NoelHeikkinen.com

Bait and Switch Evangelism

May 9, 2007 Print This Post

.:mood:. Sunny
.:itunes:. Fall to Pieces by Velvet Revolver

MondayMorningInsight.com reported on this story of a Bait and Switch evangelism technique:

Evangelical Christians have distributed thousands of copies of an anti-Mormon DVD, packaged to look as if it comes from the Mormons. 500,000 discs have been mailed, with 200,000 more waiting. The disc’s packaging says “He Is Risen!” on one side with the names of Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, on the other side…

This struck me because of the amount of evangelism I have seen with a similar thread.

One example I am intimately aware of is taking a survey that’s really not a survey but a way to start a conversation. Then, once the conversation gets going, you drop the survey and share the Gospel.

This bugs me because the person you are surveying is led to believe that you are asking them questions for some kind of study. That means the whole thing starts out with (and I know it’s a strong word) a lie. Not a good way to share the message of truth.

Now with that said, I am not denying that some people become Christians through methods like these. I also don’t think that those who use these methods are bad people, they just don’t see how this contradicts the message they are trying to communicate. The ends don’t justify the means.

Here are a few passages that speak to this:

1Corinthians 2:1-5
When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

Now as someone who spends time crafting “clever and persuasive speeches,” this passage is a good reminder. It is God and his power that saves, not Noel and his mouth. That exactly what Paul reminds us of in the next chapter:

1Corinthians 3:5-6
After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.

God made it grow. Our job? Plant and water. How?

1 Peter 3:15-16
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

This is evangelism 101. Live a good life that is so hopeful that people will want to know about the source of your hope. Then, gently and respectfully tell them about Jesus.

OK…off my soapbox now.