Weirdest attempt at evangelization that you've ever seen

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tuxedo_Mark
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Maybe it’s because I’m on the Internet more than I am outside, but most of my encounters are with replies to comments on YouTube. Although, recently I had the misfortune to have a “Traditional” Catholic - a schismatic - post a comment on my channel. I’ve been in dialogue with him for a few weeks.

Stupidest fellow I’ve ever met. He just throws excerpts of papal letters and encyclicals and links to videos about Fatima at you if you reply to him. Even if you’re a Protestant, or an atheist.:rolleyes:

Seriously. Who tries to evangelise an atheist with Papal encyclicals? Without explanation?
 
I had a customer this evening that put some kind of flier or something on the little table next to the PIN pad after I finished her transaction. She said she was leaving me an “invitation to visit [her] church.” I was like “No, thanks. I already attend one.” I tried pushing the thing back to her, and it fell on the floor, but there was no problem, and she didn’t push the issue.

She was wearing a long skirt, so I’m guessing she was from one of those denominations that forbids females from wearing pants, though she had relatively short hair, and the skirters that work at my store have butt-length hair.
 
One day I took my 4.5 year old son to the playground and there was another little boy there his same age and they began playing together in the sandbox.

Randomly my son turned to the little boy and said
“Jesus loves me, does Jesus love you?
I love Jesus. Do you love Jesus?”

My son does have A LOT of love for Jesus… He reminded me of an evangelical
 
Millie123 said:
One day I took my 4.5 year old son to the playground and there was another little boy there his same age and they began playing together in the sandbox.

Randomly my son turned to the little boy and said
“Jesus loves me, does Jesus love you?
I love Jesus. Do you love Jesus?”

My son does have A LOT of love for Jesus… He reminded me of an evangelical
Click to expand...
Lol, I hope u don’t mind me asking, but, what did the other little boy say in response?
 
suko said:
Lol, I hope u don’t mind me asking, but, what did the other little boy say in response?
Click to expand...
He didnt say anything. He looked at my son as if he was nuts…then they got back to playing with their cars in sandbox
 
BrokenWing said:
I’d never really experienced anything so seemingly random before, at least not related to religion.
Click to expand...
It could’ve been worse. You could’ve had my experience in 6th grade when a bunch of evangelical kids told me I was worshiping the demonic because I fancied Digimon. 🤷
 
My experience with that was more hilarious than anything. I was also in 6th grade, playing Magic: The Gathering in the hallway. A teacher approached, looked at what we were doing and asked: “Is that devil worshiping?” We laughed and I said “No it’s just a game” and she replied with “Ok, that’s good” and walked off.

Remember, ask first, threaten eternal damnation second =).
 
BrokenWing said:
My experience with that was more hilarious than anything. I was also in 6th grade, playing Magic: The Gathering in the hallway. A teacher approached, looked at what we were doing and asked: “Is that devil worshiping?” We laughed and I said “No it’s just a game” and she replied with “Ok, that’s good” and walked off.

Remember, ask first, threaten eternal damnation second =).
Click to expand...
You know, Omaha must be a very special place, or I must be a very special person, because I’ve never seen anyone say such a thing when I was playing MTG. Thank the Lord.

BTW, I’ve got about 800 common cards I’m trying to get rid of. Anyone want them?
 
Della said:
Unfortunately for those earnest souls who use very questionable methods to evangelize, they make themselves look foolish by accosting people cold, pretending interest in their souls and then forcing their religious views on them. Sorry, I used to be one of those people and I can tell you I was more motivated by fear than by love of souls–fear that God would hold me accountable for everyone with whom I didn’t “share the Gospel” as we understood it. Sure, there are people who are motived by love, but in their misplaced zeal they put people off rather than attract them. True evangelization is being a witness in one’s daily life not grabbing strangers off the street and forcing oneself on them. It’s their methods we find funny/odd not their zeal–whether that zeal is motivated by love or fear.
Click to expand...
Reminiscent of how people try to convert LGBT people.
 
Xpiatio said:
The weirdest is probably the most stigmatizing that I ever saw:

The ones who stand on a soap box with a big sign stating you are going to go to hell. And all the person preaches is how we are sinful and going to hell. Not once do they ever mention God’s mercy and/or love.
Click to expand...
Off the track a bit, but my old pastor had a friend of his who was an alcoholic on the dry.

But every so often the bug would bite, and he’d have a hard time trying to resist buying a drink or ten.

He had a unique way of dealing with it. He lived in a small unit, almost a bed-sit, quite close to King’s Cross in Sydney, which is Sydney’s red light area.

He had a couple of sandwich boards made up with Bible verses on each side eg. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” He’d have some other verse on the other side.

Then he’d go for a walk down King’s Cross. Within five minutes he’d be so busy defending his faith, he didn’t have time to worry about the alcoholic bug biting him!
 
I don’t know if it’s because it was so close to Halloween or not, but I seem to be a magnet for evangelicals.

The latest encounter happened on Halloween evening. This way-too-enthusiastic customer asked me how I was, etc., and then he was like “Do you have any pain anywhere in your body?” I was like “No. Why?” He was like “Do you have any ailments?” I was like “No. Why?” He was like “Because I’m a Christian, and I like to pray for people. Do you have anything that you want to pray for?” I was like “No.” He was like “Okay, well, I really appreciate you. Cashier, man, that’s awesome. You’re very intelligent, and I’m sure that God has a purpose for you.”

His wife did not take part in this and pretty much stayed silent.
 
Some of these people might be a bit irritating with their misguided attempts at evangelising, but at least they’re enthusiastic and trying to do their bit.

In one way or the other, they make known the name of Christ.

However I don’t think we are as religious in Australia as Americans are, so these sorts of exchanges are less frequent. I’m not sure if this is a good or bad thing.

My old pastor almost invariably wore his clerical garb - grey or black suit and “dog collar”.

I remember one of the parishioners asking him why he always wore his official church outfit in public. I wasn’t talking to him directly, and I rarely overhear people because I’m hard of hearing, but at least part of his reply was “… people know what I stand for…”.

These days you could pass a priest or pastor in the street, and in most cases you wouldn’t have a clue. I’ve only seen one priest in our parish who seemed to make a habit of wearing clerical garb in public.

It makes a statement, and the religious leader doesn’t have to say a word.
 
Tuxedo_Mark said:
I don’t know if it’s because it was so close to Halloween or not, but I seem to be a magnet for evangelicals.

The latest encounter happened on Halloween evening. This way-too-enthusiastic customer asked me how I was, etc., and then he was like “Do you have any pain anywhere in your body?” I was like “No. Why?” He was like “Do you have any ailments?” I was like “No. Why?” He was like “Because I’m a Christian, and I like to pray for people. Do you have anything that you want to pray for?” I was like “No.” He was like “Okay, well, I really appreciate you. Cashier, man, that’s awesome. You’re very intelligent, and I’m sure that God has a purpose for you.”

His wife did not take part in this and pretty much stayed silent.
Click to expand...
His wife was praying for him to stop. 😉
 
BrokenWing said:
His wife was praying for him to stop. 😉
Click to expand...
:rotfl: You’re probably right. 😛

I’ve got another story from when I was a small child. We were traveling by car through the south and had stopped at a gas station/general store. I had a cold, so my mother, baby sister, and I stayed in the car. When Dad and my brothers came back he jumped into the car and drove off in a hurry. Mom asked what ever was the matter. Dad told her that a man had engaged him in conversation–not unusual for people in small Southern towns to do when they meet strangers. When asked how we all were, Dad had mentioned that we were fine except for me, because of my cold. That’s when the situation got wierd. The man began to rave that he had the gift of healing and could cure me. Dad said his eyes were wild and his manner scary. The man had said, “Just let me lay hands on her and she’ll be instantly cured.” That’s when Dad had backed away, politely said, “No thank you” and ran for the car. My Dad wasn’t easily frightened–he was a veteran of two wars, but Dad said he felt sick and threatened in that man’s presence. Gives me the shivers and I didn’t even see the man.
 
BrokenWing said:
My experience with that was more hilarious than anything. I was also in 6th grade, playing Magic: The Gathering in the hallway. A teacher approached, looked at what we were doing and asked: “Is that devil worshiping?” We laughed and I said “No it’s just a game” and she replied with “Ok, that’s good” and walked off.

Remember, ask first, threaten eternal damnation second =).
Click to expand...
Questions like that tempt me to tap into my inner wellspring of sarcasm and say, “No, silly mortal. We are devil summoning. Big difference.”

Eat 6/6 flying sir. 🤓

Cuz really, I never thought anyone was stupid enough to request I ‘accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior’ while insulting my love for Harry Potter and Final Fantasy. 🤷 Oh but alas, that was my first ever encounter with fundamentalists.
 
Lost_Wanderer said:
Questions like that tempt me to tap into my inner wellspring of sarcasm and say, “No, silly mortal. We are devil summoning. Big difference.”

Eat 6/6 flying sir. 🤓

Cuz really, I never thought anyone was stupid enough to request I ‘accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior’ while insulting my love for Harry Potter and Final Fantasy. 🤷 Oh but alas, that was my first ever encounter with fundamentalists.
Click to expand...
“Begone foolish mortal, we are consorting with Asmodeus to exact vengeance upon preachy Bible thumpers who interfere with our card games”
 
My friend at the time was an atheist the whole notion was absurd =). The fact that they didn’t push anything and accepted our response on face value was nice though.

I haven’t had any weird experiences like that while gaming since then. One of these days though I know a parent is going to see me playing Warhammer Fantasy with my not for kids character models and say something fundamentalisty (I have now invented a word).

Our group does now have a Catholic who’s all of 9 years old though. I put my more PG characters out when he’s around.
 
Many years ago when I was church ‘hopping’ and was at a non-denominational church. They were playing a worship song and I was singing and worshipping with my hands raised and getting into things when all of a sudden the guy in front of me turned around and said would you like to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Which I found very strange and insulting since here I was already a Christian and participating in worship. And, here he is trying to ‘evangelize’ me. What did I look like to him I wondered? I asked him why would you ask me that when I’m already worshipping. And he didn’t really say much and looked kind of sheepish.
Another time just a few years ago I was at a bank and an elderly man approached me and said he couldn’t get home and I offered him a ride. So I took him to his house and he invited me in and we started talking. Then he proceeded to give me $20 and offered me the basement suite in his house to rent out as his last tenant vacated the place. The place was actually pretty close to my parish. I wasn’t interested in renting the place but I thought that maybe the Lord wanted to use me to reach out to him. So I tried to steer the conversation to the Catholic Church nearby and then he proceeded to go on about how corrupt the church is and in his home country all they wanted from him was his money. I tried to tell him we weren’t interested in his money and that God love him. Sadly, he got very angry and revealed that he is an atheist and he believes when you die that’s it. And what started out as an act of charity on my part turned into a heated debate. When I left I put the $20 in his mailbox as a gesture to say that we weren’t interested in his money. He was also quite old and that was a few years ago. So I don’t even know if he is with us today.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top