Contextualizing Theology in Christian Mission and Evangelism: Opportunities and Risks

Theology represented both the text and the context of God's presence in human history, evangelization and mission being the two forms of manifestation of divine love, described in the already-not-yet paradigm, manifested towards the stranger near, who has alienated himself from Him, but also the stranger far away, who has not heard about Him. The contextualization was reflected in understanding the particular values of different cultures and being open to a dialogue that would allow culture to shape and challenge the understanding of what mission and evangelization mean. The home and the church are the places where the two begin, with Christian ministry expressing itself through the power of example, though not to the detriment of the family, which holds precedence over any social or religious commitment. Through a thorough analysis of the factors that determine the evangelistic process, this paper argues that, in addition to missionary zeal, there is also a need for a thorough theological, anthropological and psychological preparation of the ministers.