This summer, I have a couple jobs. I’m working on some Cleave Design projects, co-leading the Macrina Community with Sarah and putting in around 30 hrs/wk at the Apple Store. For those of you who know me, this is a pretty sweet job for me. I got my first Mac about 4 years ago when I bought a 12″ PowerBook. I was excited but a little skeptical about it – being that it was my first Apple product, and I had grown up in a family where we used Gateway 2000 and DELL computers. But it took hardly no time at all before I was in love with the computer, and became a full-fledged Mac-evangelist.
My friends at seminary used to joke with me that I “converted” more people from PC to Mac, than I did people to Christianity.
So, for about 30 hours each week, I’m a salesman. We use different language at Apple though, so my job title is officially Specialist. But still – I’m trying to sell MacBooks, iMacs, iPods and iPhones. However, there is a big difference that sets the Apple Stores apart from other retail stores, and especially other types of sales people – we don’t get commission. Some people are shocked when we tell them that – they expect that we’re making money off the sales, just like so many others who do similar work.
But that’s the difference. For the most part, we aren’t “trying” to sell anything to anyone. I personally love Apple – I love my MacBook, my iPod and I especially love playing with the new iPhone I bought Sarah. And I love telling people about why I love these products – but there is no pressure. I’m okay if they don’t want to get one today. It’s fine with me if they just want to speak with someone else, someone who might be more able to understand their perspective. And if, in the end, they just don’t want an Apple product, I respect that and trust that they are making the right decision.
Sometimes I wonder if Christians try to sell Jesus and Christianity too hard. Sometimes I wonder if we should even “try” to sell Jesus. If people have spiritual questions, I’m more than willing to tell them why I have chosen the path I’m on and what circumstances and decisions have brought me to this place, but I’m not going to try and force anything on them. It’s not like we’re working on commission or anything. Jesus never said “Go out and convert people!” Jesus did command us to share the good news – and one way we can do that is by witnessing to the ways in which we’ve experienced God. We’re certainly not called to be “sales people” for Jesus – and while we may not be Specialists in many things, we do know about our own experiences and life, and that is what we can share with others.
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Awesome thoughts, Adam. I’m in the same place right now. wondering what it means for me to be a witness.
the job sounds amazing as well. best of luck there.
Jesus never said “Go out and convert people!”
Huh?
I bet you are familiar with this, but it is always good to be reminded.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re selling Jesus or Buddha or civil rights or ‘How to Make Money in Real Estate With No Money Down.’ That doesn’t make you a human being; it makes you a marketing rep. If you want to talk to somebody honestly, as a human being, ask him about his kids. Find out what his dreams are – just to find out, for no other reason. Because as soon as you lay your hands on a conversation to steer it, it’s not a conversation anymore; it’s a pitch. And you’re not a human being; you’re a marketing rep.
Line from the film, The Big Kahuna
Excellent thoughts, they definitely have my mind stirring.
Owen-I don’t want to speak for Adam, or sound hostile for that matter, but did you read the rest of the paragraph? The Great Commission is a signaling of the spreading forth of the Good News: “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Jesus didn’t command us to be shallow and cheap and arrogant and boastful in our living, so surely he wouldn’t expect the same of our outreach; rather, we are to be involved and invested in the lives of the people we witness to. We reach out to them in their situations, we meet their immediate needs. We are called to be disciples of awareness, not of ignorance.
eliacin-great quote. never heard of the movie, but great quote.
Thank you so much for that last paragraph.
It’s all about building relationships, isn’t it?
~Mad(elyn) in Alabama
>>>My friends at seminary used to joke with me that I “converted” more people from PC to Mac, than I did people to Christianity.
I’m not surprised. You like Macs, and proselytizing is so passe.
Your post struck close to home for me, Adam. It is so easy to slide from story to sales pitch. It is so easy to use a person as a means instead of an end with evangelism. Anyway, thanks for you post.
You just explained my whole concept of evangelism. “Here it is – you can have it too if you want”.
Well done.
This approach to evangelism is far more grace-filled than the scripted and manipulative approach that’s been pitched to most of “evangelical” Christianity. Ever spent time reviewing the “Way of the Master” web site? Gaaah.
How can we claim to be evangelizing if we don’t love those we’re sharing good news with? How can we claim to love them if we approach them as marks? Good post.
I surely wouldn’t want to “sell” Jesus to anyone, but what about “begging” people to know Jesus. I have a picture of a beggar when reading II Corinthians 5:20, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” While I agree we shouldn’t be beating people over the head with the Good News, we need to realize that where someone spends eternity is a really big deal and what computer someone is using is a really small deal. If they say no to our macs – who cares? If they say no to our Jesus – i hope we all care.
Well, if you don’t really believe Jesus is the only way to the Father (emergents), then I guess no big deal about evangelizing. It’s all good.
Good thoughts. Too often the Great Commission seems to get misinterpreted into being an odd ancient multi-level marketing scheme with no financial incentive (but perhaps a “star in your crown”). It has to be more than pressure to make disciples who make disciples who make disciples etc, etc. Disciples DO something besides make more, right?
Oh, John…
I guess if you really believe in your assumptions about other people then you should be true to them.
Adam, You have a point in that the best evangelists (or Specialists) are those that don’t work on commission and do it for the pure love of the product.
And I agree that the church sometimes is trying to hard to “sell Jesus” that they miss the opportunity in a big way.
But the Godvertiser{tm} in me does think there is something valid about taking a look at how the intersection of communication arts and the consumeristic culture we live in can be harnessed to put forth the case for Jesus…in a way that is received well. [After all, there isn't much of a better differentiator than eternal life as a benefit, is there?]
One big reason for community that we are discovering is that if done right, the end result just might be receiving the favor of all the people — or put another way, it would look like a huddle of people playing with iPhones [16GB, black, 3G, activated, without contract, pre-paid service for life, of course] who have extras to give to anyone that passes by.
I would argue there’s the “better ways” of selling Jesus and then there’s the “Crazie Eddie” way (which ended up going bankrupt, right?).
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