Socially (Awkward) Evangelism

Socially (Awkward) Evangelism, Mark Teasdale, Downer’s Grove, Ill: 2026, 210pp, £22.99

Many of us, and perhaps its most of us, really struggle to share our faith.  Our faith is very important to us, but somehow we find it almost paralysing when there is the potential opportunity to talk to another about faith in Jesus.  Social anxiety is a real issue for us with regard to evangelism.  Hence, this book.

Chapters 1-6 consider ‘our own anxious thoughts about evangelism’ (p9) and chapters 7-9 look at our fear of causing hurt to others through evangelism. The author is attempting to build a bridge to a life where sharing faith is largely without stress.  It isn’t something we have to summon up courage to do, but a natural and authentic outworking in our lives.

Our weakness in faith sharing is consistent over the last couple of generations.  Churches have recognised this, and responded by producing training materials and courses to give us skills and abilities – to train us.  This is partially helpful but clearly hasn’t addressed the heart of the issue for many as ‘anxiety and shame are not overcome by increased knowledge or skills’ (p43).  From a psychological perspective, an understanding of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can help as it argues there will be pain in whatever decision we make – to share our faith or not.  When we share our faith we are anxious about how this will be perceived by others; when we don’t share we often think its because we are not capable of doing so and our feelings of weakness and failure increase.  The aim of ACT is to give ‘people the freedom to build a bridge from where they are to the other path they initially avoided’ (p48).

This text does not suggest that we are all in need of major psychological support and analysis.  But what it does for me is to recognise a significant issue – our fear of sharing our faith – and give explanation behind this, ways to address that fear and understanding of just what is happening.  A better understanding of ourselves helps to develop greater resilience.

Our faulty beliefs about evangelism and our need for perfection are addressed.  We are pointed to path of practicing the presence of God more clearly in our lives, recognising that as God is gracious with us, that this is the way we treat others.  ‘Nothing will ever force us to evangelise someone in a way that treats them in any other way than being wise, just, self-controlled, courageous, loving, hopeful and faithful’ (p94).

Finally we are introduced to the evangelism equation of theological reflection + contextual awareness = creative practices (p99).  We begin by inward recognition that we are caught up in the whole work of God – we know ourselves.  As we recognise the context we can better understand the need to listen before we share – we start to know the other.  The outcome emerges from the internal and external engagement.  We are building the bridge from avoiding to being evangelistic.

This is well worth a read as I think it focuses on a key issue within contemporary Irish Methodism, and offers us a way through this.

Rev Dr Stephen Skuce
Superintendent for Growing Churches