Saturday when I went out to collect our mail, I found two shopping bags at our front door. One was a gift bag from Baptist Mega-Church on the Freeway. Inside the gift bag were two books: How To Find God (the New Living Translation of the New Testament) and Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die by John Piper. Also included were a coupon for a free (with purchase of large drink) Chik-Fil-A sandwich, an invitation to Baptist Mega-Church's Spanish language services, a schedule of their Holy Week events and two peppermints!The other shopping bag was a request for donations to Baptist Mega-Church's Food Pantry. A list of requested food items was attached. All I need to do to contribute is fill the grocery bag with food and leave it on my front porch next Saturday for pick-up.
Pretty clever, eh? Leave some gifts and ask for donations. Actually, there are a number of non-Christians among our neighbors. Most of them are Hindus, but there are also a few Muslim families. Perhaps the efforts of Baptist Mega-Church will prove fruitful in the long run. Gotta love the Baptists: they aren't reluctant to evangelize.
I skimmed through Fifty Reasons and don't think that it would be very helpful to someone who had no background with Christianity because it seems to assume familiarity with the Bible and basic Christian theology. How To Find God, on the other hand, prefaces the New Testament text with some basic Christian concepts and a "How to Study the Bible" introductory chapter. The NLT text is a modern paraphrase. Its layout seemed "gimmicky" to me, though--lots of little text boxes and asides. I wonder if that type of layout, which looks more like a contemporary magazine than a book, is more inviting to someone totally unfamiliar with the Bible?
Although it is impossible for me to put myself in the place of a non-Christian and evaluate what kind of books on the subject would be appealing, I did start to wonder what books I would include in a gift bag like this if I were organizing this evangelism/service project. I'm thinking that Calvin's Institutes and the Book of Confessions aren't very seeker-friendly! For an introduction to the Bible, you can't beat The Bible From Scratch (OT and NT volumes) by Donald Griggs, but those books are meant to be read in a group setting, not on your own Christianity for Dummies, seems to be for, well, dummies, and not appropriate my well (or over!) educated neighbors. Maybe I would include C. S. Lewis' Mere Christianity or Robin Griffith-Jones' wonderful analysis of the gospels, The Four Witnesses. If I were including a New Testament I would choose Eugene Peterson's The Message paraphrase. It doesn't have chapters and verses and reads more like a regular book.
What would you put in the bag?
Since their Food Pantry serves a lot of needy people in our neighborhood, we'll be leaving a full grocery sack on the doorstep for them to pick up next Saturday. I hope they get a lot of donations.
Mere Christianity by C.S.Lewis. A classic.
ReplyDeleteEverlasting Man by G.K.Chesterton. Lewis mentions this book in his autobiography as being a significant reason for his conversion. Orthodoxy is also an excellent book. Heck I could recommend pretty much anything by Chesterton.
The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel. An easy read written from the viewpoint of an investigative journalist.
Fundamentals of the Faith by Peter Kreeft. Written from a more philosophical standpoint and doesn't assume a Christian reader. The collection of essays starts with belief in God and progresses to the specifics of Christian belief.
When you mentioned The Four Witnesses I thought of Rod Bennett's book Four Witnesses: The Early Church in Her Own Words. A very readable book recounting the early Church through the lives of Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, and Irenaeus of Lyons using their own writings.
what a terrific idea ... and I love the care that's gone into the little bags too :)
ReplyDelete~ slapping side of head~
ReplyDeleteJon, I can't believe I forgot about the Lee Strobel book. He has a new one: The Case for God. That would make a good addition, too. Great suggestions!
I live in an area where a lot of folks have had negative experiences of the church.
ReplyDeleteSo I might go with:
*Traveling Mercies
*Amazing Grace (The Norris book not the song)
*Being Presbyterian in the Bible Belt
This gift bag beats what I got from the local Baptist church.
ReplyDeleteShortly after my development was built, we all got Lenox plates with a picture of the church and information on their services. Fired onto the plate. I'm not sure what they were thinking - was I going to display it on the mantle?
The irony is that I worked for Lenox at the time (and still do).
At least they tried.
What a great idea! Not only are they asking participation in a helping mission, they are offering great value in return. Fantastic, I love it. I'd visit a church like that just to say thank you.
ReplyDeleteNo additions to the book list. But if it was affordable I'd include a DVD video clip of a drama I would write (someday when the budget money falls into my lap) called "Got Jesus?" In our modern techno age many people are more reachable visually.
I like the ideas of Traveling Mercies and Amazing Grace, and The Message for a Bible. I would add Nouwen's The Only Necessary Thing. And a few BBT CDs from Chautauqua. And a DVD of the choir from King's College or Westminster, if there is such a thing. And probably a CD of Christian rock or praise music -- not that I would have the slightest idea about that, but I'm betting there are people who would prefer it over sacred choral music LOL. (And I seem to be the only person on the planet who would happily forego Mere Christianity, but it would probably be a good thing to include.)
ReplyDeleteGannet Girl, once again not signed in
Folks, you are all blinkered by your Presbyterian backgrounds - and maybe by your "learning". I suggest you include "More than a Carpenter" by Josh McDowel. This book is easy to read, is straight forward and reduces the claims of Jesus to simple concepts. The logic may not be perfect - but the goal is to evangelize - not have a debate!
ReplyDeleteGuilty as charged, Anonymous! I'm not familiar with the McDowel book--that probably doesn't surprise you.
ReplyDeleteBut it seems to me that evangelism needs to be tailored to the audience you are trying to reach. My neighbors are all upper-middle-class professionals and business people, most with advanced degrees.
God reaches some people through intellectual persuasion and those are the folks more likely to find the Presbyterian church a comfortable fit. Can some people be evangelized through debate? Maybe so.
My first response to Anonymous's comment about "evangelize not debate" was: is there some option other than debate?
ReplyDeleteLOL. Only goes to demonstrate my (similar to QG) professional/intellectual neighborhood and my professional/intellectual work environment. It is inconceiveable to me that any statement about religion or faith would not be met with an immediate challenge.
I presume, perhaps mistakenly, that the comment reflects situations in wich someone, told the good news of the gospels, would be an accepting recipient of same. Not in any world I have ever inhabited.
This is a really interesting discussion.
Frankly, my reaction to this discussion is entirely different. It would never, ever in a million years occur to me to leave unsolicited a bag of Christian literature on a non-Christian neighbor's doorstep. If such a person were to come to me on his or her own initiative to ask me about my faith I would be more than happy to talk with him/her. But proselytize univited? Thank you, no. I am far too familiar with the very checkered history of my own faith tradition to believe that we Christians have a monopoly on either virtue or salvation.
ReplyDeleteChristine,
ReplyDeleteI agree. I'd never drop a bag unsolicited. But it was a fun little exercise... If I were to drop a bag...
And the books I mentioned (Traveling Mercies, Amazing grace, Being Presby in the B-Belt)would be the ones I'd be most likely to sahre with a neighbor who asked.
I live in a great funky little neighborhood in Dallas. Lots of artists and interesting characters. Not many of my neighbors are what one would call church folk. But since it is Dallas I am sure that they have had more than a little experince with the church and/or parachurch groups like Young Life. And for many it has not been pleasant.
One neighbor has told me about the time she got kicked out of Sunday School becuase she asked to many tough questions of the teacher. Needless to say it was not a Presby Sunday School. I was able to tell her that most of the Presby's I know like folks who ask questions.
Ceemac,
ReplyDeleteYes, that's my point. What reading would you recommend to people who ask the tough questions? Thanks for your suggestions. These are the people who are most likely to be comfortable in the Presbyterian church. And I'm glad about that.
Christine said:I am far too familiar with the very checkered history of my own faith tradition to believe that we Christians have a monopoly on either virtue or salvation.
ReplyDeleteEr ... didn't Christ say "I am the Way, the Truth, the Light; no one comes to the Father but by Me." Jn 14:6 (RSV)
This alone gives Christians a monopoly on salvation. Unless one believes this, one is not a Christian. All ways are NOT paths to God the Father. The church on earth may have been corrupted, but this truth has not been.
Forgive me for being so abrupt, but we're seeing more relativism then evangelism in the Presbyterian Church. Which is why I was glad to see this link spotlighted on Presbyweb: http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2007/07157.htm.
I liked the Traveling Mercies and Amazing Grace suggestions...C.S. Lewis...Nouwen...Kelly Fryer's No Experience Necessary...maybe Peter Gomes' The Good Book, depending upon the recipient.
ReplyDeleteI love Strobel.
ReplyDeleteI like the "More than a Carpenter" choice too, for a less intellectual crowd, such as the folks in my church--blue-collar folk all.
But for your neighborhood I'd go with "The Case for Christ." Maybe the small version rather than the whole book. We used it here a couple of years ago and I was told it was over people's heads.
And a c.d.? Great idea! I love the "Matthew" video...can't remember who produced it, but it is better than "The Jesus Video" IMO.
Whatever it is, it should be brief and to the point. Keep in mind that this is marketing for the church - you want to get the person's attention and leve them wanting more. Also, these are busy people. Ben Haden at www.changedlives.org has some brief, intelligent, materials. He also has a booklet you can order. Excellent stuff.
ReplyDeleteit's me again, now I've had a little time to think ..
ReplyDeleteI'd skip mere Christianity
and go with
what's so amazing about Grace (Yancy)
and also
Credo (Ray Pritchard)
and I'd include something for kids /teens ...
Andy Robb's SUPERSON - boring bible series is GREAT :) adults might enjoy it too ...esp the cartoons!
I still think this is a fabulous idea and like someone else said - I'd at least visit/check out a church like that :)
Lorna,
ReplyDeleteThe Yancey book is a good choice, too. I think I've heard of Credo but haven't read it. Never heard of Superson, either, I'll have to check that one out.
Great suggestions, everyone!
What an interesting question!
ReplyDeleteMere Christianity would be a great place to start, and I would also add Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (and also require it of churches who are willing to ask themselves how they're doing in building community).
I like Yancey too- but am not sure about how a bag of books would be received over here... interesting project! Please let us know how it goes
ReplyDeleteSorry for this delayed reply but I was traveling and did not have Internet access. Concerning the “debate” – “evangelism” comments above, I draw your attention to Paul’s experience. In Athens he had a wonderful intellectual debate – with limited results. In Corinth, he purposed only to preach “Christ crucified” and reaped a harvest. While our Christian faith is a “reasonable” faith we are inviting people to a relationship with the one true God. That is based on the person of Jesus Christ – not on the intellectual content of his sermons. For me, failure to understand this concept is why our Presbyterian denomination is slowly sinking into oblivion. Bye the way, Christ chose to be born as a carpenter – not a stockbroker, lawyer, doctor, or other “educated” professional. Maybe we need to remember that he did not teach his followers to reason their way into heaven
ReplyDeleteChrist may have chosen to be born as a carpenter, but he also more than held his own in intellectual debate with the priests and Pharisees. Paul may have had poor results in Corinth, but he used powerful intellectual appeals in his great letter to the Romans.
ReplyDeleteWe can't reason our way into heaven, true enough. But there are those who are brought into the kingdom through their reason. God uses whatever is necessary. So C.S. Lewis, St. Augustine, Calvin, and the other great apologists of Christianity also have their place.