What Gospel do the contemporary unbelievers need? Cover Image

Jakiej Ewangelii potrzebuje współczesny niewierzący?
What Gospel do the contemporary unbelievers need?

Author(s): Andrzej Draguła
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion
Published by: Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II - Wydział Teologii
Keywords: first evangelization; ad gentes missions; new evangelization; kerygma; unbelievers

Summary/Abstract: Preaching to unbelievers is becoming a current challenge of the Church, also in Poland, which in a sense is becoming a missionary country. Obviously, it is not a classic missionary situation as we deal with an addressee who lives in a Christian country. Hence Poland is becoming an area of “new evangelization” directed towards those who were baptized and formally belong to the Church, yet their lives are not “lives of faith”. Immersion in the Christian environment and culture has both positive and negative aspects. On the one hand, one should presuppose that the addressee has some knowledge of Christianity. On the other hand, one should be aware that the addressee, on the basis of his/her knowledge, may prejudice and stereotype Christianity and God. The aim of preaching is to refute the prejudice and stereotypes by new, joyful evangelization. The essence of this new kerygma is liberation as the result of faith in God, who loves and sends the Son to redeem people. It seems that this is the only way to “convince” unbelievers of the uniqueness of Christianity in the context of other spiritual-religious movements.

  • Issue Year: 2012
  • Issue No: 16
  • Page Range: 55-65
  • Page Count: 11
  • Language: Polish