Holy Boldness: Practices of an Evangelistic Lifestyle

By Paul R. Dekar

Book Overview

Christians have been caught between "a rock and a hard place" for too long. On the one hand, the faith of our mothers and fathers calls for evangelism-we are to go out into the world to preach and teach that the Light has come. On the other hand, much of the cultural annihilism of the 19th and 20th centuries has masqueraded as evangelism. Is it any wonder that we are squeamish about the word? Paul Dekar's new book Holy Boldness, is a welcome antidote to our learned aversions to evangelism. The book is a scholarly but accessible and meditative study of evangelistic practices. Dekar leads us from an era of evangelism as triumphalism and ethnocentrism, toward evangelism as faithful spiritual practices, enacted with the humility and life commitment exemplified by Jesus Christ and the early church. This is a remarkable book that illuminates the path toward our fulfillment of "God's transforming work."

Barbara A. Holmes J.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Ethics and African American Religious Studies
Memphis Theological Seminary

Having known Paul Dekar as professor, peacemaker, social activist, and visionary, I can attest to the way in which this book puts into print what Paul has first put into action. Holy Boldness is a book about true evangelical faith. Drawing on biblical teaching, spiritual guides, and his own considerable experience, Paul shows how humility, loving-kindness, just living, and the rhythm of the liturgical year are integral to evangelism and the mission of the Church. This book will help to transform personal devotion into public witness that cares for the poor, liberates the oppressed, and challenges the powers as it celebrates the good news of Jesus Christ.

Barry D. Morrison
Associate Professor of Homiletics and Worship
Acadia Divinity College, Nova Scotia, Canada

Paul R. Dekar is Professor of Evangelism and Missions at Memphis Theological Seminary. A graduate of the University of California (Berkeley), Colgate Rochester Divinity School and the University of Chicago, he has also taught at Central Michigan University, McMaster University, Acadia University, and Whitley College of the University of Melbourne.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1573123854
• ISBN13: 9781573123853
• Release Date: May 2023
• Publisher: Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Incorporated
• Length: 210 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Evangelism from spiritual formation and overflow

Paul R Dekar, Holy Boldness: Practices of an Evangelistic Lifestyle (Macon: Smyth & Helwys, 2004) Reviewed by Darren Cronshaw Paul Dekar grounds a broad understanding of evangelism in spiritual and lifestyle practices. Like Ignatius' exercises or Wesley's methods, Dekar offers some basic direction to strengthen discipleship and thereby evangelism. Though from North America, Dekar draws on his experience in Australia including teaching at Whitley College, particularly in exploring reconciliation and celebrating everyday spirituality. He writes; `The journey to holiness is wide-ranging and includes even those parts of one's life that seem humdrum.' (p.38) The book's themes are holiness, boldness and spiritual practices. He explores 15 spiritual practices in 4 sections - humility, justice, mercy and seasonal celebrations. The book is about spiritual formation as much as evangelism, though Dekar assumes that the best evangelistic lifestyle is one that is formed in the likeness of Christ. Lifestyle evangelism, he says, arises from an overflow of experiencing God's love. Never one to limit faith to personal experience, Dekar explores jubilee as well as prayer, compassion as well as play, listening to culture as well as God, and dialogue as well as testimony. Sometimes the connections between a suggested spiritual practice and evangelism are made explicit, but more often this is left to the reader and their small groups (using the helpful questions at the end of each chapter). This review originally appeared Mission Horizons: Newsletter of the School of World Mission, No. 18 (December, 2004), p. 3.