Some customers at work today tried to convert me to Christianity. They just wouldn’t stop talking about how much God loves me, how I can be set free from sin, how I can be healed. They invited me and my coworker to come to their event tonight. Needless to say, neither of us even really considered going, although we said we’d “think about it”.
As soon as I took their invitation card, memories of past mass-marketed evangelism events came back to me. You come in clutching your friend, since you have no idea why you’re stepping foot in a strange place like a church. The night begins with an icebreaker game, where they make sure that you get separated from the few people there that you actually know, because for some reason, they think that putting you into a group with complete strangers and having you awkwardly avoid eye contact with them is somehow beneficial. Then, a band comes on stage who plays a bunch of songs about God that you totally don’t get, so you just sit and nervously check your watch every two minutes, waiting until you can go home. Finally, a speaker comes on and talks about how you’re a sinner, how you need God, how the ABCs of salvation can save you from burning in Hell. Then there’s an altar call, where they try to get people who have “made a decision for Christ tonight” to come up to the stage, so that people can lay hands on you and pray for you. After all that, you’re allowed to leave the sanctuary and pick at the snacks in the hall. Then you beg your friend to take you home because you felt so out of your element.
Although I am a Christian, I’m not a big fan of these types of events anymore. The way I see it, it’s just like spam - it’s unwanted, annoying and it makes you feel uncomfortable. Maybe I’m jaded, but I find that mass evangelism, like spam, is just a big numbers game. Get more people through the door and get more Christians leaving them at the end of the night. Although most people will just not be interested, a percentage will. In the same way that most people avoid canvassers on the street who shout this and that about abortion, marijuana or same-sex marriage, we avoid pushy Christians who look at people as if they are conversion prospects.
If somebody really cared about my spiritual life, they would take the time to build a relationship with me, cry with me, laugh with me, share their burdens with me. We could talk about what each of us think about God and share some dialogue. If a close friend wanted to talk to me about spiritual issues, I would absolutely welcome it. But when a random stranger wants to convert me to Christianity, I immediately close up.
It’s times like these when I feel alienated by modern Christianity, although I do believe in God. Sometimes, I really wish there was an alternative to the institutional church.
“Bring in and convert a friend, save him/her from sin and in doing so, save yourself! Make sure that he/she gives us $100 to wash his/her soul, and oh, give us $50 dollars, because we know what you did last week!”
Sometimes you really have to wonder, what’s the difference between a cult and what appears to be mainstream Christianity.
Although, I disagree with the wiki definition if you Google it — I thought that there was more of the world’s population that was Muslim, which makes more sense I think, since the population is greater in Asia. Christianity is, surely, however, more widespread.
Another good Google search?
“define: pyramid scheme”
Pyramid schemes are illegal. Just saying.
I have basically nothing against followers of God, as long as they don’t try to do anything to me, like attempt to convert me, etc… recent Kansas ruling aside (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/09/national/09kansas.html). Generally, I don’t even care what religion you are or aren’t.
It’s the organizations that scare the hell out of me.
I think there is an alternative to the institional church… Don’t go. You could always start up your own new church, but… who’s going to stop you from doing the same thing? Space and time cost money.
stewie. I was wondering, if you arnt busy friday, perhaps you could come over n help me format my computer.:) or computer(s).
that would be lovely. I am itching to use my ipod… but it is alright if you are busy with school or work. I can wait.
but if you arnt busy
I can take you somewhere nice after? eh? eh eh?
Sure, I’ll come by at around 6-ish.
I’m not a big fan of mass evangelism myself.
The Christian faith is vital to me and I think it’s so important. But it seems to me that unfortunately there are so many idiots who prescribe to the Christian faith and when they “sell it” to those around it, they pervert it and make it something it’s not. It becomes for their own agenda. I have a friend who lives in the southern USA and “Christian” idiocy is so prominent there. Makes me mad.
Luckily, there are some alternatives to the institutional Church (other than avoiding it altogether). Let’s try Mosaic sometime.