After reading the book “a.k.a. Lost” by Jim Henderson I was disappointed. I wasn’t so much disappointed with the book’s content but I think I set my hopes way to high. It isn’t that I think it is poor book (On the contrary, I think it is a good filled with great ideas), I was just expecting some newer ideas. Maybe it’s because I’ve read a lot of recent books on evangelism and for the most part this book echoed similar ideas/concepts.
There are several things I took away from this book. One is the idea of doing the common in evangelism, using the analogy of Seinfeld Evangelism and that we need to look at our evangelistic opportunities more like a Seinfeld episode where it is just about ordinary life. I agree…I am just an ordinary person and need ordinary forms of evangelism and ways to look at it. Second, I really liked the book’s focus on listening, something we can all do more of whatever our religious bent. It is something I need to practice more in my life and Henderson’s idea of “non-manipulative intentionality” was interesting. I think that is something we all need to consider.
Although it is still mulling over in my mind, the question Henderson asks of the Church and as individual Christians is poignant: “What business are we in? Are we defenders of God’s refutation, or are we the proclaimers of his love?” (Page 84) This is something I have thought a lot about and have been working through in my ministry and life in various ways. This has once again prompted me to think and reflect on that question in greater detail.
What I found troubling was that although he argues against the sales-pitch approach to evangelism, which is evident in modern evangelism techniques (even that phrase demonstrated that), the alternative he gives still seems to smell like a sale pitch – just in a more relational one. I guess I wonder if we aren’t talking about getting rid of sales evangelism and instead we’re talking about replacing it with a different, more relational, sales technique. Much like the change in sales techniques in our culture, which is now more relational than ever. It seems that instead of looking at a completely different model we are just altering the modern on to better suit our culture.
It isn’t that I am arguing with what Henderson is presenting…his ideas are a welcome change and I agree with many of them. I guess I am just wondering if we can ever be free from the concept of selling the gospel, because in some way we are by nature of persuading, attempting to have someone buy into the concept of God that we are in some way “selling.” Thus, ultimately the question needs to be asked: is that necessarily bad? A great question worth pondering but I think we’ll leave the question of persuasion for another day.
When it comes to evangelism, I think we need to focus on the great commandment and remember that we are called to love with nothing in return. The opposite of sales…we are called to radically give away love because we have been loved – to live through word and deed the message of love. Maybe in that there is an element of persuasion…to persuade to the point of love…and is that bad? Is that manipulative? I think that is a question we need to continue asking of ourselves. It is one I need to reflect upon.
