The Question of Audience

Sometimes I feel like I am being judged by others because I do not preach heaven and hell in everything I write. Let me assure you, I am a Christian. It is true that we are all called to 'make disciples' and you will never hear me deny it. But I think there are two general ways people do this. The first is the evangelist, who walks up to everybody and everything that moves and shares the gospel. I admire the evangelist. I respect the evangelist. And I think the evangelist is needed. But I am no evangelist.

I am more of a missionary mindset, which could also be called relational-evangelism. I like to reach out, to help, to be a living testimony before I ever open my mouth to speak of sin and death, of Christ and hope. You may think I am a procrastinator, stalling for more time until I'm comfortable. But look at if from the other person's point of view. Some people have been through a rough time in life. They are bitter, untrusting, and some of them, sarcastic towards everything is mentioned about God. To these people, some nut* walking up to them on the street, witnessing to them, and then walking away isn't going to mean a lot to them. The witnessing person is just another delusional hypocrite as far as they're concerned.

But work with them, give them some time watching you and how you act. Stay calm and cool, constantly keep a Christ-like attitude. Add this with prayer. Maybe, just maybe, you'll gain enough validity with them to talk to them about our Lord. Maybe you think I'm out of my mind saying this. I'm not trying to put God in a box by saying He cannot work in the sarcastic individuals life through street witnessing. I believe He can. But I also believe He can work as effectively through the Missionary way as well.

I believe part of the Missionary mindset is helping people. Whether they are Christian's or not, you are obligated to advise, to tutor, and to help guide individuals through life.

And this brings me to the real topic of this post. Audience. Who your target audience is defines how you write, what you say, and what subjects you cover. I cannot bring myself to define my audience as merely Christians. There is too much hurt and suffering in the World to do this. So I try to write on the middle ground, presenting Christianity in contrast with other worldviews when I mention it. Occasionally, I will narrow my audience to just Christians for a post or two. But over all, if there is anyway that something I can write will help affect somebody's life for the better, I will write for that goal.** And I will pray that somehow, someway, God will use it. Whether softening a person so an evangelist can then lead them to Christ, or that it will help build a relationship so that I myself may present Christ.

I may be way off base, but I think there needs to be more of a 'behind the scenes' Christians too.


*I use 'nut' not as a slam against street witnessers, but just as another way to help place you in the lost person's mind I was trying to place you in.

**The writing I speak of is everything I write, not just this blog.