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The Hard Sell

I was hanging out in one of the local coffee dives this week. (I know quicken will tell me how much I'm spending on coffee, but I really don't want to know) Anyway, sitting across the room is an Air Force Recruiter.

He was sitting on one side of a table, a frustrated mother was in the middle and a rough looking teen was on the other side. I was trying to focus on my late' and a book, but the dude was using his outside voice. I think he thought louder is more convincing. So I spent the next 30 minutes listening to a hard sell on how the military will straighten this kid's life up and give him a purpose. I wondered if this guy also did used car commercials on TV.

Keep in mind, I'm as patriotic as you can be. My dad was career military. I was on my way to the Air Force Academy when I decided on a life in the ministry. I actually wore red, white and blue shoes in the 70's. OK, bad image, but you get my point.

THIS GUY WAS ANNOYING ME FROM 30 FT AWAY. I just wanted to relax and enjoy my late'. But, I felt so sorry for the teen who was sitting there being pistol whipped. Then it hit me.

I think this is the perspective that the world has on Christians. We claim to have all the answers. We get in peoples faces. We know how to fix your life no matter how screwed up our lives are. Don't think for yourself, we will tell you all you need to know. After you are recruited you will be given a uniform and a dress code. You will then be told what to do and when to do it. Check your brain at the door.

How arrogant are we? This kid would have rather hung out with anyone else in the room. He wasn't buying the sell. If anything the military was getting further and further down on his list of choices. And yet this is how we were taught to "evangelize" the world.

Christians need a new attitude, a new approach. How about "letting your light shine before men?" How about being "harmless as doves?" The hard sell doesn't work anymore.

So I left that day feeling more stressed than when I went in. I don't know what happened to the teen. I'm thinking military wasn't in his future though. I sure hope recruiter dude doesn't use the coffee shop as a recruiting station anymore.

Comments

Kelly K Walters said…
hey, gary...dave and i have started up a small group bible study that we want you to join in with. i dont have your email addie, so,here is the link. it will be a mirror of what we discuss at crossings. also, there is a place for prayer requests. let me know you registered so i can give you access.

kelly
10:44 AM
Anonymous said…
Pastor Gary, this is where I declare a large THANK YOU for finally speaking out what I've been screaming for years. This particularly applies to the matter of the homosexuality topic...how are we supposed to be reflections of God's saving grace, when all that is thrown at them is hate, hate, bigotry, violence, and more hate? Twenty woot points for you.
~C~
10:53 PM
Anonymous said…
Pastor G, I totally agree with your point and have said the same to many pastors that I have worked with over many years. It wasn't a very popular stance then, as I'm sure it still isn't today, but I'm sure glad to hear it "from a pastor's heart" this time. God Bless you for speaking HIS HEART also!!!
9:13 AM
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