I’d like to take some time out to talk to people who are being guilt-tripped or otherwise prodded into evangelizing to their friends.

Hi.

I was a Christian for a long time who tried to witness to people, but felt increasingly uncomfortable with the message I was trying to share. At first, I thought that there was something wrong with me, because of what respected “evangelists” in the church were telling me. I was being coached on how to reach out to other people, and definitely taking it to heart…

Ray Comfort is the prototype for this business of coaxing Christians into doing this evangelism these days. So I’ll use him as an example/ proof that this happens.

On a recent post, he stated:

Do you ever practice what you preach? Perhaps you could practice with your mirror. Make sure you are alone, and ask it a friendly, “How are you doing? Did you get one of these?” Say, “It’s a Gospel tract. What do you think happens after someone dies? Do you believe in Heaven and Hell?” Keep practicing until you shake off self-consciousness. Think of how a child begins to walk. Each step is at first deliberate and stumbling. He lacks grace. But in time, one step just follows the other without a second thought. Aim to get to that place. Learn to go through the Ten Commandments as Jesus did; then preach the cross. The Bible says to always be ready to give a “reason for the hope that’s within you.” There’s no greater calling.

Practice it in the mirror? Get rid of self consciousness? Demeaning the reader as if they are a child? Maybe, before you do this, you should see if what you’re trying to tell people is actually true — perhaps that’s the reason for your hesitance. Maybe you should think before trying to say that someone else might be going to hell if they die without listening to you — putting them through that emotional anguish…

But people like Ray Comfort don’t want you to experience that doubt — he blocks people from the objections of atheists with a pretty extreme blocking policy. As he puts it:

If you mock Christians, God, Jesus, or the Bible, or slander me by publishing lies about me advocating raping and killing children, hating doctors, etc., you will be quickly banned. This page is for Christians to be encouraged and equipped to share their faith. Look on it as my home and the Christians here are part of my family. If you come in with filthy shoes, mock my family or spit on them, I will show you the door very quickly, and lock it so that you can’t get back in. I’m sure you would do the same. If you think these rules are unfair, that’s just how things are, in this life and (as you will find out) in the next.

And I know, from being a Christian, a bit about how the pressure from pastors and other influences like Ray Comfort feels. In the family, you feel warm, secure, cared for. But then there’s the push to evangelize — to bring people in. And you’re hesitant, but you think it’s cowardice. You think there’s something wrong with you.

There’s not. The unfortunate thing is that most Christians seem to use the question, “Do you really believe what you claim to believe?” as a guilt trip. I think, maybe, it would be a good idea to ask yourself that question without the guilt. Do you really, actually believe it? It’s OK to ask yourself that question, and give yourself the room to think that maybe your doubts are valid.

Maybe the reason you don’t want to share the message isn’t that you’re a coward.

Maybe the reason you don’t want to share the message is that you’re wrong.

Maybe what you like about church is the camaraderie, the friendship, the myth you have in common. But maybe you don’t want to share it because it’s insulting to tell other people they’re going to hell, or, deep inside, you’re not sure it’s true.

Perhaps, instead of succumbing to the pressure to preach this message, it’s healthy to consider these possibilities. Maybe that voice in your head that says, “Maybe you shouldn’t be doing telling people this” is one you should be listening to.

And I know, from experience, it’s a bit hard to do this, what with the weekly guilt-prodding from pastors and fellow congregants. But at the same time, I think it’s important to, with all the voices insisting every Sunday and throughout the week that you force yourself to say things you’re not comfortable saying…maybe stop, take a moment, and begin thinking that maybe, just maybe, it’s not you. Maybe it’s that this story is just hard to believe.

I’m not really making an argument either way here. What I’m saying is that, at the very least, you should consider the possibility that what you believe isn’t true.

And if you’re trying to force people to preach this message — give them some room. If you’re frustrated in getting people to evangelize, and you think that maybe they don’t really believe it…start thinking about why they may not believe it. Do the stories seem far fetched? Do the commands seem unrealistic in the real world? Does it make sense that the way God commands us to act would go so much against the way we humans may naturally want to act?

Maybe instead of pushing, you should start listening.

Unlike Ray Comfort. And instead of getting people to practice telling stories they doubt may be true, allow them to evaluate, poke, and prod the stories honestly. And then follow the evidence where it leads.

Maybe it’s a good idea to listen to your doubts…they may know what they’re talking about. At least, they certainly did for me.

I can’t promise a bed of roses. But I do know there’s a more open world, and room to explore thinking in places that were closed off before.

Give some thought to trying it out…

Thanks for reading.

Note: If you’re an atheist or agnostic reading this, awesome! At the same time, more than most posts, I’m trying hard to get this message out to the Christians who are too often guilt-tripped by their pastors for not doing “enough” evangelism. If you think this might help them, would you mind helping me out by sharing this on social media so that more of them would read it? Thank you!