I'm sorry, some Christians are jerks. We're not all like that, and they're misrepresenting our God. We're sorry.
I think we need to start a campaign for that. In chapter 11 of
Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller talks about how he and his friends made a reverse confessional and put it out on campus. When people sat in it, instead of hearing their sins, they confessed and apologized for all the heinous things Christians have done in the name of God over the ages. I think we, as a faith, need to do that and make amends for how we have failed God and His message.
Here's the thing: there are many ways to evangelize. I'm sure each one fits a certain culture or a certain time, but not all of them fit 21st century America. And one of those doesn't-work-anymore methods is spreading the gospel through fear.
Fear?
Fear. I've received several dozen tracts over my time here at college in the city; usually, they're hospital workers on lunch breaks. I have received ONE that did not speak of how you will go to Hell if you don't believe in Jesus. I read that one tract, and it made me think about my faith. The rest of them? They ended up in a recycling bin or a drawer. This culture is not one that is responsive to the message of fear, of repenting to avoid Hell. People don't believe that anymore. They're not open to it; they're quite happy to go on being invincible, without your silly comic book that tells them how terrible they are.
That fear might have worked a hundred years ago; it might even have worked fifty years ago. It doesn't work now, not in most of America.
And fear especially doesn't work when you include yelling and gruesome pictures.
Here's the thing: I don't care if you're pro-choice or pro-life, I don't care if you're homophobic or not, I don't care if you hate stem cell research, want more women pastors in the church, care to save the environment, don't like our president, want to pull all of the troops out of Iraq. You can have your beliefs. This goes for everyone, though.
Yelling them on street corners does not convert people to your beliefs. It makes them uncomfortable. They're not going to come over to you to learn more--they're going to cross at the corner and walk on the other side of the street. It pushes people away, and the nasty pictures are just going to do that more so.
All of your scare tactics push people away, and it makes it harder for the message to get through. So, how should we be representing Christ and our beliefs?
Love.
People need to know that they are loved. Your lifestyle, your actions show more about your beliefs than anything else. What's the right way to witness to people? Talk to them. Show Christ's love. Make friends before you try to talk to them about war or abortion or whatever it is about which you're convicted. Telling them that if they don't agree with you, they get to spend eternity in a lake of burning sulfur, is just going to harden them against you.
And please, please, be able to back up your beliefs if you want me to agree with you. A friend studying in the medical field said that he wishes people with a stance on abortion would talk to the doctors and patients who have been involved in them. Get personal perspective, get
unbiased facts (not just from your favorite pro-life website--might that not be just a tad biased?), and study up on it. If you are using scripture, make sure to go back to the Greek and Hebrew to know you aren't misquoting it, and remember the importance of context, both the verses around it and the history behind it. I'm not going to give you the time of day if I think your beliefs are completely ungrounded.
If nothing else, we need to just LOVE people. Separate the sin from the sinner. If you believe homosexuality is a sin (and have backing for your beliefs), that's fine--but do not make my friend feel unwelcome in the church. God does still love him; nothing we do can separate us from the love of God. And you should love him, too, even if you don't condone his lifestyle. You're not going to go to Hell for befriending a homosexual, or any sinner. Jesus himself did it! So, welcome them, everyone. Give God's love, and sneak in your little agenda after the fact.
So, to all the non-Christians out there, I apologize for my brothers and sisters who have yelled at you on street corners and told you that your lifestyle was going to send you to Hell. I'm embarrassed at their actions. Not all Christians are like that; not all Christians necessarily believe that. The truth is, God loves you, and that's all that matters. Please, keep giving us Christians a chance. We're not all jerks.
Have you been hurt or offended by a Christian who was trying to evangelize to you? What are ways that Christians could better reach the lost without being overly judgmental?
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Comments (20)
I am just as willing to apologize for the things Christians have done over the ages as I am for the founding fathers owning slaves. Which is not at all. I am not responsible for the evils of those before me, nor for those who claim to belong to the same group as me. I will do what I can to address and renounce the evils when I see them, but I am not going to apologize for others. It is pure idiocy and ignorance to identify all Christians on the basis of the actions of some just as it is pure idiocy and ignorance to do it for any group of people.
Honestly, it doesn't matter what I think, what you think, or what anyone else thinks because whatever is supposed to happen *will* happen. That's the truth. People can make "excuses" all day long about why they will not accept this or that, listen to him or her, or whatever else you want to throw out there, but the reality is...
@scrambledmegsntoast@xanga -
I think we do have a responsibility to accept the fact that Christians who came before us, in some instances committed truly egregious and reprehensible acts against others. I'm not certain that I owe an apology to the descendants of those who suffered as a result, but I think it is very possible that I do.
During World War II, many Jewish people died because of the stubborn unwillingness of the British, the American and the Canadian governments to give them sanctuary from Hitler's Germany and its death camps. In Canada, a few years ago, the son of the Canadian Federal Government minister, who refused asylum to a shipload of Jewish refugees, had the courage and the stamina to apologize on behalf of Canada to the relatives and friends of those Jewish passengers. Their ship had been forced to take them back to Germany where they perished in gas chambers!
The man who apologized on behalf of our country did the right thing even though he personally had had no hand in the matter! Had he not done so, he would have been tainted with the filthy brush of those who refused asylum to those innocent victims!
A pope from WWII days, turned his back on the cries of Jewish sufferers and subsequent popes refused to apologize for the evil. Until quite recently when, I think John Paul II had the guts to admit the wrongs of his predecessors and apologize on behalf of the church.
There are times when we have to be willing to recognize that in a very real sense, we inherit the mantle of the sins of our predecessors. Doing so can have a cleansing effect for many people, descendants of victims as well as those who might be considered descendants of the perpetrators.
@Grampa_David@xanga - I think we could argue the accuracy of many of the things around Pope Pious XII. I do understand your point, as Pope John Paul II apologized despite the fact that many of the things said about Pious are disputable. I don't have any problem with someone apologizing for the actions of people in the past if they feel it is necessary, I just don't like the idea of someone saying that we should do so or expect us to do so.
Best I can tell...hell is a really horrible and scary place...and to be quite honest, it IS a place that I fear. Spending eternity there sounds horrible. If I present the Gospel to someone and DON'T tell them about hell, I wouldn't be telling them the whole story.
The worst thing you can do while evangelizing, in my opinion, is go about befriending people but not really listening to them when they tell you about themselves. I've known people who will ask "get to know you" questions of someone they'd like to witness to, but they don't actually listen to what the person is saying; they're just waiting for the chance to interrupt and talk about the gospel. And after that is said and done, they'll walk away thinking they've done their job without calling that person at another time to have lunch, hang out, and get to know them better. It makes non-Christians see all Christians as having an agenda.
Don't be superficial. Even if someone rejects the gospel, don't reject them as a friend. Even if that person never comes to faith, at the very least, they can be inspired by your actions and understand that we're not all hate-spewing, ignorant imbeciles.
Worst way is the lady who always is on the news screaming "God hates you", "You are all sinners and go to hell", etc...
i only view religion as valuable for personal fulfillment and improvement. the easiest way to "convert" me would be to show me how my current life would be better if i was of a certain faith. the best way to do that? show how it helped you. nothing gets me interested in trying something new more than learning about how it helped someone else.
if you want me to convert based on what might happen to me after death, it's also your job to convince me to care about that topic to start with. and chances are, you won't (at least not without offending me horribly).
If we continue to remember our salvation is all by the grace of God, that we didn't deserve it or earn it, then we will more likely be humble and loving rather than judgmental. Compare the Pharisee w/ the tax collector in Luke 18. We need to always see ourselves as undeserving like the tax collector.
We shouldn't purposefully act to offend people, yet as we proclaim the Gospel of Christ, the message is offensive. It tells us we are condemned sinners headed for hell. It tells us we cannot save ourselves and we need a Savior. By nature, people don't like to hear that. Apart from being born again we think can be good enough on our own to please God.
Very good post. When we try to convert people we are already looking down on them as if they are less than us. When we try to convert them by using fear we are trying to twist their arms. Trying to sell people on a belief system by telling them heaven or hell awaits them depending on their decision to agree with us or not is one of the most clever and devilish things in religion. It's been used to delude people for ages. Imagine how great it would be if you could convince people to buy a bridge by telling them the bridge will be waiting for them after they die. If I could do that I'd be a billionaire ten times over but in effect I'd also be signaling to them that the bridge has no relevance or use in this life. Pay me now. You're prize will be awaiting you after you're dead and buried. The greatest gimmick ever and you have to make people fearful to for them to fall for it. One of my Muslim friends told me that the extreme terrorists are indoctrinated (substitute brainwashed) into believing there will be a bunch of virgins waiting for them in the next world if they blow themselves and others up in this world. Did you ever notice how people who yell warnings about the afterlife seem brainwashed? In reality heaven and hell exist within our own lives. Jesus stated this several times but his teachings have been greatly twisted by authorities who did not want people to become empowered. Those twists have been parroted and have become "tradition" ever since.
So Katja88, As a Christian yourself, What is the gospel? How does one get saved from an eternity away from God? And Why?
and please explain: You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. - Matthew 10:22
Repent is used by Jesus 25 times in the scriptures. and He spoke in the crowds. Sure He went to their houses and hung out with them. but the majority of His time was spent out in the open, shouting at people, or simply raising His voice so that all may hear Him. And what did He talk about? To His disiciples, He taught how to be like Him. To the crowds and the Pharisees, He urged them to repent.
Please read Luke 13...here's an excerpt. 5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
24"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.'
But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'
Author: This is great (though I could have done without "sneak in your little agenda" at the end). So much of our "evangelism" efforts seem to be occupied with putting every possible religious barrier in the way of Jesus!
@scrambledmegsntoast@xanga - Would you have a problem with, "I'm so sorry that's the impression you got of Christianity, and I agree with you that some Christians can be such jerks sometimes. In fact, here's what Jesus said about religious hypocrites..." I've found this to be a great conversation opener while also helping defuse that particular bomb. In other words, I'm not "sorry" about other people's shortcomings (because they aren't mine), but I sure regret them (because of what they do to the Gospel)!
@hubbaduh@xanga - Granted hell is "part of the story"; the OP's point seems to be that it's not necessarily the most compelling part of the story to present to our particular audience. Trying to play on fears and concerns they don't share will probably even be counter-productive. I've talked to so many people whose biggest objections to Christianity have to do with ghastly misconceptions of Hell ("God tortures you forever if you don't love Him enough!") they've clearly picked up from well-intentioned evangelists.
@diew_itz_dubbz@xanga - The Greek word translated "repent" literally means, quite simply, "change your mind." Showing people that Christianity is not just about "fire insurance" is a great way to help them to change their minds about it. People will never turn away from their sins unless we show them something worth turning to instead-- namely, the love of Jesus!
@Pass_the_Aura@xanga - i agree. in order for the solution to be effective, the problem must be made known and understood.
The Good News cannot be "Good" without a opposite Bad News. In Christianity today, There seems to be a extreme on both sides of evangelism. One is God is all love, and the other is FIRE FIRE BRIMSTONE. There has to be a balance. Christ is the Lamb but He is also the Lion.
He is love, Yes God is love, But God is also Just. Jsut as the old ministry of condemnation was given by the Ten Commandments, the new ministry is the redemption through Jesus Christ. You need both.
I completely agree that Hell is an important message of salvation, but people don't believe in it, so telling them about it will just get you glares and rolled eyes. We need to find a different way to share the "good news" (gospel) that doesn't start with telling people that they're horrible. That comes in later.
good point. we need to find a way to share the gospel without being full of angst and be overbearing.
but here's some food for thought: imagine you go to the doctors, and even before checking up on you, he goes i have the cure, you'll be fine in no time. pats you on the shoulder and walks out. how would you react? you might be thinking i'm fine. so i dont need this. what do i have thats wrong with me. Everything seems to be going perfect.
Would you be glad with his diagnosis?
how much more appreciative would you be, if the doctor examined you thoroughly, sat you down and said listen you have cancer, it's in a pretty intense stage. How would you react? Devasted? Scared maybe? But then the doctor says "Don't be alarmed. there is a cure, we'll have you cured up in no time" How grateful would you be to the doctor?
without understanding the bad news " All have fallen short of the glory of God", there can be no true understanding of the awesome good new "Jesus died and rose again to wash away your dirt filled soul, so that whoever believes in their heart and confess with their mouth shall be saved"
@TheSutraDude@xanga - You wrote "When we try to convert people we are already looking down on them as if they are less than us. When we try to convert them by using fear we are trying to twist their arms. Trying to sell people on a belief system by telling them heaven or hell awaits them depending on their decision to agree with us or not is one of the most clever and devilish things in religion. "
You realize in saying this you are calling the very core of Christianity "devilish". The great commission given by Christ and also taught by the Apostles is to go and make Disciples of all nations. These verses are not in doubt by any means. To disagree is one thing but to claim that those who follow this commission are helping a devilish cause is a severe character attack not only on millions of well meaning Christians who are worried about peoples souls after they die but an attack on the very Christ of Scripture.
I can understand how you could interpret what I said as being "a severe character attack not only on millions of well meaning Christians who are worried about peoples souls after they die but an attack on the very Christ of Scripture" and I'm glad you responded.
I'm not attacking well meaning Christians. What I am attacking is the perversion of the teachings of the very Christ of Scripture by churches starting as early as the middle ages, creating fear in people and using that fear to the advantage of the churches.
Jesus said "The Kingdom of Heaven is within". He also said to God (although I don't have the quote in front of me so I have to paraphrase but this is close. Feel free to dismiss it if it doesn't sound familiar) "The Spirit is in me and I am in you and I have given the same to my disciples."
I see so many arguments go back and forth between Christians and practitioners of many religions about the relevance of religion in the present. I hear people say that in a nutshell, the poor conditions in the world today don't really matter because this or that religion is for the purpose of the next life. It's not their fault that they believe this. This is what they've been told they should believe if they are to truly believe the teachings of Jesus Christ and it causes much suffering in the world. More importantly, it keeps the person who believes this life doesn't matter because Heaven awaits them in the next from ever discovering the Essence of what Jesus was trying to show people. I hope I'm being clear. I thought your post and thoughts were excellent. The one thing I would take issue with is if I is going to try to convert someone to my way of thinking I better be damned sure that I know what the hell I'm talking about from my own experience and not only interpreting it from a book or worse, accepting the interpretation of someone deemed an authority. To speak in the vernacular, Jesus spent a lot of time trashing the religious authorities of his day for good reason. He knew what he was talking about. They didn't and they were deceiving people, intentionally or not. There is an expression that could apply to unintentionally leading people down the wrong path..."The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
Again, I appreciate your reply and understand your concern. If you have any others or if I'm still not being clear enough feel free to let me know again. Respect to you.
You know a perspective, while interesting, is going to be incomplete when it is based upon a false dichotomy.
In this case the author makes an understandable category error by putting love and fear as mutually exclusive qualities or dimensions.
Before addressing what is ultimately a pragmatic argument about evangelistic technique I want to point out that it does not take a Bible scholar to understand that all through scripture a frequent response to an encounter with God is abject fear . Let me be clear for all those folks who have heard the “fear of God really means being really impressed or awed by God” sermons. Isaiah’s comment “Woe to me, I am ruined for I am a man of unclean lips” is not properly understood “Woah! I’m impressed!” The constant refrain of angels telling people not to be afraid when they were encountered should not be translated, “don’t be so impressed, it’s just little old me.” Fear of God clearly involves being frightened.
That said, the argument in the blog is really saying don’t warn people they are going to hell because they don’t believe in it. What that means is really, you are hoping to use fear as a motivator but it is ineffective because people don’t really believe in the scenario you are describing. I buy that. If I tell someone walking on train tracks they are going to get killed by a train and they don’t believe in trains I might be right but my argument will be unpersuasive.
Additionally, the blog argues Christians should not say or do things that are offensive to non-Christians. There is another category error here when the blogger associates being loving with not offending. Further, the blogger bases his evaluation of the appropriateness of evangelistic method on the affective response of the non-Christian. The logic works like this. This information or communication offends me or makes me dislike Christians therefore it is bad.
Let’s look at these ideas. I want to propose an idea that is somewhat radical but I ask you to consider it before reacting. When we say someone “feels offended” in terms of classical Christianity we mean they have felt their pride wounded. Like a Rorschach test, the experience tells us more about the person who is offended than the offender. I have a friend who didn’t go to college and got offended whenever people spoke about their college experiences. She imagined them “rubbing it in” or “thinking they are so superior”. The poor offenders had no idea she was being upset.
So the blogger is right. If I am selling something offending someone may alienate my prospect and pitching my product in a way that is as attractive as possible to the prospect is wise.
However, if I am not salesperson selling a lifestyle enhancing product or service, but a doctor selling lifesaving medicine – I am limited by how nuanced I can be in my sale. Do I tell the patient they are terminal? Do I use tough love with the alcoholic or do I avoid offending them?
Unfortunately, no one can come to Christ without humility. None of us can experience conviction of sin without some compromise to our pride. We cannot accurately diagnose the human condition and protect everyone’s ego. The author is very much spot on from a pragmatic point of view. A spoonful of sugar does help the medicine go down. The more the message of the gospel feels like the messages of the world the more welcome and attractive they will be.
Like the tough love of an intervention. You cannot rescue an addict if you take all your cues from whether or not they are happy about what you have to say. And like an intervention sometimes even from the author’s pragmatic point of view – tough love works.