theophiles.org - On Metrorail, pastor tries to raise Christmas spirit to morning commute

On Metrorail, pastor tries to raise Christmas spirit to morning commute

Written by holmegm

Thursday, 27 December 2012 14:33

From The Washington Post:

On a crowded morning train on Metro’s Orange Line, Fisher Yang, 50, of Centreville, gets his share of jeers, eye rolls and smiles.
Yang, who is the pastor of a church in Shenandoah County, sings Christmas carols two days a week during the morning rush hour on Metro’s five subway lines.

Comments

PineHall - Two Thoughts

|2013-01-05 16:03:11

First thing that came to mind is that South Korean Crhistians are much more mission minded than we Americans are. We, American Christians, need to to be more mission minded.

Second thought I had was is this the best way to share one's faith? I think it is not the best way. I think one-on-one relationships are the best way. I still think it is better than nothing, even considering the complaints.

whitemice - Sharing, by not

|2013-01-17 07:10:46

I think a great many of these people fail to grasp that this is the 21st century.

I believe the very notion of "sharing one's faith" has changed.

If people want to know about a church, or Christianity, et all, they have a jillion ways of finding information. They have numerous ways of making contact. That is the 21st (at least urban western) century. It is a pull, not a push, society. If I want information (I am the 'seeker') I go and get it. Someone else jumping in my space trying to sell me something is just that: advertising.

Personally, I have little doubt that churches wouldn't get MORE walk ins and queries if Christianity (at least in the urban west) would just take a collective time-out. We are shouting to our own detriment.

It is:

1. Coke tastes great! Buy Coke!
2. Install Google Chrome!
3. Accept Jesus! Get Saved!
4. Want love? Visit "Matchmaker.com"!
5. Vote for Jimmy!
6. Dawn detergent strips away grease!
....

The best way to share your faith in the urban west is to be quiet. If someone is interested, they will ask. And there is always the option to take some time and volunteer at an organization that actually does something positive [vs. an organization dedicated to shouting down the other guy].

PineHall - re: Sharing, by not

|2013-01-17 10:05:30

whitemice wrote:

The best way to share your faith in the urban west is to be quiet. If someone is interested, they will ask. And there is always the option to take some time and volunteer at an organization that actually does something positive [vs. an organization dedicated to shouting down the other guy].

I disagree. The best way to share your faith is to share your life and invite them to participate in your life's activities. I believe people in the West think they know about Christianity. Unfortunately they have the wrong idea. They think Christianity is all about being good and many would add being intolerant and judgemental. For them being spiritual is all about being moral and by their standards they are not doing a bad job and they don't need church or other Christians. They are not going to research Christianity and walk into a church. It would be a rare person who would do that.

Connecting them with a positive Christian orgaization that you are involved with to help others is a good idea and I see it as part sharing your life.

whitemice

|2013-01-17 13:09:53

> I disagree. The best way to share your faith is
> to share your life and invite them to
> participate in your life's activities.

Okay, but we aren't talking about the same thing at all. I'm talking about "outreach" - the organized (I would use the term 'mechanized') actions of organizations and their paid staff to try to sell (aka outreach, aka evangelize).

> people in the West think they know about Christianity

SO TRUE. Hearing Nones interviewed about why they do not accept religion is frustating. Because the religion they describe is mostly parochial morality and in brutal honestly: awesome self involvement (one often prays "why me", leaving the standing question: why not you?).

But watching Christians twist themselves into knots to get attention doesn't make them ask: Hey, do I really know about this thing?

The singing pastor on the train, the cheesy commercial, and every manner of 'outreach' I've seen in the last 10+ years helps sell the None;s position. It turns people off. It annoys people. It insults people. Outreach is *BAD*. Evangelism is *BAD*. Just look at the numbers - the church is failing or has failed - so do more of the same more intensely and louder? The church and the clergy need to stop. Let the people reach people through their lives; and if that really actually doesn't work...

I am convinced the Pastor, and Pastors everywhere, should be more concerned with his congregation and doing his job of educating his congregation in the faith. Because the professional clergy class on that score gets a grade of EPIC FAIL (clearly, we are where we are today).

whitemice - Annoying, no Evangelism

|2013-01-14 13:55:15

Another pastor who can't tell the difference between out-reach and show boating.

laika - re: Annoying, no Evangelism

|2013-01-16 21:26:40

I thought the flag-covered cross on his lapel was a little offputting. Can cross pins in your team colors be far behind?

Oh well, hopefully he's doing more than just annoying people. Not being familiar with commuter train etiquette, I can't say...

whitemice

|2013-01-17 07:00:20

I'm very familiar with commuter bus etiquette, or at least that practiced where I live.

He'd get tossed off the bus [sadly, and then probably claim he was being persecuted]. But I'd imagine it is much harder to police trains, and you can't toss people off as easily.

Generally you ignore your fellow passengers to the maximum degree possible, and try to behave in a manner that makes being ignored in return as easy as possible. Everyone is there to get to where they are going, they aren't there as a captive audience for your show or screed.

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Our valuable member holmegm has been with us since Thursday, 03 April 2008.

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