The major trend I see in attempting to “evangelize” or “witness” to people in the States (since that is where I am from, I will be concentrating most of my efforts here… applicability to those of you in other countries is unclear) fall along two major methods.

There’s the “Shotgun” method, as I call it, which generally involves going up to random people and asking them brazen questions (“Where do you think you’ll go after you die?” and such like, generally with the preface, “Can I ask you a few questions?”). For most people (Christians and non-Christians alike) I’ve talked to about this phenomenon, the only thing it generally gets across is that Christians are only doing it “for the numbers,” or to get as many people converted as possible, which, is most certainly not our goal. For every person that comes to Christ through this method, I would estimate there’s between 100 and 1000 that come away with a negative opinion of Christianity.

There’s also the “Shock Value” method, which generally involves very loud people standing on soapboxes and street corners, preaching that basically we all suck, and we’re all going to hell. As valid as that may be, the only thing it does is convince non-Christians that we’re a hateful, bigoted bunch.

Not exactly following Christ’s example, there, huh? Yes, I know He did talk about hell, but what He emphasized most of all was manifesting God’s love, and His saving Grace. A thirty-second conversation with someone on a deeply personal topic is not going to convince them that we love them, and through us, God loves them. Deriding them for their sins (because that’s honestly what it sounds like) is also not going to show that love, because most people don’t think they’re doing too bad.

The reason, I think, that these methods don’t work in America at all, is because we’re spoiled and jaded. We’re doing fine, for the most part, on our own. We’re not looking for ways to survive, or reasons to keep trudging through life (“Gotta get that iPhone….!”). We have someplace to sleep at night, we have three square meals a day, and we probably money we can spend on something other than survival means…!

To follow the very wise words of my mother (“Don’t complain about something unless you can propose a better solution and put it into practice.”), here’s an alternative. We, as Christians, care about people. We love them. We don’t want to see them fall to the consequences of their own actions, in this life or any other. Just like you can’t be best friends in an hour, just so you can’t convince people that you care about them, and so does God, in a brief conversation. Take the time to get to know people, to see them through God’s eyes, and to love them like He does, first. Then, when you do share with them, it’s genuine, from more than a surface level, and they’ll know it. It’s not a numbers game.

The seeds that fell on good soil did so, and thrived, because the sower took the time to prepare the ground – he pulled out the rocks, weeded out the thorns, and turned away from the road. So, follow his example.

My favorite book on this subject is “Permission Evangelism: When to Talk, When to Walk,” by Michael L. Simpson, and it, along with the Five Love Languages is on my “Should be required reading” list for Christians (and the love languages book for humanity in general). And I’m extending an offer: If you want either of those books but don’t want to spend the money for them — I’ll buy you a copy.

Zhai’helleva,

Raeliyah