A Bad Witness
I was approached by a person handing out Jesus pamphlets a while back and was asked if I knew Jesus. I just said yes, refused his pamphlet and kept walking. This has stuck with me and I think I am finally sure of what I think about this kind of witnessing. It is a bad witness.
I spent three years training on how to witness. It was a course called Evangelism Explosion (EE). We learned a script that was designed to bring someone to face where they were spiritually. The object of course was to get them to accept Christ as Lord. This was practiced on anyone who came to the church and was willing to have visit by our team (of course the person making the appointment wouldn’t be totally upfront about the true purpose of the visit). Anyway, we were totally prepared, having memorized the presentation, how to handle almost any response, and of course a lot of praying for this poor person who needs what we have.
But when I compare what I did in EE to the street evangelist there really isn’t much difference. Neither are very personal, nor are they very effective. Yes, you might just get lucky and the person is just at the point where they are looking for what you are selling, but how many people do you turn from the Lord to reach that one?
I have imagined my next encounter and it went something like this;
Witness (handing me a pamphlet): Do you know Jesus Christ?
Me: Yes, but do you?
Witness: Well, umm, yes! And I am telling others about him. Who would you say that Jesus is?
Me: Jesus is my Lord and the Savior of the world, but why do you reduce Him to this?
Witness: What do you mean?
Me: I mean you make Him out to be some sort of snake oil salesman with a miracle cure for whatever ails you.
Witness: I am sharing the gospel! Why would that offend you?
Me: It offends me because I know just how shallow your witness is. I used to be doing just what you are doing now. I realized it was wrong.
Witness: If this is wrong what is right?
Me: You must know that this is not working! Be of service to someone. Be a friend to someone. People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.
Anyway, I really don’t like this kind of witnessing. I have repented of all the wasted time I spent learning how to say the right things instead of doing something for somebody. Actually, if we find ourselves in front of someone who is ready to accept Christ, I don’t think we will have to say much more that “God loves you”. There is nothing we can do anyway, only the Holy Spirit can change the heart.
Three times Jesus told Peter to feed His sheep, not once did He say to hand out pamphlets.
Tags: Christianity, Church Criticism
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October 31, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Great ideas on what to say to the pamphlet pushers. I like the idea of throwing the question back in their face. I’ll have to try that if I’m cornered by one of those guys.
October 31, 2007 at 7:48 pm
I also did some of this – door to door and right downtown on Scarth Street – I always felt like it was pushy and was not for me.
I have come to the idea a true witness is the life we lead in front of others – and how we treat others. I have seen a lot of good Christian folk do some pretty weird stuff – and it actually does lead people in the same faith to question their beliefs or leave. I have seen that their witness has pushed people out the doors – it was not their intention of course – but it was the result of their actions.
November 5, 2007 at 6:28 pm
Welcome over Ken – good to see you made the wise choice and moved over also – it’s a fairly good site.
November 5, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Yeah, I like this! Thanks!