Should We Respect a Person's Freedom When We Evangelize?

A significant element of evangelization that is often overlooked is intentionally respecting the freedom of those being evangelized. The General Directory for Catechesis defines evangelization as “the carrying forth of the Good News to every sector of the human race so that by its strength it may enter into the hearts of men and renew the human race” (GDC 46). This means we, as evangelists, cannot force Catholicism upon another person. We cannot coerce, manipulate, or control another person’s free will. Respecting this freedom is a significant action seen in the Gospels and the lives of the Saints. In order to better understand this respect seen in the Gospel, one must first understand the significance of evangelization being carried out in a way that respects the freedom of the other.

One incredibly significant element of evangelization is that the evangelist must evangelize in a manner that respects the other person’s free will. While this may be difficult to respect due to so many Catholics leaving the Church today, it is essential because it is what God does for us. God does not force us to follow His will. He does not try to trick us into following His commandments. He does not use false pretenses to convince us to pick up our crosses and follow Him. Instead, He gives us the freedom to choose Him. Yes, choosing sin is easier for us in our fallen nature. However, He respects our free will because He respects us as persons. Therefore, we must do the same when evangelizing. “. . . Evangelization must be viewed as the process by which the Church, moved by the Spirit, proclaims and spreads the Gospel throughout the entire world” (GDC 48). If God would not force others to convert, then neither should we. 

An example of Christ calling people and respecting their free will is when He calls the rich man to sell everything he has and to follow Him. Most people Christ calls in the Gospels end up dropping everything and following Him, but He does not harass or manipulate them to do so. The same goes for when He calls the rich man. Christ calls the rich man to follow Him, and he cannot. “‘Then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples . . .” (Matthew 19:21-23). Jesus does not call him back and try to force him to sell his things or to come with Him. Instead, He respects the rich man’s decision and immediately moves on, even if it is hard for Him to do. 

When we evangelize, we must follow Christ’s footsteps by respecting the freedom of those we evangelize. It is essential to respect the free will of others because it is what God does for us and it is how Christ calls His disciples in the Gospels. Evangelization is not evangelization without respecting the free will of the other person. While sometimes evangelization needs to be blunt, most of the time, it needs to be a gradual thing (Life Promises Life 16). We are called to evangelize as God did: with love.

Sources:

General Directory for Catechesis, www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cclergy/documents/rc_con_ccatheduc_doc_17041998_directory-for-catechesis_en.html. Accessed 3 Sept. 2023. 

Nagle, Vincent T. Life Promises Life: Pages from the Diary of a Hospital Chaplain. Fraternity of St. Charles, 2004. 

The New American Bible. World Catholic Press, 2011.