There's nothing wrong with evangelizing.
If you just know your limits.So today was an ordinary lab day for us, and we were at the ordinary science canteen with some ordinary food as lunch. As we were all deeply engrossed in our ordinary lame chats over the lunch table suddenly a saintly looking (I said
saintly because she did looked pleasant like an angel) girl just appeared somehow, with an oh-so-warmly smile and said:
"Hi! (Placed four highlighters on our table) This is to let you know you are
blessed. (Inserts warm friendly smile again) We are from Campus C_____e, and our website is on the highlighters if you are interested in knowing more about us. (Ends with a bright brilliant flashy smile)"
I know some, if not most of you, will think of me narrating the above paragraph and when you do, you're bound to picture me doing that with hell lot of sarcasm. I don't blame you, because when I re-tell stories I usually do it in a cynical way.
But for all that's worth, I actually meant all the words I wrote in brackets, literally. Me at that point in time, knew for once it was part of their evangelism devotions and there was NOTHING wrong with showing people the magnificence of your religion - they call it 'Good News' for a reason.
Good News also to the five of us, since we each got ourselves a free highlighter. Yay.
Then, little did we know, one of the evangelists (that's what they were, right?) approached a table of girls of a
certain known religion. The thing is, these girls belong to a religious group which is known for being strict. Not to mention, people in that religion are supposed to be in it for life - conversion from it is highly improbable. In a multiracial and multicultural society we respect everybody's devotion to his or her beliefs. It means that while we tolerate evangelistic actions we also have lines which no one should ever cross. By living in this society for thus long we should already know that a
certain religion sees conversion away as possible betrayal or something (correct me if I'm wrong).
So then why offer highlighters when this gesture could imply offense to the others?
Honestly, for an evangelist at work he or she should first be sensitive. Sensitive to people's feelings, to people's different needs, and most importantly, to the unspoken rules in the society. Not being able to do these makes one a total failure as a member of any society, much less an evangelist.
