One Reason Personal Evangelism’s More Difficult These Days
“it’s increasingly difficult to talk to anyone when everybody is wearing headphones or ear pods…We communicate via texts—and even then often without complete words. In fact, we speak with emojis quite often” - Chuck Lawless
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I don’t completely disagree the article, but a couple of counterpoints. The post assumes that evangelism has to be spoken. It also assumes that texting and emojis replace conversation… in my experience, these are exchanges that quite often occur when, in the past, no communication would have happened at all.
But yeah, some text instead of talking. So what? I’m open to the idea that speaking is superior to written communication, but I’d like to see that idea developed and supported. It shouldn’t just be assumed.
I really think all forms of communication have their place, and one isn’t “better than” another.
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
I really associate with Lawless' comments about the gym. When I was young, health clubs and gyms were gregarious places where people would greet one another, tease each other about how much we were (or were not) lifting, and in the background would be somebody's stereo, generally playing hard rock.
Now, most people have their earbuds in, and stop their routine mostly to post selfies to Instagram or Snapchat. So they may be talking with someone, but not....generally....someone new, and that's something of a key for evangelism.
In defense of today, there are a lot more people now who know how to squat or deadlift properly, and the old guys will speak up if you're about to get yourself hurt by bad form, but I miss the old comeraderie. And the chances for evangelism.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
Bert, I don't mind you critiquing my lifting form as long as you are on the other end of the sheet of sheetrock or throwing your share of the bundles of shingles. I guess I'm not familiar with the gym scene though. ;)
On the other hand, I try to make it a point to stop by our local gas station around 5:30 or 6 pm now and then because that is when a lot of people are getting off of work and it gives me a chance to get to know more people in our community. I think it is good to make sure we put ourselves out and about so we can be salt and light. Being multi-vocational also helps with that, but as I have had more time to just stop by the gas station or go on walks, I have realized that there are still a lot of places to build relationships and get to know people.
Actually, the big thing that people will do is the same thing you might do on the job site. When you see someone flexing their back who ought to be using their legs, what do you do? Tell them to lift with their legs, right?
Slightly different techniques, but same basic principle. And the razzing and interaction in the old gyms was almost identical to what I've seen on job sites, right up to the boom box with Van Halen playing. Great points on "where to meet people", by the way.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
I don’t disagree with Chuck’s assessment that conversation and conversation-based evangelism are more difficult—in that format and that venu. But everything changes, so we need to always be ready to pivot and do something else, or do the same thing differently.
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
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