The subject of this post can be found at 24:42-37:49 under
ACT TWO. RAW SEX
WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO GET ME TO LISTEN TO?!?! I know that's what you are thinking. I can read minds. Its an eye-catching title. I bet it conjures up some ideas of what the story is about. Expectations of scenarios, strategies, graphic images, history, and whatever your terribly creative imagination can come up with. The point is, you and hundreds of college students become intrigued and want to know more... which was the exact intention of those who put those words on flyers distributed around a college campus.
The sponsoring group? A college christan group. The story is actually about practices in evangelism. If you've walked around populated, non-religious schools you might have seen or fallen for one of these tactics. Movie night with discussion. A poll on religion. Christmas party. Bonfires. Broomball. Unsuspecting students attend these events with some expectation of a night of fun or a debate, but it turns into a kind of elevator pitch for the Gospel.
Let me illustrate what people may think of this scenario...
Step One: Non-intimidating Invitation
Invite: Niki Brown
Step Two: Force Feed the Message
Photo: Pictures by Pwyrdan
The interviewee brings up some thought-provoking ideas. Is the point of evangelism to save as many souls as possible? Are these tactics honest? What kind of impression do those experiences have on unbelievers? How does it affect their salvation?
[warning: long flashback]
I remember when I was a freshman I visited a church (which will remain nameless) known to have a rather aggressive evangelism ministry. I considered myself a Christian but I knew my spiritual relationships was a bit rocky at the time and I was church-hopping looking for a place to call home during my time in college. A girl approached me after service and invited me to lunch. She made it sound as if all the new freshman attendees were invited to this lunch.
My expectation was a long table of freshman girls intermingled with a couple of them like at sorority rush events.
Reality, boy was I surprised when I found one of me surrounded by 3 of them at the table. Can you say intimidating?
They turned on the questions. The tough ones. No questions about where I was from or my major or what I wanted to be when I grow up. They jumped right in. I thought, why are they asking me these things? I'm already a Christian. Are they trying to evangelize one of their own? I thought I was okay in my faith but they made me feel like I was answering the questions all wrong. I shot out of there as quick as lightening the moment that lunch was over and never turned back. I ended up joining a church not affiliated with my college campus so I never really had to partake in flyering for my fellowship on campus or forcing myself to talk to strangers about my beliefs.
Looking back, I didn't understand the things I do now. They were good questions but I wasn't ready to answer those questions. I was caught terribly off-guard. The moment I realized I was the only one there I felt a bit lied to, just answered questions quickly to move things along and wanted out ASAP.
What kind of questions?
Example- If you died right now how sure are you that you will go to heaven? A rather basic question that took me a long time to really understand. Everyone memorizes John 3:16 in vacation bible school. Jesus saves. I remember telling to my church deacon that Jesus is the only way into heaven because I knew it was the right answer but its actual meaning didn't really sink in until later. I now know salvation relies on accepting the gift of grace (via Christ's death) not ANYTHING else. There is not a magical # of good deeds that will get you to heaven or allow you to receive that gift. Its a gift. If someone gives you a box wrapped in a pretty ribbon. You accept and say thanks. Simple as that.
At the time of that lunch, my thinking was that God put me on this earth for a purpose and mission. I don't know that purpose yet but I know I have not yet completed it. Therefore, God is not going to let me die until I fulfill that mission so this is a silly question. Why think about death when I'm just starting life. So after sitting there with my deer-caught-in-headlights look for a few minutes I mumbled uhhhh...... 89%. This was clearly the wrong answer. Oh those lunchers went on and on trying to explain there is only 0% or 100% and nothing in between. They could have talked forever but my mind was set on the exit door.
What did it take for me to finally understand?
(even though you are wondering why this flashback is so long) I am glad you asked. A couple months after that lunch I was sitting in the backseat of a car on my way to my new fellowship's retreat near Santa Cruz drifting off to sleep. By this point, I was so wrapped up in being pledging for a community service fraternity and hanging out with dormmates that church had become one of those things you put to the side for when you might have time. I only attended the retreat in an attempt to try to finally get to know the other people because each time I made it out to fellowship I completely forgot who I met the previous time and ended up reintroducing myself about 4 or 5 times to the same people. Despite my dazed stupor, I heard bits and pieces of the sermon playing on the topic of works versus grace. I had my EUREKA moment and drifted off into a pleasant slumber. After I woke up I knew I had finally unearthed something special. I was giddy all day. Ecstatic. I could not contain myself. That is what it took. It wasn't someone debating or lecturing me to come to this realization. You can't force salvation on anyone. It's a personal choice. I know each person is different. Each person's experience and testimony is different. That was just my case. I was already in a position where I was surrounded by people who caused me to think about my beliefs. From both sides. Some people encouraged and some people discouraged me. Perhaps the goal of some of these evangelism efforts is simply to get people to think about these ideas that wouldn't normally come up in their everyday conversation.
I finally realized...
1) what those people were talking about 2) I don't HAVE to do good works but its more like a natural response to the overflow of joy and wanting to imitate Christ 3) people want to share the good news (aka the Gospel) with other people because its GREAT NEWS! and maybe you care about people and don't want them going to hell so all those suspicious tactics are actually done out of love 4) there are people out there who consider themselves "Christian" and believe they are going to heaven simply because they go to church or because they were raised in a Christian household or because their friends are all Christian or they are just good people and deserve it. unfortunately, if John 14:6 is completely true, then that may not be enough. 5) maybe Christians need to ask each other the tough questions to make sure our lives are agreement with the book we profess as truth.
John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
[flash forward. finally]
I bet those unsuspecting students had some expectation that got shattered as they began to realize the ulterior motives of the event sponsors. The attendees were not prepared for the sponsors were. The speaker argues that Christians are called to make
disciples not converts.
Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
SO...
1) Do you reach out to any stranger and share the gospel as quickly as possible because the world could end any minute, like now?These people tend to be a bit more aggressive with lines like REPENT NOW or you are headed for hell and the end is near!
2) Or do you become friends with nonbelievers with the intention to share the gospel and eventually casually bring it up on your own after you develop an honest relationship?
3) Or do you become friends with nonbelievers with/without the intention to share the gospel but let them learn from others by introducing them to other Christians, inviting them to church and taking them to no pressure events hoping they will pick it up on their own or ask you?
4) Or do you try to make friends with nonbelievers without the intention to evangelize but let them know you are Christian just in case they decide to ask you things?
5) Or do you just not worry about strangers' or your friends salvation, never mention it but be prepared in case a stranger or nonbeliever friend decides to start seeking and happens to ask you questions?
It sounds like churches disagree on these things. A bad first impression could turn someone off from wanting to listen but everyone ends up thinking about death and their beliefs at some point in life so despite bad first impression atleast they know someone to go to for questions when they are good and ready. What does evangelism mean to you? Is it for strangers? Is it only for people you already have a relationship with? Is it used to simply introduce people to Christianity? Is it only for those who are genuinely interested on their own? Would you share your beliefs with a friend even if they didn't ask?
Credit: fanpop
or any Harry Potter book 
or any movie starring Michael Cera 
