Personal Space

I hung out at nine20 this past Friday evening, as I usually do every Friday evening. It's the young adult group at Open Door church. Harvey Katz was a guest speaker and he had a talk about the principles of evangelism. Harvey's an excellent evangelist so he knows what he's talking about but I was still surprised by his easy explanation about what it requires.

As a summary for my own sake, he said that it comes down to personal space. Y'know how it's weird to speak to someone that's a "close talker?" Those people that don't seem to understand that we need a little more than a few inches between us during a conversation? And yet the closer you are to someone, the easier it is to offer a hug or that kind of thing. Harvey said that it's the same deal with everyone's spiritual space.

Too often, Christians act like "close talkers" and get too serious too quickly about spiritual issues. I found that comment odd since I had the vague impression that evangelists were successful in reaching people precisely because they got through people's boundaries. Instead, Harvey said that we need to identify people's personal distance from us and from God and allow them to lead. That's right, the evangelist isn't the one in control of the conversation!

There are various levels of spiritual space in peoples lives, Harvey said.

1. The Unconvinced: These are the people that cannot be swayed through conversation or debate. The best course of action is to pray for them and to show God in our own lives.
2. The Inquirers: They may ask questions so we can answer them, but don't overdo it and give them more than they asked for. Pay attention to their social cues and don't bore them or push them.
3. The Seekers: These are the people that are intently searching and they may have long and deep conversations about these issues. In this case, do not push for a decision. Let them come to their own conclusion.
4. The Finders: These are the people that have decided to become Christians. This will seem like a final destination at the end of a long road. We need to understand that this is the beginning of their journey with God instead of the culmination.
5. The Keepers: "It's not how far you've gone, it's the path you're on."

The way that Harvey explained this makes it so much easier in my head. Give people an opening during conversations to ask about God. If they pursue the topic, talk to them at their discretion. Evangelism isn't about breaking through into people's lives, it's about helping people find what they are looking for.