So today, I did a lot of work in the yard/front of the house.  I painted the car port and foundation across the front of the house so I could plant the plants we bought.  I think the final product looks pretty good.  While I was painting, 3 kids from Pensacola Christian College came to the house.  They were going door to door asking people if they wanted to go to heaven.  (The obvious answer is yes, by the way.)  I talked for a couple of seconds, told them I go to church, and that I have a degree in the Bible.  They asked if they could pray for me, but I didn't have anything.  I pretty much have a one track mind so I wanted to get back to painting.  But when I got to painting, I got to thinking.  Here are a few of the things I was thinking about.


1.  Is that an effective way to show the world who Jesus is?  


The more I thought about it, the less it seemed like the way Jesus would have envisioned.  I mean, I am a different senario than most.  But I can see a person who doesn't care about Christ saying, "Sure I want to go to heaven, but what about paying my light bill?"  "What about feeding my kids?"  Heaven is an awesome reward but that's not what we as Christians have to offer.  We are supposed to be bringing a piece of heaven here to earth.  Heaven is "otherworldly" and people in our culture don't think about that.  They are trying to survive, everyday. 


I am constantly trying to live in a way that shows God's common grace.  But also, I don't want to do social justice for the sake of social justice.  This neighborhood that I live in could use a lot of common grace.  I know people here need to see the church in action.  The church needs to be the church.  Seeing if people want to go heaven isn't something people are really going to care about.


2. What is the motivation for these kids?  What do they think about what they are doing?


Back many years ago, companies would have a sales force of people going door to door selling their products.  They would have say a vacuum cleaner, like a Rainbow.  They would demo the product and then sell right there at the house.  That used to be the way to sell things, but then something happened...the Internet.  Now people research and pick what they want.  People are incredibly skeptical of everything.  So this is what door to door evangelism does.  Do we want to put Jesus in the same category of a door to door salesman?


I really want to understand what these kids are being taught that is causing them to think this is an appropriate response to being a Christian.  I would hope they are trying to fulfill the Great Commission.  But how does going door to door asking people if they go to church or want to go to heaven make a disciple?  Isn't a disciple something that takes time to develop?  Isn't a disciple the recipient of a relationship?  The disciples with Jesus got a relationship.  They got three years, seeing every side of Him.  I see our job as Christian to be like Christ.  We are supposed to call people to hang out with us, to be our friends, to eat with us.  Going door to door, asking a question and leaving isn't a relationship.  Man, making a disciple is dirty hard work.


I think the culture is tired of Christians trying to just do the easy thing.  People in our culture respect hard work.  Jesus got dirty and we need to as well.  


I really wish that I had spent some time with those kids.  I want to understand the thought process.  I saw a guy yesterday standing on the side of the road at a stop light, white shirt, black tie, Bible in hand, screaming at the top of his lungs at people stopped at the light.  I guess my adjustment to the "Bible-belt" is going to be tough.  


If you are those three kids that were walking around my neighborhood on Sunday, I would love to spend some time talking to you, getting to know, understanding your approach to faith and why door to door Heaven invitations is the way for you. Come back and see me.  


I'd love to hear what other people think.