Evangelism In Reverse – Turning Men From Christ

Prof. T.L. Wilkinson. Trowel & Sword. April 1965

Preamble: How better to follow an article by Mrs. Olive Wilkinson, than with an article by her husband, Prof. Tom Wilkinson; a man of extremely dry humour and matching wit. In his inimitable way, “Prof Wilkie” tackles the issue of evangelism in a way that only he could dream up. While coming at the issue from the opposite direction of most, there is nevertheless more than an element of truth in his words. The attitudes expressed in his article are more common than we care to admit. There is more than an element of clique-ness in our churches, like the bible study leader who restricts membership to his study group, because he doesn’t want just anyone attending. Prof Wilkinson cites a number of examples.

Evangelism In Reverse – Turning Men From Christ

The following brethren are doing their best to make sure that we don’t spoil the Church by bringing others into it. After all, didn’t Jesus say “Go and drive men out into the highways and by-ways and hedges, and compel them to stay out”? (Very Much Revised Version).

Their view of Church membership is aptly summed up by the poet (?):

'We are God's chosen few, - All others will be damned,
There is no place for you, - We can't have Heaven crammed."

Our beloved (by himself) brother Bull-dozer is a fair sample. Bull-dozers are, of course, highly unsociable things. They don’t see the sense in stopping at the “Give Way” signs, but just charge on regardless. Anything lying in their path simply has no rights, but must get out of the way or be pushed over by sheer force. Big Brother Bull-dozer doesn’t believe in those old ideas of a gracious and kindly approach. Words like “Tact” “Gentleness” and “Courtesy” belong, in his opinion, to the pre-Bull-dozer era. Just watch this Big Brother in action. When he read his Bible he was in a hurry and didn’t see that word “not” in the chapter, but thought it said “Love is.. .Rude” Now he goes right ahead to put that into practice. He doesn’t worry about your feelings. If you have a sore toe, be sure he will jump on it. When he talks with you his words hit you like a boxer hitting a punching-ball. After all he isn’t trying to help you, but only to hit and hurt.

Another member of this brotherhood, is Mr. I-Know-It-All. He was born with a very large mouth and dexterous tongue, but unfortunately he was born without ears. (Some unkind people say “without brains also”). Being without ears is a real blessing to brother I-Know-It-All. It simply means that he never has to listen to anything that the other chap says, and that he never has to acknowledge that the other person could be right. So that simplifies things remarkably. It means that he himself is always right, and just can’t be wrong.

The Earless One isn’t hindered by any of those weak Christian ideas of trying to encourage other people to express themselves, or of trying to build them up with helpful words. No, his main aim is show you how good he can argue, and how much he knows . So he has made a close study of Wheelan the Wrecker at work on those old buildings; and now he applies those principles of demolition to people who differ from him. Like Nietzsche, the Earless One thinks that humility is a sign of weakness, and that the Super Man (Mr. I-Know-It-All) is the one who can make his Ego blaze like a Neon sign for all to see and admire. His favourite book? Dale Carnegie on “How to lose friends and make enemies”, His favourite text? Well that’s a bit more difficult. Perhaps this one: “He that humbles himself shall be humbled and he that exalts himself shall be exalted”, Maybe it is that text with all those “I” “Me” and”My’s” in it – look it up for yourself. You know this chap? Perhaps you have a photo of Him? No? Try looking hard in the mirror – any family likeness? 

T. L. WILKINSON

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