Evangelism "As Seen on TV"

I remember being a young high school student with an honest zeal for things spiritual. That time in my life was one filled with deep frustration and inability. Wanting to grow closer to God, but not being taught any really sustainable traits, I found what I consider easily measured spirituality. The depth of one's relationship to God was something concretely measurable, it was something seen in specific acts. As long as I claimed to believe the Bible, memorize it, pray, go to church, and evangelize I was on track spiritually. The weightier matters of the law, like love and compassion, were things not to be trifled with, after all they were not as easily measured and one might seem liberal doing them.

Part of the spiritual crucible that I associated with had a passion for evangelism. To tell the whole world has always seemed part of the Christian message in my mind. This meant concrete applications of spreading the good news. I was coming to the end of my high school years and I was certain about going to Bible college. For me then, it was completely natural to go and share the gospel with people. The methods that I was introduced to have lingered in my mouth like the taste of a bad beer. Most prominent among these methods is one of preaching the law before grace. Among Christians it is my understanding that there has been a centuries old debate about what to preach first; law or grace. Starting from the law seems only chronological, however, I believe it leads to failing theology.

The most prominent method I was taught and that I used is endorsed/founded by a man called Ray Comfort. "Hell's Best Kept Secret" is the name of the program. This is a method of bullying people into their guilt under the law. The major venue for this type of evangelism is on the streets with random people. Problems abound with this approach to evangelism. Starting with asking a random person on the street about whether or not she believes she is a good person. Naturally most people will respond by saying, "yes." Next as the evangelizer you should ask her if she has ever told a lie, ever stolen anything, ever looked at man with lust in her heart. To which naturally she will say yes. It is at this point that you lay it on, letting her know that according to the Bible she is a lying, thieving, adulterer. Then you ask if she thinks she will go to heaven. She will probably say yes. Then you ask her how God can let liars and thieves and adulterers into heaven. She will say she doesn't know, then you tell her about Jesus.

If I were to sum up most methods of evangelism I could do so in a way that parallels many products advertised on television. For example the ped egg (a scrapper for your nasty feet): "Tired of calloused feet tearing your pantyhose? Embarrassed how your feet look and feel? Introducing the ped egg! For just one easy payment of ... you can have the great looking feet you deserve" Now think of evangelism, "Tired of you life being terrible? Tired of being a lying thief? Introducing Jesus. For just coming to church and having a few awkward conversations with people telling them they are going to hell, your life can be completely better. You can have the life you deserve."

A few thoughts then come to my mind: when did Christianity become so corporate? Why is the gospel summed up into short quips that betray costly and compassionate grace? There are comical parallels between what is seen on Tv and the gospel, there are also many Christians (or at least people who wear Christian clothing) who come to the As seen on tv store I work at, coincidence I think not. I would love to write more about evangelism and the nature of the church, but I do not have the time.

Mundane Update

What do you do when you stop getting excited? Where do you find life, when there is no spice in it? What stories do you listen to, read, or join when they all sound bland? What happens when life seems only mundane? I find myself, yearning for something exciting, and groundbreaking to happen. Yet most events I encounter make me sad. Most of the information I receive hurts my heart, most of what I need to do is quite a lot less than fulfilling. This may just be my struggle for meaning or it may be something a little bit more. But maybe my desire to have full meaning and “destiny” has been warped. It might be that in the simple and mundane is where I am to find a consuming and present peace.

I find myself currently living a life, and I have to sometimes think that it is not mine. I go to a wonderful graduate school. I am working towards a master of arts in religion. The basic plan is that before I am 26 (or hopefully 25), I will have completed my degree. Then I will be an overeducated child, in the eyes of those who have experienced life. That seems to me myopic for their part, but understandable none the less. Sure I may not have encountered the same sensory events, I may not have participated in the same conversations and tossing abouts of ideas; but I have lived some, and unless all of life is the same mess my story matters to them, and of course, to me.

In my current state, I am working a part-time job in a field that might seem the opposite of my end goal. I work a retail job for a store that sells, stuff (junk more likely) to people who typically would live their lives happily without stopping by my place of work (elderly and impoverished). I must confess there are moments where I really wish that those who come in to my store would leave, so that I would not have to see their faces and expectations. However, in all fairness, most, if not all, of the stuff sold at my work actually functions properly, when used as directed. How does one find life in this situation? Where is the joy and hope?

Just the other day, a coworker of mine revealed to me all of their problems. These problems were most definitely severe and incredibly sad. Ironically, earlier in the week I had been confronted by the fact that I do not have a ‘ministry’ of sorts at the moment. I was even more disappointed when every serving opportunity scheduled at the church I attend takes place in hours I have to work. So I thought to myself that maybe this season in life was for receiving, how naive. It would appear as though God is showing me another area to serve, the mundane and ritual.

Finally, even though I absolutely love the church, I have found myself not desiring to go the past two Sundays. Part of it is that I am quite tired and attending church seems more of a chore than a refreshing experience (even though I am not actually “doing” ministry). But I continue to go and participate in the liturgies, to pray the prayers, hear the sermons, give my money. I continue to do so, because it is by participating in the mundane, the ritual that I will experience life; and maybe even find some life abundant.