Impersonal Evangelism

You know that truth that it's harder to notice something when it's common place to you, but others who aren't so familiar with it can notice it much easier? Well, since we've returned to the States (having been gone for 8 months) a few things have jumped out at me that I didn't notice before (granted, it was probably more obvious during Christmas).

Businesses were sporting signs that said "Keep Christ in Christmas" or "Christ is the Reason for Christmas". I watched the news one night and saw that an employee got in trouble for wearing a pen on her shirt with a similar message. Not to mention the Christian bumper stickers and Jesus fish. All this info. processed into what I've been experiencing there in Costa Rica helped me see something.

You've probably heard of "Personal Evangelism". There are books on the subject and I even had a class by the same name in Bible College. What I noticed was that the American society is moving more towards im-personal evangelism. The society almost forces us to because it is so fast paced and impersonal. Usually, the only non-Christians (that aren't family) that most North American Christians get to know well are their co-workers and maybe their next door neighbors.

Because I'd been gone for a while I could see clearly the impersonal evangelism methods of us Christians here in the States. In Costa Rica life is more tranquilo and the culture, for the most part, is more personal. Conversations are a little longer and walks are a bit slower. If we want someone to know we're Christians there in CR it usually comes up as we're talking. A Christian t-shirt or pen or bumper sticker isn't necessary (especially since we don't have a car). Are these becoming necessary in the States? I hope not.

I encourage you to get to know someone who you see often but have never talked to. Talk a little longer than normal and walk a little slower than normal. It's helped me, but it was kind of forced on me because I lived in that culture. You might have to force it on yourself.

I encourage you (and myself) to be more personal in your evangelism in 2009. Try not to be so "hit and run" like I used to be. Ask the Lord to help you and remember, "Tranquilo!"