thoughts on street corner evangelism.

Last night I attended AthFest with a friend of mine.  AthFest is a local music festival held here in Athens.  It's wonderful!  We walked around downtown where the streets were blocked off and browsed around the rows of vendors selling anything from handmade hair bows to handmade pottery.  AthFest also had some very special visitors-- some street corner evangelists.  The signs they held towered high over the crowd and the booming voice of rotating men on microphones echoes through the small crowd that gathered around them.  As I watched different people interacting with the evangelists (some even entering nearby restaurants to acquire cardboard to make signs of their own), I felt so many mixed emotions.  As a Christian, I understood what the evangelists were saying.  I knew the references, I knew the language.  The people surrounding the evangelists did not.  And it got me thinking about perspective.

From my perspective, I know that these folks were doing what they felt called to do: to share the gospel.  But what about how they were perceived by the crowd?  I tried to put myself in the mindset of those around me-- those who felt directly threatened by the evangelists, their signs, and their microphones.  I realized how hurtful and judgmental  the evangelists sounded... and my heart ached for everyone around me.  I looked directly at the evangelists and realized that this is how the world sees me, though they do not know me.  Because some Christians don't take the time to know the people they accuse of blasphemy, adultery, and sin.  When we get to know one another, we begin to care for one another... and we begin to open our hearts to each other.  It's only then that we have the opportunity to share the incredible, deep, never-ending love that Jesus has for each of us.

The music at AthFest was awesome, I met so many new friends, and made some deep realizations about what it means to partner with God and be in ministry.  I realized that my need to judge others should decrease as my understanding of Jesus' love deepens.  I hope one day I'll be brave enough to reach out to my brothers holding the signs on the street corners and gain insight into their perspective as well.  Until then, my aim is to live alongside all of the people their sign claimed Jesus hated, and restore in them an understanding in divine, unconditional love.