Sunday, December 21, 2008

Bad Christmas Evangelism

Last year, I spent my Christmas Eve at the Red Monster(Lobster) working. I remember when I found that I had to work, I wanted to quit because that meant I was going to miss a family dinner. Then I thought it could be a good witnessing opportunity and that people may be in the Christmas spirit and tip more, I was completely wrong.

The day started off horrible because I had to drive from home for my shift. So, I wasn't excited about the possibility of spending more in gas money that I would make during my shift. Halfway back to Charleston I realized I left my cell phone. Normally I could have cared less, but I needed my phone to call and arrange when I was going to pick up a co-worker for a church service that night. She didn't have to work on Christmas Eve because she had children. Anyways after hunting down a pay phone, I was able to arrange when and where I was supposed to meet her.

She decided that she would walk to the church and I would meet her there. I arrived and couldn't find her. Eventually the service started and she still hadn't shown up. So I stood in the lobby, refusing to go in the service because I knew she would show up. 15 minutes into the service she arrived. To my surprise, it was a half Spanish, half English service. Also, during the music a lady beside us keep yelling like she was being electrically shocked. I think it would have been better if my friend had never shown up.

I learned a lot from this experience. Mainly I learned that the goal of evangelism isn't to get someone to a church service. It's easier to put sharing the gospel on the preacher, but it rest on the shoulders of all members of Christ's body. (Me and You)

After the service, I took my friend to do some last minute shopping at the only store open in North Charleston, K-Mart. It was insane. It took us a couple of hours to buy milk and eggs. As I think about it now, that is what I should have done in the beginning. I wonder what kind of impact it would have had on her if instead of asking her to go to church with me that I asked her how I could help her prepare for Christmas.

We celebrate Christmas day because we consider it that day that Jesus was born. It is the day that God gave the world its savior. I've been so guilty of seeing Christmas day as a day of receiving instead of giving. I was reading over the birth of Jesus the other day and could not help, but think about His death. Our salvation didn't come in His birth, but in His death and resurrection. (1 Cor. 15:1-5) Why don't we go crazy and celebrate Easter like we do Christmas? Whenever I have my own family, we're going to blow Easter out of the water!!!!!!!!!

Here are two quotes by St. Francis of Assisi that I really like. They really don't relate to this post, but I really like them.

"Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words."

"It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching."

No comments: