Kai kurie Jėzaus skelbimo jaunimui pliuralistinėje visuomenėje kristologiniai aspektai
HOW TO PROCLAIM JESUS IN TODAY’S PLURALISTIC SOCIETY: SEVERAL CHRISTOLOGICAL ASPECTS

Summary/Abstract: The article deals with youth ministry. It aims at renewing some aspects of proclaiming the Person of Jesus Christ with the help of contextual analysis of biblical Christology, so that young people could accept Christ and the Gospel as essential for their everyday life. The extreme pluralism of our society today provides equal rights and opportunities for every new idea, every morality and every world outlook, no matter how illogical or unusual it may be. It must be respected and treated the same way as any other widespread world outlook that has already passed the test of time and accumulated recognition in history or cultural tradition. Although everyone seems to be privileged to express his or her views freely, danger arises for those views to become lost altogether. It has already become common for many to live day by day more or less aimlessly, when all choices are determined by their immediate usefulness alone. Idealistic, ethical or meaningful motives do not count any more. For the young generation in this context, therefore, Jesus is acceptable as far as he offers the freedom of the children of god and a light yoke. His Cross, however, is far from being acceptable – neither in life, nor in proclamation. Thus, authentic Christian life, which must include radical conversion, becomes impossible. For adequate proclamation of the Good News of Jesus to young people, therefore, we are suggesting an approach using the stumbling block and the conflict. If we look at Jesus of the gospels, we will see that the people used to have only two choices whenever they encountered Jesus: either to be converted or to become indignant. We are making a supposition that, while evangelizing the young people, we should let them experience the radicalism of Jesus’ message, so that they are challenged to make their choice. Their positive choice in this case would mean much more than just an oral profession of faith: it would mean following Jesus 24 hours a day. Further the article presents the groups of people who were indignant with what Jesus did, said or thought under various circumstances. In the Scripture, those people are Jesus’ relatives who are trying to stop him, Jesus’ disciples who are constantly being provoked, the crowd who used to follow and to listen but then abandoned him, and the Pharisees and the scribes who initiated Jesus’ arrest. The very fact that Jesus who was just, kind and innocent had to die as a criminal, is a stumbling block for the people of every epoch. The situations from the Bible where people reject Jesus will not make up the whole contents of youth evangelization. It is also important to stress the essence of the conflict, i.e. decision making. The key phrase here is Mark 1:15: “The kingdom of god is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel!” The good news should be disclosed here as a wonderful opportunity that can never be a threat to young people’s happiness. It must became evident that Jesus was proclaiming god’s salvation a

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