How Not To Evangelize

CRITICISM #1: LONG-WINDEDNESS

Pay attention to the other person’s body language while you tell your story. Are their eyes darting? Are they slowly crossing their arms and inhaling deeply as you drone on?

Keep your story brief and allow your listener the chance to ask a few follow-up questions. Leave them wanting more

CRITICISM #2: FUZZINESS

The only thing worse than a long story is a long story that is incoherent. Here’s a common occurrence: I’ll ask, “How did you come to faith in Christ?” And in response, I hear half a dozen plot lines about sixteen main characters. I hear of books they have read and supernatural situations they have experienced and conferences they attended twelve years ago. Aisles they walked. Angels who appeared in their bedroom. Dead relatives they have talked to in the middle of the night.

CRITICISM #3: RELIGIONESE

Words like “salvation,” “born again,” “accepting Jesus,” and “personal Lord and Savior” mean very little to people who aren’t Christ-followers. I listen to countless stories that sound like they are being told in code/God-talk/religionese. It takes a lot of work to expunge insider jargon from your story, but it’s worth it. High praise from an unbelieving listener sounds like this: “I understood every word you just said.”

CRITICISM #4: SUPERIORITY

They don’t care about me. The only thing they care about is getting the roles nailed down: they are the ones with their act together, and I’m the pitiable lost person, substandard in countless ways. There may be no quicker way to send an unbeliever to the hills than to play the piety card. If you want to permanently repulse a person from the things of God, try a little superiority on for size.