How Asians Flex: Evangelisation
In case you missed it, the latest episode of our podcast Awkward Asian Theologians recently dropped.
The episode focused on evangelisation, though what got me thinking broaching the topic was food.
Talk of food segued into a stereotype in which what counts as flexing as Asians, which often is the inverse of what is considered the norm amongst non-Asians, largely due to (as Daniel pointed out), a background marked by poverty and fragility of circumstances (which is particularly visceral for first generation migrants).
The question that arose of whether, when Christian Asians are involved, evangelisation comes as a form of flexing, as if it were a form of self-assertion. Are the of us who are flex-avoidant exempt from the need to evangelise?
At the core of our response to these questions was the claim that evangelisation is not about us. Rather, evangelisation is a response to a Gospel that we received. The Gospel is a gift, unmerited and undeserved, and evangelisation should come with a posture befitting one who has received an unmerited gift, one of humility as well as joy. Insofar as these are absent, we present obstacles to the Gospel’s effective dissemination.
Another point we covered was how evangelisation is a response to an encounter with a person, namely Jesus Christ, who first revealed and proclaimed God’s love to all. Where there might be overlaps with the migrant experience is that Christ’s mission drives him to preach the Good news to other towns. This suggests also a couplet between evangelisation and the encounter with a person, since the heart of the Gospel, as Joseph Ratzinger frequently reminded us, is not doctrine but a person. Whether flex-avoidant or otherwise, taking evangelisation seriously will mean being “on the road”, and share the encounter with the source of our life. This is not something that is dependent on getting the necessary qualifications, otherwise evangelisation would never happen. What equips us is the life of the Trinity, and it is that life of the Triune God that gives the drive and courage to proclaim that Gospel, even if it is not comfortable or popular.
In speaking of the discomfort felt in the task of evangelising, the podcast also looked at the reality that evangelisation is as much a task towards those within the household of faith as outside. This is because the substance of evangelisation is an alignment to Christ, which is a lifelong enterprise affecting believer and non-believer alike. Indeed, in the interest of fostering visible Church unity (and thus credibility), it might even be more imperative to evangelise those within the Church.
The episode capped off with a discussion of Pope Francis’ Evangelii Gaudium, which touched upon many of the talking points of this episode. In particular, it highlighted the important link between communion and mission, and the Church as the meeting point for both.
You can listen to the episode in full on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.
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