07 November 2008

Witnessing as Human 'SPAM'

Here is a fantastic article entitled How to Actually Talk to Atheists (If You're a Christian).

(Hat tip to
Sam Norton at Elizaphanian)

The article makes one really important observation, I think. I've never thought about traditional techniques of witnessing as 'human SPAM', but I think that's exactly what they are and why I object to them so much.  Joe, the author of the article, uses the more technical term of 'interruption marketing'.

He writes:
Again, try to put yourself outside of your own perspective and into the shoes of your intended audience. You're interrupting their time and space to bring them a message you feel is important. And sure, you have the right to choose your faith and the right to free speech, but as GK Chesteron said, to have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it. And ultimately, "You need to hear this because I need to say it" is the ultimate in self-serving causes... And if you're serving yourself, you certainly aren't serving God.
Well worth a read.  And, by the way, Joe's suggestion to Christians for how to witness to him is 'Be the Prototype'.  

1 comment:

Doorman-Priest said...

That is just so perceptive.