The desire to share the presence of Jesus with friends, family, or those in need is a good thing. It is a gift from the same Holy Spirit who guided Jesus and the Saints to embrace a deeper compassion, especially for those with spiritual malnutrition. But too often, obstacles put a damper on this calling from God. When this happens, we can imitate the many Saints who embraced such roadblocks, as occasions to ask for more of the Holy Spirit’s wisdom, mercy, zeal and patience.
Here are some common obstacles to evangelizing. Consider watching this video as a step towards making progress in this area. Then ask, “Which one or two obstacles might I experience?
Fear of Failure and Rejection
- Failure—embarrassment, ignorance, previous mistakes
- Rejection—don’t want to be unpopular, insignificant, ridiculous
Stereotypes and Attitudes toward the Stranger
- Assuming he/she would not have anything in common with us
- Not interested in knowing strangers, different ethnic groups
Ambivalence
- Conflicting motives and beliefs about welcoming others
- Ministry groups centered only on mutual support
Relativism (Doctrinal Note on Some Aspects of Evangelization, sections 4, 5)
- Wondering if one religion is as “good” as another
- Lack of confidence in objective truth
- Spiritual isolation, lack of meaning, broken moral compass
Stuck in the Past
- We have always done it this way
- Lack of assessment about the good that is being done AND left undone
Lack of Support for Evangelizers
- Lack of ongoing support and feedback discourages efforts to reach out
- Need to recover from failures and rejoice about successes
Lack of personal growth through Prayer, Spiritual Study, Community, and a Sense of Mission