January 30, 2012
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Extremes: An Unreasonable Activist is a Good Activist?
Time for you to confess. You embrace a cause that the majority of Americans have a few qualms about, don't you? I see that Watchtower magazine under your arm, or the Ron Paul for President sticker on your car, and no, I don't have time to hear about the wonder of polygamy today. But I understand you're passionate about that, and you want some of your friends to accept that. The question is, how can you do that?
If you had asked me a few years ago, I'd say this is a basic sales dilemma. The proper way to convince people is to be seen as a reasonable, respectable member of society. As your coolness wafts over the crowd, eventually people will ask "What makes you so cool?" This is where you whip out the pamphlets and videos and share with them the source of your wonderfulness. Or, after a steady stream of "I like football, reality shows, and all the other typical things Americans like!" you slip in a quick "So, you ever think about life after death?" and quietly lay the groundwork for full spiritual conversion in fifteen easy steps!
But frankly, even sales people have found this method doesn't work. You get maybe'd to death. People kind of like you, so they won't say no, and you're not pushy enough to make them decide. So no one really ever is convinced, but everyone thinks you're a nice person. Success...or not? Failure, because top sales books often advocate instead that you should push your customer until you can get an actual no, and then politely walk away. Maybe's take all your time and never produce.
In the end, I see that my friends who are obvious and intense about what they advocate probably do better. Sure, the drunken party boy might not be who you want at your party, but his constant updates on the parties he went to means that other people who like that will invite him. You'll love him or hate him...and maybe that's the point. Perhaps the well-rounded, reasonable individual is doomed to extinction, and only the shrill, intense voices survive. If you care about something, does it really make sense to mix it into your life? Do you want to be respected, or do you want to be worshiped or seen as an expert in what you like? Extremism may make society splinter and strain the bounds of congeniality, but otherwise your activist views are quickly neglected and overlooked. Think about it...just not on my timeline, please. #hypocrite
Comments (12)
So, say what you mean and mean what you say? I'm down.
'I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees."
Side note, I'd be into polygamy, but I even struggle with just basic geometry. Those advanced math disciplines are too much for me.
"...just not on my timeline please."
Haha! That was great.
I think that you're right in that "perhaps the well-rounded, reasonable individual is doomed to extinction..." You have to be hot or cold.... either one is fine... you just can't be annoying or obnoxious about it.
That or find someone who appreciates the reasonable. Those kinds of people fall in love all the time... but you'll never know their name. It is the incredible that accomplish the incredible.
Practice what you preach - I was always taught not to be a "lukewarm" Christian, and I think that applies to everything in life. Don't be in everyone's faces to try and convince them to be like you or change their minds...but set an example for the kind of person they "might" like to be too.
May
Similar to what @sonnigenmai said... lukewarmness when it comes to Christ and the things of Christ is no virtue - we will end up getting spit out of His mouth!
Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
I have a friend always wanting to sell these protien shakes. I'm emberrassed to invite her places thinking she just wants to sell the protein shakes to anyone, anywhere. She doesn't care about who. She just cares about selling. Using people as means to an end. So I feel about Christians.
Wow. Just...wow. I feel entirely convicted by this. I am so guilty. And I think you're right. It's the people who are truly SOLD OUT to what they are selling that make the rest of us WANT a little bit of what they're selling.
I know it sounds silly, but I'm seeing that with CrossFit. As much as people like to mock it and call us cult followers, my enthusiasm is contagious and I know lots of people who have joined a CF box simply because I won't stop talking about how much I love it.
I need to be that openly obsessed with Jesus. La la la la la live out louuuuud. I feel a Stephen Curtis Chapman song coming on....
@karen_lynn - That's an odd comparison. I suppose I can follow most of that, but when you say, "She just cares about selling. Using people as a means to an end." it makes me wonder how that's at all like evangelism. What is the end Christians seek, and how can using people bring it about? I've never gotten a check for telling anyone about Jesus.
The extremes in our society do get more attention that the reasonable, level headed people/causes. Especially politically. Whoever is the loudest gets the most attention.
@karen_lynn - Ha! Hilarious! Glad you commented.
Preaching isn't about signing people up, or it shouldn't be, or at least that's my opinion. You make yourself available and if people don't want in, that's their choice. It's not our responsibility to make sure people become Christians, it's only our responsibility to make sure the people around us have someone to show it to them if they want. Again, my opinion.
@grammarboy So Christian churches and the Bible preach to evangelize. Why not just let people be who they are? If someone bursts from the seems with anything, it will come out. And when not, that will be seen eventually too. When you have to tell someone "to spread the word", it begs the question...if not feeling it, are you askiing them to be fake? If there is a God, I bet He's best looking for people being honest and genuine.
It depends what you're selling too. For instance, it's hard to be forceful until you get a "no" if you're pushing for political moderation (with the notable exception of Colbert and Stewart's DC rally last October). In a case like that, a nice "well, maybe you have a point" is a good starting place. To stay with politics, it's similar to how Romney didn't really try that hard in these primaries until he faced real competition--he was hoping people would eventually take him to the prom once they had enough of the other candidate's brashness.
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