Newspaper Columns by Bishop Paul V. Marshall
To Convert People is Not a Biblical Expression
Bishop Paul V. Marshall
August 2000These few words describe the miracle of Pentecost: everyone heard in their own language the marvelous deeds of God in Jesus Christ.
One of the interesting things I have learned in my transition from academic word warrior to pastor of a diocese is the necessity of saying what one sees as the truth in words that other people can hear. When I feel the urge to lecture, the best thing I can do is take three Tylenol, a caffeine-free diet Pepsi, and lie down until the urge to "let them have it" passes.
I am amazed when people, even in religious circles, seem to think the best way to convince others is to insult them. The unacknowledged need to punish, to vanquish, or to control can ruin the communication of important messages.
When Jesus speaks of the power of the Holy Spirit, he uses concepts like comforter, companion, advocate. He speaks of Spirit-given power as enlightening, even as the power to forgive sins. We have not always gotten the message.
"To convert" people is not a biblical expression. I think I know why.
The satisfaction that comes from getting people to submit to our way of thinking is high on the list of human pleasures. I have heard speeches, religious and secular, that were really acts of bullying thinly disguised as the communication of values. I have never quite recovered from hearing the parents who lost a child to crib death being told for 45 minutes that, if they wanted to see that child again, they should clean up their act and get right with God.
Some bullying is not so direct. Did you ever find yourself discussing in a general way with a group of people something that you would have taken up with an individual if only you had more courage? This is a particular sin of preachers and teachers, but it happens also in family groups and business meetings. There is no feeling quite like a public "gotcha," especially when the victim does not have the power to respond.
Two biblical words I like are "proclaim" and "witness." One of the promises of the baptismal covenant in the Book of Common Prayer asks: "Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?"
We proclaim by word when we say what is the truth for us and let God worry about the rest, letting what happens happen. Being a parent would have been a lot easier for me had I given this a good deal of thought.
We can proclaim also by example, witnessing to the power of God in our lives. Witness is a translation of the Greek word "martyr." Though we commonly associate martyr with how people have died, we can also witness by how we live.
Use the word "witness" where you might be inclined to use the word "convert," and see what is different inside you and in the communication.
When we try to convert people, the unspoken theme is "I'm right, you're wrong," and "you should" do this or that. This is where divorce, co-dependency and warping our children often start. Like a lot of people at my time of life, I'm not especially proud of my parenting; but I do think one important thing I did was to apologize to my children when I saw I was wrong. I hope they will live without thinking that being wrong is the end of the world.
Witnesses share graciously and generously what they have seen God do or what actually works in our lives. Witnessing is focused on nurture rather than domination. Witnessing is calm because it comes from the one thing on which any of us can speak with authority, that which God has worked in us, what has been given to us. Witness is presence with people, not coming at them.
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