The microwave is one of the greatest inventions ever.
You all know you can make popcorn, ramen noodles, maybe even macaroni and cheese in a microwave. But did you know you can fry hamburgers in a microwave? And eggs? And bacon?
It saves a lot of time.
Actually, eggs are better fried on a stove. They're all right coming from the microwave, but they're a bit rubbery and look, taste, and feel exactly like the eggs you see in a McDonald's breakfast.
At OSU yesterday there was this sweet old lady handing out tracts and telling everyone who passed by that "Jesus you loves you very very much." I took one just to be nice and make her feel like she wasn't wasting her time out there. Maybe I'm just being cynical, but I think things like tract distribution, preaching on the sidewalk, telling people Jesus loves them as they walk by and so on, are mostly a waste of time. Someone handing me a tract or a Gideons New Testament isn't much different from someone handing me a free sample of grilled scallops in Safeway.
Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me that most people who are handing out tracts are only trying to look or feel more spiritual...either they feel guilty because they think they're not doing enough for Christ, or they feel like their peers in the church are one-upping them spiritually. And so here they are, on the sidewalk at OSU, handing out tracts to people who barely even look at them and throw those tracts into the nearest garbage can.
The worst part is, I don't know a single person in my generation who
came to Christ through something like that. There's a common theme
that runs through people's stories, and it involves Christians who
befriended them, who volunteered to help them in a time of need, and so
on.
Trying to convert people en masse just doesn't work anymore, period. Christians claim to be trying to help people become followers of Christ, and yet the tactics they so often use are more in line with corporate advertising. Advertise on TV via televangelists, have your grunt laborers hand out free samples on the sidewalk, have 800 numbers people can call if they're interested. It works if you're selling a product. It sucks if you're actually trying to change peoples' lives.
Comments (4)
people that there is an alternative to a life outside of Christ is seldom going
to be conveyed effectively by a tract, a bill board or even a Sunday morning
sermon. (It could be but most of the ones that need it aren’t going to be
there) It is all about building relationships with people. Being
interested in what THEY do instead of only what WE do. Listening to people, spending
time with people and not making snap judgments about people.
Conversational Christianity...good "rubber meets the road" stuff.
and yeah....bacon in the microwave...good stuff... ;)
Yes, I agree . . . somewhat. We first need to establish a relationship with people if we are going to win them for Christ. However, there are indeed folks who have come to know the Lord through a tract or evangelistic crusuade. My dad is an example of this--the power of God to change a life that was yielded to Him. We cannot limit God to one specific method of winning people to Himself. And even if one is not converted to the "Mennonite way" as my dad was at age 15, a simple tract or CD can really be a means for God to transform a life. But to say the truth, I do prefer the method of personal evangelism.
I to prefer personal evangelism. However, I don't like to put God in a box and say He can't work using other methods, because he has and He will. I think we just need to be willing and open to the Spirits nudging.
"Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me that most people who are handing out tracts are only trying to look or feel more spiritual..."
My response to that is: none of us likes the feeling of being "judged" as we so often hear. So I think it is only fair not to "judge" others motives for handing out tracts. That's between them and God.
If the Holy Spirit is working, God can use the craziest methods you could imagine. He is not limited by our efforts.
My opinion....