Soul Winning

Maurice had a blog post about this not too long ago, and since he's so much more articulate than I am, I didn't see a need to revisit it really. But it came back to mind from a blog entry that I read today, so I decided I'd like to voice my thoughts after all.

I hate the term "soul winning". I grew up in church, and I can remember when I was younger feeling like I wasn't as good of a Christian because I hadn't "gotten anyone saved". And because I wasn't "bold" enough to tell everyone I met about the Romans Road and how Jesus died on the cross for their sins. I felt guilty because I didn't think I did this enough. I wasn't enough of a "soul winner".

Where exactly in the Bible do Christians get this soul winning idea from, anyway? Jesus didn't say "go out and win souls", at least not to my knowledge. If you know that he did, please, enlighten me. I'd like to know about it. Since when are we supposed to be in it for the souls? And why? Another notch in our belt? Last I heard, Jesus was all about loving people, not "winning souls".

I don't know... to me, there's just something wrong about always wanting to turn the conversation around to Jesus. I mean, well, if he comes up naturally, that's one thing. And well, he's a pretty big part of my life, so if you're around me enough, he's likely to come up. But I'm not always going to try to get some bit about Christianity or the Bible into my conversations just to make sure I'm getting in my "witnessing" for the day.

Here's a favorite quote of mine that I think states this pretty darn well:

It doesn't matter whether you're selling Jesus or Buddha or civil rights or 'How to Make Money in Real Estate With No Money Down.' That doesn't make you a human being; it makes you a marketing rep. If you want to talk to somebody honestly, as a human being, ask him about his kids. Find out what his dreams are - just to find out, for no other reason. Because as soon as you lay your hands on a conversation to steer it, it's not a conversation anymore; it's a pitch. And you're not a human being; you're a marketing rep.

(From the movie Big Kahuna)

I no longer feel guilty about not "getting anyone saved". Maybe part of that is because I've never saved anyone. And I won't ever save anyone. I don't do the saving anyway. Maybe another part of it is because I try to do what Jesus said was more important... loving your neighbor as yourself. And I don't do that by trying to "save" them. I do it by being their friend. No agenda. No concern about "soul winning". Just pure, uncheapened friendship, just because. At least that's always my goal.

As far as the Biblical command to "go ye into all the world and preach the gospel"... well, I like the quote from St. Francis of Assisi:

Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words.