Evangelists Who Suck

Yesterday I was reading an article about online Atheist evangelists. It certainly is worth a looky-see, so here's the link. Understanding is the great need of our age. Heck, for all ages, truly.

Faith should work for us, whether it is faith in a Creator or faith in the power of luck and coincidence (which is what I think atheism amounts to). I say the worldview we embrace should make us better able to cope with life, with one another, and especially with ourselves. The more strongly we feel the improvement, the more strongly we are moved to share our worldview with others and encourage them to come along for the ride.

That is the rationale for evangelism.

One of the comments from the above referenced article was as follows:

The most arrogant and devisive commentors I’ve consistently experienced are fundamentalist Christians. Of course, that’s not how they SHOULD act, but, alas, the power of pride and bigotry has overtaken many of them. And sadly they are too blind to see their ineffectiveness as “ambassadors” to Christ. I figure God is going to have to raise up another generation of believers that are humble and loving because these past generations pretty much effed it up. Arrogance and pride, indeed.

So believers and nonbelievers can both easily step over the line of common decency in their evangelistic efforts. That is a bad thing. A nonproductive thing.

I wrote about nonbelievers yesterday, but today I want to think about believers. There is indeed a great need for God "to raise up another generation of believers that are humble and loving," which is to say we who believe in God should allow that belief to do its good work in us.

You see, it isn't matter of thinking rightly about things. It is a matter of treating our fellow humans with compassion - because our fellow humans are God's children, too.

In that regard, I feel closer to the simple nonbeliever who just doesn't feel a need to make a leap of faith to belief in a Creator than I do those who do believe but are arrogant and hateful.

While I do believe there is much to be gained by a simple faith in God (and mind you, I don't mean the complexities of the various theological systems), my efforts to share my faith should be accomplished with kindness and love. If I fail in that simple task, my failure speaks against my belief.

But do we need evangelists? Should there be evangelists?

The truth is, we are all evangelists via the way we live our lives and the example we set.