I’m On This American Life (this weekend)
By Jim Henderson
The call came about 10 days ago
“Got any bait and switch stories Jim?”
A writer with TAL was on the phone calling me.
I’m a huge Ira Glass fan but I’m nothing compared to some of my 30 and under friends.
They said things like…
“I would quit my job and move to NY and work for Ira Glass.”
“Jim because you talked with Ira Glass you are officially permanently cool.”
For those of you who don’t know who Ira Glass is or what This American Life is, check out iTunes.
Ira Glass is the #1 show that is downloaded (400K per week) and over 1.7 million listen in on the radio.
He is by my way of thinking one of the most (if not the most) creative storytelling geniuses I have ever heard.
He and his team of creatives choose themes and then go about looking for small, human and unusual stories that illustrate those themes.
This week the theme is Bait and Switch and of course they thought about Christians.
So they found Off The Map because we are in the business of helping Christians learn how to not be jerks which means we hear a lot of jerky stories (some of which are bait and switch).
So last weekend I found myself sitting in the studios of KUOW / NPR Seattle (94.9 FM), headphones firmly situated, with Ira Glass in the middle of my head talking with me. The conversation continued for an hour and fifteen minutes. It was somewhat surreal. Glass has a very unique voice and is gifted with copious amounts of curiosity.
So, I shared some bait and switch stories I’d gleaned through my interviews with The Lost and Outsiders like these…
“I slipped and got high with a guy I was trying to witness to, only to have him call me a hypocrite.”
“In an attempt to be open with a girl I was interviewing for a job, I asked several questions about her life. She described her recent very cool wedding that took place in a forest. “Cool, I said what’s your husband’s name?” “Jill” she replied. My mouth dropped down so far, I think it hit my knees. I blew it and didn’t know how to continue.”
“I dressed as a woman with balloons for breasts for some awful street drama. God forgive me for scaring so many people.”
I told Ira that when I was in my evangelism heyday, Bait and Switch techniques were for sissies. Instead, we went straight at people cold turkey. No Bait and Switch for us – it was All Switch and no Bait.
After sharing the alternate approaches to evangelism we’ve now developed Ira said, “That sounds like All Bait – No Switch.” I liked that.
Well in order to hear what we ended up talking about you’ll have to listen tonight – on the radio in Seattle 7PM 94.9 FM, or live streamed over the internet here at 5PM Pacific. For other times, check your local NPR station. Or you can join the other 400,000 people who will download it and listen on their iPhone.
Hey and don’t forget to get your tickets to Off The Map. Its right around the corner.
April Vega said
am November 6 2009 @ 3:16 pm
Jim, yet again, you are officially a badass!
ummm… you mentioned Harp 46 on the show, right? of course you did.
Pam Hogeweide said
am November 6 2009 @ 3:17 pm
awesome, jim! can’t wait to hear it! (i KNEW you were the person for the gig!)
Elizabeth DiCandilo said
am November 6 2009 @ 3:37 pm
Your best coup, yet. Congrats.
Ellen said
am November 6 2009 @ 3:42 pm
Way to go, Jim. You are soooo rad.
hoverFrog said
am November 6 2009 @ 5:54 pm
I still like this about you
Let’s hope that you get your message across.
Jim Henderson said
am November 6 2009 @ 6:00 pm
Thanks Hover
Shalinn said
am November 6 2009 @ 6:20 pm
You are indeed permanently cool, whether it’s “official” or not Jim. I can’t wait to hear the interview! I’ll make Kirk (Wulff) and my other Kansas City friends listen to it as well – I’ll have to use the “all bait – no switch” line in our Alpha training…I like that brilliant Ira Glass quotable!
Nathaniel Hansen said
am November 6 2009 @ 8:02 pm
Nice Jim!
John said
am November 6 2009 @ 9:14 pm
Jim does NPR!
Pam Hogeweide said
am November 6 2009 @ 9:40 pm
off the wall.
dangit.
i couldn’t believe it.
sheesh. ira glass’s p.a.’s need to sharpen up!
Pam Hogeweide said
am November 6 2009 @ 9:45 pm
Other than Ira’s mistake the interview was great. I thought he asked great questions and you totally did a great job confronting (with diplomacy) the critical questions.
And Ira quoted you aftewards when introducing the next segment. yay!
Karlene said
am November 6 2009 @ 10:02 pm
Great job Jim!
Dang it about the website gaffe!! You should very quickly buy offthewall.com and reroute it. Just a thought. Maybe they can correct it before they put up the podcast.
Terrific interview. Thanks for making evangelicals look like reasonable people.
Jim Henderson said
am November 7 2009 @ 12:09 am
Thanks all
looking into the off the wall issue but that is either something Satan or Jesus would organize for completely different sets of reasons.
We’ll try and fix it but I think its actually pretty funny
Jim said
am November 7 2009 @ 7:53 am
I’m 30 X 2 and, yes, even I think that’s cool! Congratulations!
Andy Himes said
am November 7 2009 @ 12:48 pm
Right on, Jim! I am bursting my buttons with pride over you!
Jim Henderson said
am November 7 2009 @ 5:20 pm
Andy
Lets do lunch next week
Julia said
am November 7 2009 @ 10:13 pm
Hi Jim, I heard you on TAL today and I was impressed. Its been a long time since an evangelical has impressed me. Ok, maybe never. I’m an ordained mainline pastor and professor of New Testament and you are right on target. The reason (as you suggested to Ira Glass) people wanted to be around Jesus and don’t want to be around Christians, is because Jesus wanted to be in relationship with people and we, arrogantly, want to change them. What we still have to learn as Christians is that it is the relationship that is transformational–for us, as for others. As Christ developed open, real relationships with people over time, so should we. As you say, the goal is relationship, not conversion. Thank you for offering the message so boldly and publicly. And a nice distinction between making “disciples” and making “converts.”
Julia
Jim Henderson said
am November 7 2009 @ 10:23 pm
Thanks Julia
where do you pastor
restartist said
am November 8 2009 @ 12:14 am
i.m confused
..
every one is a jerk or not a jerk.
Jesus helps us not be jerks “more”
..
bait and switch is when people are afraid of “men”
which we just are , intrinsically
..
i am of this era:
I told Ira that when I was in my evangelism heyday, Bait and Switch techniques were for sissies. Instead, we went straight at people cold turkey. No Bait and Switch for us – it was All Switch and no Bait.
..
i told you too much and you will realize when you get it
“arrowhead springs/ 70′s etc. just forget it.
restartist said
am November 8 2009 @ 12:22 am
and when you say switch
i mean
it was all talking about Jesus
and teaching people how to get G.E.D’s
and fill out resume’s so they could get a job / mostly women
..
and living thru fires with illegal aliens and forgetting i was a caucasion
so i am confused. if there was “bait” we would have cooked it pretended it was fine fish dinner and shared it with the families and pretended it was christmas dinner put it on bread or something.am confused.
paul Romig-Leavitt said
am November 8 2009 @ 9:54 pm
pretty cool Jim,
I just recently discovered This American Life and I’m totally a fan! I’m glad you got this opportunity. Peace.
Jim Henderson said
am November 8 2009 @ 9:58 pm
Thanks Paul
it was an honor believe me
Steve in Ohio (formerly Steve in Seattle) said
am November 8 2009 @ 11:36 pm
In case folks want to stream Jim’s THIS AMERICAN LIFE episode THIS WEEK ONLY, click the link below and find the Full Episode streaming option below the image on the left.
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=394
Thanks again Jim!
Bill_In_AL said
am November 9 2009 @ 6:42 am
Heard the interview last night driving. I thought Ira got the “language” right which impressed me. This whole thing reminds me of Matt Prince (now deceased) who kept saying “Love brings them in. It is not logic or debate or fancy footwork.”
heidi said
am November 9 2009 @ 12:24 pm
Yes, I heard you on TAL last night.It is my second favorite radio show, and I try to schedule my weekend so that I don’t miss it…it was WAY cool hearing about evangelizing on NPR!
Our new pastor is a lot like you. Every sermon has a word or two in it about being friends with our neighbors, loving people, serving them every day even in small ways. when I heard the interview, I thought of my pastor. This morning, sent him links to this website and Doable Evangelism. I think both of those could be wonderful resources for the direction our pastor is leading the congregation.
One other thought: When Ira Glass said “for some reason, a lot of people in our circle of friends are highly religious. I don’t know why…” I smiled. Maybe Jesus knows why!
Jim Henderson said
am November 9 2009 @ 11:54 pm
Thanks to all for dropping by and saying some kinds words
Ross Rettig said
am November 10 2009 @ 11:21 pm
Sitting at the computer listening to NPR & This American Life, and Glass says “my guest is Jim Henderson”. Of course I would have known you by your voice. Great to hear you and to hear the dialogue with Glass. Excellent!
I’ve read your book and tried to get the NJ church to set up a conference/seminar/thingy so you could come out. But…not for them: too soft sell.
A lot of water under the bridge since we last saw each other. I got on facebook, finally, a couple weeks ago and a couple of old faces popped up that I’d like to discuss with you at some point.
Keep up the great work. Grace and Peace. Ross
Jim Henderson said
am November 11 2009 @ 1:35 am
facebook me Ross – soon
Glad you found me via Ira
Brian said
am November 11 2009 @ 4:33 am
have been Christian since 1980. big fan of TAL, I think what you had to say about evangelism was great. looking forward to more…
Rebecca from Oz said
am November 11 2009 @ 9:35 am
Hi Jim,
I subscribe to TAL and was so excited to hear what you had to share! Thanks for helping to challenge the traditional mindsets of what this journey is all about. I love that you focus on people, not projects!
Craig W said
am November 11 2009 @ 11:22 am
listen to This American Life every week. I just heard the segment with Jim yesterday. Evangelism is the single greatest point of failure in my faith walk (I will be 55 in a month and have know the Lord since I was a child.). But Ira Glass, of all people, may have been part of the answer to my prayer the morning of the day I heard this story on TAL. I was reading in Matthew 4 about being a fisher of men. I told the Lord He was going to have to show me what that means, how to do it, etc. If Ira Glass, an admitted devout atheist in the story, is part of the answer then He is a big God indeed.
autumnbreeze said
am November 11 2009 @ 10:52 pm
Hey Jim. Wow. I’m a TAL fan, and heard you for the first time today. I’m (also) a mainline pastor who dropped out of the church scene about 5 years ago, doing hospice chaplaincy now. I (thought I) missed the church a few weeks ago, so asked the pastor to tell me how I could help him. He put me on a committee -probably the one he couldn’t stand anymore. I lasted about 15 minutes, and with my head spinning, thought, “This is why I left.” Hospice is wonderful, I’ve found, because its not about changing people. It’s just about loving them, wherever they’re at. And its amazing how sometimes that changes things (and people.) Anyway, I’ll be checking out your stuff. Good theology, man. Good stuff. God bless.
Jim Henderson said
am November 12 2009 @ 2:43 am
autumbreeze
I hear you
Thanks for checking us out
Dee said
am November 12 2009 @ 3:24 pm
I just heard your talk on this American life and I really agree with what you said. I’ve chosen to live my life as a disciple of Christ and do so actively in my church. I’ve always hated the many “bait and switch” tactics I’d seen in my early childhood – prior to becoming a christian (disciple).
I liked when you said Christ said we should go make disciples not converts. I also really liked your response about it being all bait and no switch, which is what I believe it should be. The part where you talk about intentionally trying to persuade someone you have a relationship with, and in doing so, possibly ending the relationship is so true if we live our lives as Christians.
Just wanted to say it was good to hear a fellow brother in the faith talking publicly about biblical practices and not just what modern day Christianity “feels” it should be like.
Thanks for being a good ambassador of Christ.
Dee
Rob Osborn said
am November 12 2009 @ 7:22 pm
Jim, I’m admittedly not familiar with your work so I’m simply going off the TAL interview. I do know about incarnational ministry and personal evangelism. One thing I took away from the interview is that there is probably a place between the two extremes that we need to land on. As a servant of God’s and a pastor I too have tired of the sell job approach that has been going on for the extent of my life. However, I don’t think that it’s wrong to build intentional friendships either. As Ira asked “Is it possible that your tactic leads to nothing?”. I think the danger of not having the goal to share Jesus organically in our relationships could lead to simple social networking. And again you may go over this in some of you work but if the interview is a person’s only exposure to you they may assume that there’s no provision in your plan for building towards sharing Jesus. And I get that there’s a need for Christians to change and be more pliable in their social networks but that’s hardly a goal with eternal payoff. Thoughts?
Jim h said
am November 12 2009 @ 8:41 pm
Dee and Rob
thanks for your thoughts
I am frankly surprised that there are any Chritians who listen to TAL given the openmindednesd the show advocates.
Rob while I cant say I ” build” toward a point if being able to verbally explain my version of what it means to follow Jesus I am intentionally tuned into what The Spirit may be saying or doing in my relational network. I try and listen for the wind and do what the Father seems to be doing although I do miss alot of signals I’m sure
autumnbreeze said
am November 12 2009 @ 9:53 pm
Ouch!
Jim – I don’t agree with your assessment of Christians as closeminded. (Is that correct?) Instead, I think we are just weanies. We have allowed the vocal minority of politically motivated conservatives to “own” our faith – to speak for all of us lock, stock, and barrell. And we’ve been (either “too nice” to speak up for ourselves, or too cowardly) voiceless for so many decades now that the average joe thinks most Christians are closeminded hypocrites. We weanies deserve what we’re reaping as a result – empty pews and righteous ridicule from good people (and bad). But there are a lot of savy, openminded, NPR Christians out there, we just need to get this revolution going, risk speaking out, and BE AUTHENTIC.
autumnbreeze said
am November 12 2009 @ 10:37 pm
Okay. REDACTION. You’re right. Some of us ARE closeminded. The rest of us are weanines.
Steve Gorsline said
am November 13 2009 @ 12:22 am
Jim,
Ira Glass’ This American Life is an awesome show and as we mentioned a few weeks ago, Janet and I have listened for years. It’s been probably 7 years ago or so that we became so repulsed by “Christian” talk radio that we switched to NPR. It was a great switch too, because now we have something in common with the people Jesus loves most; the people He’s focused on – or so He told us with His stories about the lost boy, the lost sheep, and the lost coin.
There have been a few shows that are so VERY memorable that they live in our minds, family discussion, and even served as road trip fodder on our relo from Seattle out to Ohio in September. One recent AWESOME show included a story about dealing with the phone company about a billing error; hilarious, frustrating, and familiar all at the same time.
Regarding abandoning “the hunt for the lost”, we couldn’t agree more. I know I’m going way out on a limb here, but I’m guessing that letting GOD decide when/how/with whom He’d like to use us is a better approach than thinking for a moment that we know when someone’s ready. And your comment about missing a lot of signals: I think the Holy Spirit will use us if we’re willing…even if he has to keep repeating Himself over and over. I’m also guessing He’s more patient than most of us, and has a lot of time!
Jim Henderson said
am November 13 2009 @ 1:29 pm
autumm
Im good with your adjustment although most humans are weanies in general – not just Cs
Thats why I say I belong to CFJs – Cowards for Jesus and suffer from EFD Evangelism Frustraton Disorder.
It is also why I am most interested in working with ordinary, undermotivated, normal people – because that is who we are – and it is all Jesus has to work with and it turns out that just like the 5 loaves and 2 fish – It’s Enough!!
Pam Hogeweide said
am November 13 2009 @ 1:48 pm
Undermotivated just became my new fave word.
I am an expert at being undermotivated to convert people. And this has produced a shame in my life that even though I won’t let it own me, it’s residue still bleeds into my conscience.
erin said
am November 14 2009 @ 5:11 pm
i heard you on npr yesterday, too. i actually pulled the car over so i could listen better and write down your name. i come from a small town in texas where everyone is christian – and yet, i was taught to witness at a very young age to locals… which always seemed like a redundant task. i haven’t lived in that small town in over half my life now – but something that has stayed with me from my many experiences at church – is how much i dislike other christians! (…in response to non-believers liking jesus but not the believers: i’m a believer who doesn’t care too much for other believers – and your remark about christians learning how to be “normal” again was spot on in my opinion).
i’m sort of left scrambling for a new denomination: my criteria for church is very different than what it was as a child. i would really like to see a movement happen among christians where we can open up conversations, apply ideas from history, science, other religions to our conversations about god – a place to worship that also involved the practice of asking questions without the guilt of being judged – or worse, being accused of not being saved – who in there right mind thinks they actually have the right to decide if someone is or isn’t.
anyway, my church experiences have left a lot of baggage i’d like to shake. i’d be so excited to be a part of a new church community. besides the idea of a do-able evangelism, do you offer other ideas about the church community or any sort of plan of action towards a new vision of church community?
i think it could be an even better idea to do a lost series for christians out there that don’t want to be associated with other christians and what they might be saying and going through. i’d be happy to help out with that project.
it was great to hear your ideas on npr.
-erin / milwaukee
Jim Henderson said
am November 14 2009 @ 11:24 pm
Erin
Thanks for pulling over and listening. Im happy it helped you in someway.
Check out http://www.offthemap.com to learn more about what we are up to and yes there are many people like you out there looking for something that isnt weird and follows Jesus.
If you email us at info@offthemap.com we can direct you to some people and groups and blogs that might encourage you or you could fly up later this week to Seattle and attend Off The Map Event http://www.offthemap.com/live. That would blow your mind and give you hope
Ruthann said
am November 15 2009 @ 7:09 pm
I listen to TAL regularly and am often amazed how often Ira Glass runs shows that are about Christianity. I am also amazed that I often here things on TAL that are more biblical than what I hear on so call Christian radio and/or TV. Your segment was right on the mark.
joanna said
am November 15 2009 @ 8:59 pm
I heard you on TAL a few days ago and just wanted to say how much I appreciate what you are doing. I am not and have never been a christian and I truly hate feeling us-versus-them about christians. While I’m a “staunch atheist” now (like Ira Glass apparently), I can easily admit that at some vulnerable times in my life your brand of evangelism would probably have gotten through to me (while the bait & switch type just makes me nauseous).
Care said
am November 15 2009 @ 10:03 pm
I heard you on This American Life today and I would have to agree with the new philosophy. bacically what I gathered was that you are trying to teach “christians” to be nice people and do onto others as you would have done to you.
I am not christian, although I grew up in a christian family and went to a christian school. I believe in God and that God is Love. But I don’t believe Jesus is our savior, although I do believe Jesus was a great man and knew what he was talking about.
I am not christian because almost all the people I know that are christian are condemming, condensending and hypicritial and use fear to get their way. They preach the word of God and then do the exact oposite. Christians are not very good examples of Love.
I have also found that most interactions with “christians” is based in fear. God is Love, not fear. if you don’t fit in the way the christians want you to fit in (dont’ believe in Jesus) then you must be going to hell. I think that is the wrong attitude and it is a huge turnoff. I don’t want to be treated like that, so I don’t treat other people like that.
I feel that the bait and switch tacktic that is being used by christians to get converts is fundimentaly wrong. it is trickery. I dont want to be tricked into doing something so I don’t trick other people.
I think you have a long road ahead of you, but I do think it is the right one. Teaching people to be kind, accepting of everyone,loving and trying to remove fear from thier lives will make the world a better place for all, not just christians
Jim Henderson said
am November 16 2009 @ 2:20 am
Ruthann, Joanna and Care
I am so honored that you took the time to comment and share how this little interview helped you. Thank you all for your candid comments and insights. I am so sorry that my adopted people (Christians) have done such a lousy job representing Jesus. It really makes me sad to read your comments but I know they are true
Jim
Michael S. Scherotter said
am November 16 2009 @ 10:52 am
Jim,
I just listened to your interview on TAL and loved it. Now, I am coming from a different perspective – I am Jewish and for work I am evangelist for Microsoft. I explain, demonstrate, and excite software developers and designers about using our technology. I agree 100% about building relationships first. In my work, I want to get people to make a “leap of faith” with me and often that happens because of the relationship that I’ve built with them. It’s genuine and they know that I’ll be there when they need me.
On a personal note, I’m also working to help build the membership of my congregation and will be using your techniques of “Doable Evangelism” to do so.
Thank you so much!
Michael
Randy Siever said
am November 16 2009 @ 6:24 pm
Micheal,
We’ll send you a bill later for the consulting.
Excellent application. Come see us over in DE Land at DoableEvangelism.com for tips and tools.
ari said
am November 16 2009 @ 9:59 pm
i heard you on TAL. amazing. i love jesus. im not a christian, dont like most self identified christians, and LOVED this. totally radical amazing and revolutionary. be kind. make friends. model being human…its wonderful. thanks for your you’ness. a big yes.
Jim Henderson said
am November 17 2009 @ 4:11 pm
Thanks Ari
You’re not alone
Michael said
am November 17 2009 @ 10:22 pm
Jim – I am a 31 Christian and TAL listener. I am often disappointed by the attitudes and comments of other Christians that are interviewed on TAL, but I gotta say you freakin’ nailed it. Thanks for giving the world an example of what most of us Christians really are. Good normal people who strive to make the world a better place and give the lost an option. We are in the world, but not of it. You have a great ministry. As the Bible says, “they will know we are Christians by our love,” not our clever tactics! I’m off to go spread some seeds.
Jim Henderson said
am November 17 2009 @ 11:09 pm
Thanks Michael
I am fascinated by the different things people “hear” when listening to the same show
Mark Filiatreau said
am November 18 2009 @ 4:14 pm
I heard you too and as an evangelical saved for 26 years I was most impressed with the reasonableness of your approach. The fact that Jesus commanded his disciples to make more disciples–students and imitators of Jesus–not converts, is key. (See Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy.) BUT: If we engage in friendship / relationship evangelism rather than bait and switch, and nonbelievers still aren’t interested because there is no draw of the Holy Spirit (John 6:44), we have to re-examine why we don’t have Him but merely mental belief in Him. In other words, is there really Christianity without Christian spirituality?
Jim Henderson said
am November 18 2009 @ 7:32 pm
Dallas tells the truth
Jessica Fletcher said
am November 23 2009 @ 12:03 am
I just listened to the interview, and you are my new hero. Thank you for interacting with Ira (and his listeners) in a way that doesn’t make Christians sounds like, well, a bunch of jerks (to use your phrase). Well done!
Jim said
am November 23 2009 @ 2:39 am
Jessica
Thanks for listening
Marlene said
am November 27 2009 @ 12:54 am
Thank you, Jim. My 26 y o daughter is a devoted listener to TAL. She suggested that I listen to the show due to your interview. Now I am an OTM fan. Let the conversations continue!
Jim said
am November 27 2009 @ 7:13 pm
Thanks Marlene
Joe N said
am December 2 2009 @ 1:37 am
Jim,
I just heard you on TAL. I haven’t heard of Off the Map or Doable Evangelism, so I’m glad that I heard your segment on the program.
I really think you’re on to something big as what you focus on is what I’ve been trying to figure out myself as a Christian/Catholic: how to reach out to others about our faith without being intrusive, or overbearing which at times can have the opposite effect and shut people off instead of helping to open up others’ hearts to Jesus. I believe that we should lead by example even in the small ways that let others know we care.
Thanks for doing what you do and may God guide you in your ministry. You have another fan and supporter!
-Joe N.
Marlene said
am December 2 2009 @ 10:29 am
Check out the 1998 article in Esquire magazine, “Can you say…Hero?” It is about Fred Rogers.
Lorisa said
am December 4 2009 @ 12:19 am
I looked you up tonight because I am a regular NPR listener of most of their programs. Heard you a few weeks ago on TAL. I was soo happy to hear your thoughts. Sooo I had a little time tonight and went to TAL website and found the link to offthemap. Great to read your thoughts. I love Jesus but am so tired of believers looking fake and foolish, pushy and unkind. I am embarrassed to even think of them as family…
I’ll keep reading your blog now that I’ve found it.
Refreshing! thanks.
Ray said
am December 7 2009 @ 8:33 am
Jim,
You were an interesting antidote to the program TAL aired months ago called “This I Used to Believe”. I’ve played both for my men’s group. It was refreshing to hear you espouse my beliefs re. evangelism. The men seemed to be much relieved to hear a view opposed to that heard from the pulpit (sadly almost weekly). Friendship evangelism has been around for decades. It is good to hear a spokesman for the principle of Kingdom building through relationships.
Peace,
Ray
GMB said
am December 13 2009 @ 1:01 pm
Jim, hadn’t heard of you before catching up on my This American Life podcasts. Former Christian — and former evangelist — here.
Verily, the shift of your approach on evangelism may have something to do with a change in your theology; do you believe that the real work of salvation has more to do with God’s calling and the Holy Spirit’s quickening than your speaking?
Sadly, to me, it only illustrates a real change in the PR-requirements to keep Christians looking good. A 3-minute testimony or a 4 Spiritual Laws booklet simply doesn’t seem to work anymore, and as you’ve correctly observed, it makes Christians look idiotic and disrespectful. Apparently, what Paul could accomplish with a divisive speech in a Roman forum now seems to take — “on average” — four years.
More accurately, today’s Christians aren’t up for suffering for the gospel; they’d like to stay comfy and popular — something that none of the NT’s writers seemed to encourage. And naturally, no one wants to join the ‘suffering’ club of unpopular people. It’s best to change the culture, by making Christianity itself not such a sign-up sheet for the after-school Loser Club. Your relational evangelism model certainly isn’t biblical, but it may be practical.
Naturally, it only reveals what a deception Christianity actually is. If you were really becoming God-inspired fishers of men, you’d probably find that your mustard seed of faith would be bringing in a much bigger catch now that you’ve thrown your nets to the other side of the boat. No. Your hope in Christ is clearly in this life only, and you are of all men most to be pitied.
- GMB
Pam Hogeweide said
am December 15 2009 @ 3:19 am
I’m a loser for Jesus and signed up at a Christian concert in the 80′s.
I am to be most pitied of all people in my prosperity-drenched, success-driven contemporary American religiosity, for I am neither prosperous nor successful in spiritual matters. Yet for some insane reason I still hold on to the idea that honest communication with others about what I know about the love of God is the most authentic way to communicate this weak gospel I treasure. I give it away, over and over again, no longer looking for an outcome. And often I do not see an outcome, at least not one that could be storied into a made-for-tv movie.
I get the cynicism. Really. I do. I have to break the cynical crust off my soul every now and then. I recommend it.
Did Jesus insist on an outcome when he lived his life? Did he do more preaching or relating? Can the act of relating be a message on it’s own?
Some famous Irish mystic said, Preach the gospel often. When necessary, use words.
Ever since I let go of the pressure to be an outcome-based Christ follower I have actually been freer to talk with friends and acquaintances about friendship with a loving God. It’s amazing how everyone’s defenses come down when there is no sales pitch or gimmick or angst to get someone to cross an invisible line. What if salvation is a process and not an event? Can everyday moments and conversations and relationships lend themselves to the work of the Holy Spirit on the human heart? Are Damascus Road experiences the exception rather than the norm?
These are the kinds of things I think about when my pitiful Christian mind goes wandering around the vast fields of humanity. I like to think that Jesus is much more accessible than we realize through the natural everyday exchanges between people. It’s not glamorous, or dramatic, but it is the common life of most people the world over. And I think it does matter in the grand scheme of it all.
That’s just what I think….thanks for making me think about this, GMB. Happy Holidays……….!
Marlene said
am December 15 2009 @ 11:01 am
Pam, Nicely stated. Thank you. God Bless.
Pam Hogeweide said
am December 15 2009 @ 7:05 pm
thanks marlene. God bless you too.
Jim said
am December 15 2009 @ 10:48 pm
Thanks Marlene, Lorisa and Ray for identifying and finding hope in our pitiful attempts to introduce people to Jesus.
And thanks to my Homey Pam (check out her blog http://www.howgodmessedupmyreligion.com)for more of her killer insights
But most of all I want to thank GMB (name please?) who killed the love fest with a dose of his reality at least.
GMB – I think it is a great thing that you quit being a Christian and an Evangelist. I have also quit being a Christian and an Evangelist. I decided to become a follower of Jesus- which is both harder and easier.
Harder because he calls us out of religion ( the best place to hide real sin) and into reality – a much more fun environment to play in.
Not all Christians suffered all the time- Even Jesus avoided it from time to time – (John 7/ John 10)
He suffered when it counted for something (the cross)
And one thing you probably never heard about in Evangelist school is that Jesus spent the first 30 years of his life essentially doing nothing – living the life of an ordinary schmuck (fogive my yiddish)
Why? Well so ordinary shmucks like you and me could have some hope in this life..
And as far as what the future holds I am willing to place my bet on Jesus even if it turns out that I am wrong, deluded or following Snow White and the 7 Dwarves because at the very least I will have been delivered from my anger in this life – if that rings a bell
Jim said
am December 15 2009 @ 10:48 pm
Thanks Marlene, Lorisa and Ray for identifying and finding hope in our pitiful attempts to introduce people to Jesus.
And thanks to my Homey Pam (check out her blog http://www.godmessedmeup.blogspot.com)for more of her killer insights
But most of all I want to thank GMB (name please?) who killed the love fest with a dose of his reality at least.
GMB – I think it is a great thing that you quit being a Christian and an Evangelist. I have also quit being a Christian and an Evangelist. I decided to become a follower of Jesus- which is both harder and easier.
Harder because he calls us out of religion ( the best place to hide real sin) and into reality – a much more fun environment to play in.
Not all Christians suffered all the time- Even Jesus avoided it from time to time – (John 7/ John 10)
He suffered when it counted for something (the cross)
And one thing you probably never heard about in Evangelist school is that Jesus spent the first 30 years of his life essentially doing nothing – living the life of an ordinary schmuck (forgive my yiddish)
Why? Well so ordinary shmucks like you and me could have some hope in this life..
And as far as what the future holds I am willing to place my bet on Jesus even if it turns out that I am wrong, deluded or following Snow White and the 7 Dwarves because at the very least I will have been delivered from my anger in this life – if that rings a bell
Stu said
am January 28 2010 @ 5:26 pm
Hi Jim,
I only recently listened to the TAL broadcast with your segment. I’m an avid TAL fan and am a Christian so that topics you talked about really resonated with me. I hated the outreach missions that I was required to do as part of the institute of Christianity that I joined when I was younger. This made me leave the church because I detested how fake and superficial the connections in the church were.
The past five years have led to many conclusions that were similar to yours in regards to being (and making) disciples rather than converts; however, (and perhaps this was not reflected well in the broadcast) it seemed as though your stance was that once the relationship reached an impasse and neither party were willing to be influenced by the other, that the hope for making a disciple was over and the relationship ended.
I really hope I misunderstood that part of the broadcast because I believe that the relationship continues regardless of whether I am making a disciple of the other or not. Isn’t that true, unconditional love? To continue in relationship even though I am not getting exactly what I want out of it?
To love someone regardless of how much the other conforms to my belief is what I see to be as truly loving another person. To continue in persevering in that relationship without the expectation that they will adopt my beliefs is real love. Otherwise, the relationship is just a really long, drawn-out bait whereas true love has no bait, no end goal in mind but continues to be unconditional regardless of circumstance.
You’re right; numbers and results should not be the focus of Christians. I really am grateful that you are such a positive representation of Christians who are wanting to make disciples instead of converts; thank you for your continuing endurance in this mission.