Yesterday I gave you the opening quote for Seth Godin’s book, All Marketers are Liars Tell Great Stories. You can read that post here, but the basic idea is that to reach people we must leave behind the desire to smother them with facts. Instead, we must learn to tell stories.
Not lies, stories.
In order for a story to be influential, Godin says that it must possess the following qualities:
- It must be true.
- It must make a promise.
- It must be trustworthy.
- It must be subtle.
- It must happen fast (engage the person immediately).
- It must appeal to senses, not logic.
- It should not be aimed at everyone.
- It must not contradict itself.
- It must agree with our worldview.
I think that marketing and evangelism are virtually the same activity. So any book that discusses marketing or social behavior usually grabs my attention. I like the idea of stories as a way of evangelizing, and I think this list gives us some key elements in how we can share our faith in a postmodern culture.
At first, there were a couple of items on the list that I didn’t like. After some thought, I’ve decided this list is pretty close to perfect. By “perfect”, I mean 1.) it is useful, and 2.) it is debatable. I like debates.
What do you think of this list? Does it apply to evangelism?
Anything you would strike from it? Or add to it?
While your at it . . . help me find a replacement word for “evangelism”. I even shudder as I type it, the darn word carries so much baggage. Be nice, though. I’m trying to relay the idea in a positive way.
Even if part of me resonates with the NakedPastor’s take on evangelism.
I knew you’d click that.
Actually, I haven’t clicked on the naked pastor link, but I will…
Reading through the list with evangelism in mind, I have numbers 4, 5, and 9 in question.
4. Subtle – evangelism in my view doesn’t have to be subtle. It can be, sometimes may need to be, but to say it must be is too limiting on how one could possible approach another person. There’s a lot of different scenarios that can take place. Maybe you know the person, maybe you don’t, maybe they are the type of person who needs a slap in the face, or maybe they’re the type that just needs a tap on the shoulder. The conversion of Paul (the Apostle) was by no means subtle.
5. Again in the same tone as I just mentioned. It can engage the individual fast, but doesn’t have to. Can be and sometimes is a process of letting God’s truth sink in and be pondered for a while.
9. I think this one should be struck from the list altogether. Part of the whole dynamic of being converted is having your world view changed.
I agree . . . I think. But let me share my thought process that led me to like the list more and more:
As far as subtlety, it does seem to work better with people you have some sort of relationship with (work, grocery store, whatever). I think of subtlety as starting a conversation instead of handing out a tract or yelling from a street corner. So it can be very effective with strangers as well.
On “happening fast” . . . for evangelism as a whole, you are right. But remember, he is talking about stories. So if we take his idea of stories and relate it to evangelism then it seems the story would have to happen fast, or you lose your audience and the story itself won’t be memorable. But if you are talking about relationship evangelism . . . “happening fast” would be counter-productive. Plus, a story can happen fast . . . and then be pondered for a while as the truth of it sinks in.
I also wanted to strike the worldview thing from the list. But then I started thinking about successes I’ve had in leading people into an encounter with God. I always started from where they were at . . . and used the things they knew and accepted as a means to show them God. Granted, I do want their worldview changed . . . but I guess I see this as the next step and not the first. On the other hand, is that compromise?
Thanks for your comments! Like I said, I think this list is perfect precisely because it is debatable. Debates (not fights) make us look at things from different angles. We are pretty good at fighting, I’d like to see us get good at debating.
After thinking about the “happening fast” thing I realized that I forgot that we were talking about the story. I let my mind slip in to “closing the sale” so to speak since we’re talking about marketing here. So, yes, I agree… the story must happen fast. It must capture the audience (whether it’s one or 100,000) immediately. I think of myself as an example, whether it’s a book, a magazine article, or whatever, if it doesn’t capture me right of the bat I get bored, restless and usually put it away unless its some kind of assignment or I know it’s something I must press on and finish.
Anyway, back to the point… I remembered the verse that says always be ready to give an account (a story) when they ask you for the reason for the hope that you have.
Now that’s evangelism. When people see your hope and your lifestyle and they ask you, “What’s your story?” Then we better be ready with one!!!
I’ve noticed over the course of my life there has been only one person who has asked me to tell them what I have. Only one person… in years and years of being a Christian. Something’s wrong with this (me) picture.
What would a naked pastor say…Who stole my pants??!!