Something that has bothered me for some time, even when I was in that world, was the way we were taught to think about, and go about, sharing our faith with others.\u00a0 Our \u201cwitness\u201d was more a strategy, a plan, a method, than it was anything about just \u201cbeing\u201d living, and walking through this life in love and service to others.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve all encountered the faux niceness, smile, and eagerness of those who approach us to sell us something.\u00a0 We are used to it when out shopping.\u00a0 And, after all, people are just trying to make a living.\u00a0 The buyer and seller know what is going on.\u00a0 We have credit cards and they have things to sell us. \u00a0They see us coming; we see them sizing us up.\u00a0 It\u2019s all part of the game.<\/p>\n
But what are we to make of this same mentality when it comes to \u201cselling\u201d the gospel to someone?\u00a0 I can hear the objection.\u00a0 \u201cWe are not selling anything, we are sharing our faith because we are told to and such is how people are saved.\u201d\u00a0 It is too easy though to turn this around.\u00a0 We could easily have every advertiser, every salesperson, every company tell us they are not trying to \u201csell\u201d us anything.\u00a0 They are simply sharing their faith in their product, what it has done for them and others, and how it can be our \u201csavior\u201d in this one instance and area too.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s hard to differentiate the two in practice.\u00a0 They look like the same thing.\u00a0 The difference though is one is done rather openly, or we are at least not shocked if we become aware of some stealth and deception.\u00a0 However, the other is done with stealth and deception, by design, in what was initially thought by us to be an authentic attempt to be-friend us.<\/p>\n
What I mean is that most of us, in most casual social and non-programmed settings, try to be as honest, as open, and as transparent as possible when approaching or interacting with other people.\u00a0 We hope there is a space where neither is trying to manipulate, sell, influence, sway, persuade, teach, preach, or move the other in their direction.\u00a0 We want a space where each can just \u201cbe\u201d and simply enjoy the interaction, the company of the other, in mutual respect and peace.\u00a0 There are no hidden agendas or expectations.<\/p>\n
There can be no deception in those moments if we truly want to connect with someone beyond the superficial.\u00a0 The problem is that evangelism understood as a mandatory method of verbal presentation undercuts this notion of transparent honest interaction and being with someone.\u00a0 Whenever we see another person as an \u201copportunity\u201d to tell them something we think they need to hear, we act deceptively if our \u201cfriendship\u201d our kindness, our interest in them is only for that reason\u2014a reason that is withheld from them initially.<\/p>\n
I should note this is also the case if we are waiting for them to ask us a spiritual or religious question.\u00a0 Even if we never bring it up, waiting for them to, the deception is still present if this is our main reason for our interest in them.<\/p>\n
I call this soft evangelism.\u00a0 Of course, there are harder, more open types.\u00a0 Going door to door.\u00a0 Handing out tracks.\u00a0 Street preaching.\u00a0 Billboards.\u00a0 In a way however, I find these methods more honest.\u00a0 It is clear what is happening.\u00a0 They have something they want to tell us.\u00a0 They are not telling us they want to know us, or be our friend, or help us outside this message (although maybe they do), they just need to tell us something.\u00a0 Once they have done that, their main<\/em> purpose is accomplished.\u00a0 Have a nice day.\u00a0 At least there is no deception here as far as motives.<\/p>\n Soft evangelism, the type that feigns friendship, that is built entirely on the idea of an \u201cend-game\u201d of \u201csharing\u201d the gospel- is deceptive.\u00a0 It sees people as, \u201copportunities\u201d \u201cgoals\u201d even if subliminally, or ways to help the sharer feel he is being obedient to Scripture.\u00a0 It becomes something we can scratch off our list, like prayer, Bible reading, or church attendance.<\/p>\n I realize evangelicals will object to my description.\u00a0 Their response might be: If we love people and don\u2019t want them to go to hell, then we should tell them about Jesus, and we are commanded to do so in the Bible.\u00a0 My response: Then be open and honest about it.\u00a0 Tell people upfront that such is the main<\/em> reason you are talking to them, made contact, approached, or want to get to know them.<\/p>\n In other words, tell them it was as if you were walking by their house and saw it was on fire.\u00a0 You ran in to tell them, so that they might be saved.\u00a0 You didn\u2019t run in to become their friend, to help them with bills, with chores, or the loss of a loved one.\u00a0 It was really just about the fire.\u00a0 And tell them you are doing this because you are commanded to and if you don\u2019t, you are being disobedient. Also tell them if they don\u2019t respond, \u201ccorrectly\u201d before they die, to what you tell them about Jesus, they will spend eternity in hell.<\/p>\n At least it\u2019s being honest.\u00a0 Now there is no need to become their friend or find out how we might really help in their life, their life in the here-and-now.\u00a0 There is no need now to make conversation, wherein we have to try and move the conversation in a spiritual direction.\u00a0 Our work is done, and both parties know where they stand with each other.<\/p>\n In my view, any attempt to be-friend, or interact with another person for any reason beyond their being another human worthy of our attention, respect, and love, is deceptive, no matter the supposed good intentions as to ends.<\/p>\n Approach and receive people out of an honest and open love, with no agenda or hidden motive.\u00a0 Anything else is unworthy of them, and the gospel.<\/p>\n