing one’s death into life’ (p2).

There is a great deal in this book about philosophy and how western society comes to be in the place it is.  Often the North American context comes through but that’s ok for us as Ireland and Britain are close versions of the polarity and societal unease across the ocean, and catching up fast.  Its within the failure of a society fixated on personal happiness but increasingly unable to deliver this over the last thirty years that evangelism is needed, and found.  Evangelism is therefore not a religious transaction to enable us to find happiness that society cannot give.  There is very little in the teaching of Jesus that points to personal happiness as the goal of Christian faith even if we have too often given that impression.  What we are offered is participation in the presence and life of God within a human experience of loss, sadness and lack of fulfilment.  Consequently ‘evangelism, seen through consolation, is not bound in what we do but in who we can be for our neighbour and how we can be with them’ (p22).  The weakness of the Church, in some ways mirroring that of society, enables us to be authentic where evangelism ‘is not an investment to secure the church’s resources but is an act of giving away by entering into a shared sacramental life’ (p51).

What this book has clearly reminded me about is that society is struggling and when we as the Church attempt to provide an escape or a place of safety, we are not living out Christ’s incarnation.  Jesus became as us and we as his followers should simply be ourselves in a world of pain and sorrow.  We avoid the false smile. Rather we are part of an authentic presence of God where we meet with God in others and share something of God with those around us.  This is relevant evangelism in our present age.

Rev’d Dr Stephen Skuce
Growing Churches Officer
The Methodist Church in Ireland