Pitfalls of Evangelism (5)
EMBODYING THE MESSAGE
Preach the gospel at all times, if necessary use words.
Preach the gospel at all times, if necessary use words.
St Francis of Assisi
Like persistent salesmen suffering from verbal diarrhea, we snatch every opportunity that we can find to preach the message verbally to others. However, since our pursuit of numbers has inevitably led to the lack of development in our character, people are unimpressed by our radical message when they see us living secular lives, bearing no difference from theirs. We are like salesman suffering from bad breath due to the lack of use of toothpaste, yet going around selling toothpaste to others who face the same problem. Using the words of Marshall McLuhan, "the medium is the message," others will not buy our product not because the toothpaste is ineffective, but because our bad breath causes them to conclude that the toothpaste is ineffective. Therefore, shouldn't we first tackle our bad breath before we help others to do likewise? Shouldn't we first nurture our being before we focus on our doing?
Other than that, are we not aware that the message is actually the Message, who is a person? As messengers, how do we help others to come to know the Message? Do we describe to others in propositional form (evangelism) our knowledge of the Message, or do we strive to embody the Message in our lives, so that when others relate with us, they may experience the Message personally through us?
One may say, "But if we do not preach verbally, others will not know the Message." This is precisely because we are not embodying the Message, that we need to use words to bring out the Message. It is certainly an easier path to take in preaching verbally, persuading others not to look at our lives but at the truth claims of the Message. By doing so, we can still keep on living a secular life under a religious cloak. However, if we want to embody the Message so that others can experience him, we are forced to come out from our religious cloaks, challenging ourselves constantly to give up our secular values and possessions in order to be that embodiment of the Message to others.
When we truly become the embodiment of the Message and allow others to experience the Message through us, I believe many will be interested to know this Message. Perhaps then, we as messengers can start opening our mouths.
To be continued...
Like persistent salesmen suffering from verbal diarrhea, we snatch every opportunity that we can find to preach the message verbally to others. However, since our pursuit of numbers has inevitably led to the lack of development in our character, people are unimpressed by our radical message when they see us living secular lives, bearing no difference from theirs. We are like salesman suffering from bad breath due to the lack of use of toothpaste, yet going around selling toothpaste to others who face the same problem. Using the words of Marshall McLuhan, "the medium is the message," others will not buy our product not because the toothpaste is ineffective, but because our bad breath causes them to conclude that the toothpaste is ineffective. Therefore, shouldn't we first tackle our bad breath before we help others to do likewise? Shouldn't we first nurture our being before we focus on our doing?Other than that, are we not aware that the message is actually the Message, who is a person? As messengers, how do we help others to come to know the Message? Do we describe to others in propositional form (evangelism) our knowledge of the Message, or do we strive to embody the Message in our lives, so that when others relate with us, they may experience the Message personally through us?
One may say, "But if we do not preach verbally, others will not know the Message." This is precisely because we are not embodying the Message, that we need to use words to bring out the Message. It is certainly an easier path to take in preaching verbally, persuading others not to look at our lives but at the truth claims of the Message. By doing so, we can still keep on living a secular life under a religious cloak. However, if we want to embody the Message so that others can experience him, we are forced to come out from our religious cloaks, challenging ourselves constantly to give up our secular values and possessions in order to be that embodiment of the Message to others.
When we truly become the embodiment of the Message and allow others to experience the Message through us, I believe many will be interested to know this Message. Perhaps then, we as messengers can start opening our mouths.
To be continued...
Labels: Theology
posted by Dan at 7/25/2007 12:50:00 am
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