Listening to a Liberal

As an evangelist, my primary objective is to save souls. Therefore, I minimize small talk during my witnessing encounters. Some individuals are inclined to engage in trivial discussions that have no relevance to their eternal destiny. Others who are already saved want to debate doctrine, which will take away time from those that need salvation. 2 Timothy 2:23 says, “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.”

Last Tuesday night, I participated in an outreach called Jesus Burgers, which aimed to primarily attract University of Minnesota students. Free hamburgers, chips, drinks, and freeze pops were available. The event was held on a corner in the Dinkytown area. I had lived there almost forty years ago during my time as a U of M student. So I spied out the land a bit while handing out invitation cards without asking people questions about eternity. The outreach leaders wanted us to spend a few minutes getting to know “pre-believers” (their term for sinners) before sharing the gospel with them. 

Numerous individuals showed up, including a beggar who told me he was hungry. Another Christian was interacting with him. So after I ate some food, I briefly walked onto the University of Minnesota campus. Very few people were around, but I still gave out more Jesus Burger cards. One recipient was a gray-haired woman. Later, I noticed she had gotten a burger and sat down at a table. I decided to strike up a conversation with her.

I discovered that Linda is a retiree who had previously attended the University of Minnesota. She returned to the campus that evening to attend a lecture. Linda had worked in fundraising for National Public Radio and other organizations. Eventually, I mentioned that I had also attended the U of M to take music classes. That progressed into sharing my testimony about how I came to know the Lord. 

Linda revealed she had also been raised Lutheran. She even claimed to have “said the prayer,” but got turned off by professing Christians who don’t live up to their words. Linda then went on to complain about evangelicals who support Donald Trump, are intolerant of illegal immigrants, and refuse to “embrace diversity.” I refrained from discussing those specific issues. Instead, I emphasized that everyone will someday stand before the Lord and be held accountable for their lives. I asked Linda, “If you were served a terrible meal at a restaurant, would that mean you stop eating? No, you’d go eat somewhere else.” I proposed that she find a better church.

I offered to pray for Linda to have an encounter with the Lord, but she left our table to get another hamburger. Then a man named Don suggested we hand out more Jesus Burger cards. Less than a block away, I met an Ecuadorian who appeared to be waiting for a bus. Carlos wasn’t sure of going to heaven until he prayed to get saved. Earlier that afternoon on my way to the church where the outreach began, I gave a bag of chips and a gospel tract to a homeless man begging by the corner. Rondell also got saved.

While I’ll continue doing what another evangelist called “shotgun salvations,” I’ll endeavor to be more compassionate toward individuals whose political and religious beliefs differ from mine. They might be going through hardships and need someone to listen to them.

“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” - James 1:19