A couple of things have happened lately that have really bugged me.
Unwanted E-Mail Subscription
I was phoned by an evangelist I know touting his latest study which consisted of a 21 part DVD series along with a massive study guide to go with it.
Out of respect for him I ordered one set at a not insubstantial cost and said I would give it a try out with my own small group.
Unfortunately this evangelist took this to also mean he could put me on his e-mail newsletter list which is really just a sales pitch each time the e-mail arrives. I didn’t want to be on it, I wouldn’t have asked to be on it and even worse, there is no unsubscribe link.
Targeting of Congregation Members
Our demonination is starting up a new plant in a suburb not too far from us.
We’ve been advised by some of our congregation members that they have been invited by way of a written invitation to the launch.
Now it actually makes sense that some of these people should be invited because they live close to where the new plant is opening but it seems to me it would be only good manners to contact their current church leadership to give them a heads up first.
What Should My Response Be
As a Christian, how should I respond to such things? Should I:
- ignore things like this?
- react against them?
- discuss them (in love)?
- or should I just blog it as a venting mechanism and then move on?
A couple of comments … if the evangelist is based in NZ you may want to remind him of the anti-spam laws. I’m sure they won’t want to be paying any fines.
On the second comment, I think that the best start towards a response is to find out the point of view of others involved in the plant. Without knowing the perspective of all those involved you can’t react positively.
Great (GREAT) question though. How should a Christian respond to what appears to be un-Christlike behaviour ESPECIALLY in the context of a Christian organisation.
Yes the evangelist is based in New Zealand!
Good point on finding out other’s perspectives. Now to try and do it without causing unnecessary offence!
Don’t worry about causing offence! All too often Christians aren’t direct enough (unlike Jesus) and we’d rather have a semblance of peace than speak to issues that potentially hold us back.
BUT like you ask, how do we do this gracefully? How do ask difficult questions without offending, and challenging questions without threatening? Mark´s last blog ..A prayer
hi Paul
I remember Johnsonville was accused of similar transgressions in 1993/94 ie before we became an official plant in 1995 … prior to 1995 we were simply a group of locals exploring an idea and so much less cogniscant of issues like those you raise, we had no formal status within the SA until 1995 when we started to respect such organisational dynamics and courtesies much more directly … prior to 1995 we left it those in our group to inform their own congregation/leaders
but on reflection we probably should have engaged with neighbouring Corps earlier for the sorts of reasons you describe
for that reason I affirm your frustration!