How often would you say problem issues like divorce, multiple marriages, contraception, pre-marital sex and cohabitation crop up when you’re trying to evangelize? Just about every time!
Dealing with these sensitive issues is where the rubber meets the road in evangelization–where everything in this series comes together.
I love it when my students just get it. When they realize they’re engaged in sinful behaviors and choose to give them up. But very often it doesn’t go that way, and they need a gentle call to something more.
This is never easy. How do you get your students to act on what you’re teaching and change their lifestyles?
Here’s a strategy I developed to confront problem issues as painlessly as possible.
The First Step
Teach in a way that addresses the issue so you don’t have to. This sounds simple but many people neglect it.
- Structure your curriculum to do the work for you. It’s much easier to say challenging things in a generic way to a whole group of people than to single out one person. Design your class or series to lead your students to the correct understanding of the issue.
- Begin with your end in view. You need to have a focus. In education it’s called backward mapping. What is your objective? Figure that out and work backward from there.
- Choose topics that work toward the goal. If you’re just teaching topics without any clear goal or result you want to see, your students won’t get there. You need to be intentional in what you teach.
- Don’t waste time with non-essentials: You can’t teach every aspect of Church doctrine, there isn’t time. Concentrate on the important things that lead to change.
- Work to convince the hardest case. I figure, if you get that person, you’ll bring the others along too.
If That Doesn’t Work?
People have a great capacity for self-denial. Even after you spell it out, some people may not understand they should stop. If the first strategy doesn’t work, you might have to talk to the person about what they’re doing.
This is why establishing a relationship and building trust is absolutely vital. You’ll never be able to talk “tough love” when a person doesn’t know you or where you’re coming from.
So, before you can challenge you have to:
- Build trusting relationships with your students
- Get to know them personally and understand what makes them tick
- Be transparent so they know you are sincere and only want the best for them
Previous posts in this series discuss how to do this. Read these if you haven’t already.
How to Challenge Charitably
Challenging your students to live better can be done in a kind, non-threatening way. Never threaten, force, cajole or coerce. You don’t need to be judgmental. Tell them it is your duty to make sure they know the Church’s position on the issue and that they not in conformity.
Don’t apologize for Church teaching or set the bar too low. These are the demands for the fullness of union with Christ. If you water down the gospel, eventually it won’t mean anything to anyone. It’s their choice whether or not to take the challenge.
Don’t think you’re giving them an undue burden. Know you’re doing them a favor by calling them closer to God.
How St. Paul’s Dealt with the Thessalonians
In 1 Thessalonians 2:11, Paul speaks of how he dealt with problem issues, “For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God.”
What does a father want for his children? He wants them to competent, mature and responsible adults that can contribute to society. So, he exhorts them to be better when they’re not. He encourages them when they do well so they’ll do better. He charges or challenges them to live up to their full potential.
This is what St. Paul, as a spiritual father, did for the Thessalonians. And the result? He continues, “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”
Calling people to live the gospel is never easy, but it can be rewarding. God entrusted these people to your care. If you don’t explain the demands, who will? And, if you don’t, how will they know the Truth that will set them free.
- Do you deal with problem issues in your students lives?
- Why or Why not?
- Do you have any other strategies for explaining the demands of living the Catholic Faith?
[This is a part of the Evangelization Basics Series. Have you read the other parts?]
