The Narrow Path: Pitfalls of Evangelism (3)

ABOUT STREET EVANGELISM

A salesman goes around hunting for potential customers, promoting his product to strangers, hoping that some out of the many will be attracted to the product. The primary concern of the salesman is not the stranger (as he does not know the person at all), but that the product can be sold to the stranger. Thus, the salesman uses his marketing tactics and verbal skills to entice the person to buy the product without the person first trying out the product. There will be some who would eventually buy the product, not because they had experienced the benefit of the product, but because they believed in the words of the salesman. However, for those who initially reject the offer, the salesman will continue to exercise his determination in persuading them. Inevitably, there will be those who would be irritated by the person, and perhaps, of the product as well.

Think about it: What kind of response will this person give if on another day, he meets another salesman who promotes the same product to him?

A Christian who conducts street evangelism goes around hunting for potential converts, sharing his gospel to strangers, hoping that some out of the many will be attracted to the gospel. The primary concern of the Christian is not the stranger (as he does not know the person at all), but that the gospel can be accepted by the person. Thus, the Christian uses his marketing tactics and verbal skills to entice the person to accept the gospel without the person first experiencing the gospel. There will be some who would eventually accept the gospel not because they had experienced the benefit of the gospel, but because they believed in the words of the Christian. However, for those who initially reject the gospel, the Christian will continue to exercise his determination in persuading them. Inevitably, there will be those who would be irritated by the person, and perhaps, of the gospel as well.