Jul 17, 2006
Engadget put out a story about a Jews for Jesus' tract entiteld "What's Next for the iPod guy." It has made its way to being mentioned on Digg, Gizmodo and a few other tech sites...I'm positive if this is real, but it looks to be from what I am able to ascertain.
Perhaps this is a great example of a bad attempt at contextualization...
Here is why this sort of evangelistic tool is not a helpful strategy in my opinion:
- It clearly will be perceived as being aimed at an individual - in this case Steve Jobs
- It appears to be an invasion of tech space by outsiders...rather than a wise move to share Jesus with tech people from tech people
- It is cheesy looking and a bit silly (the ole byte of the apple line)
- By sharing the gospel story this way, being techie-cute, it trivializes the transcendent importance of the message.
- It is funny - yes, it is pretty stinking funny. But would it dull people to actually talking about the Messiah in the future?
- It may be easily dismissed by those who actually know the Apple story and the tech world. The apple story has a bit of mythological feel to those who are computer industry insiders.
Comments
Hi Reid,
Rich Robinson here with Jews for Jesus. Thanks for the comments. As the author, I'd probably rewrite it not to speak directly to Steve Jobs. Mostly it was an attempt to just open a conversation in an admittedly silly way. Lots of mixed reviews online, but largely from bloggers who often have a sort of hostility to 'religion' or else from tech guys who didn't get the tongue in cheek thing.
In general these kinds of tracts are intended to start up personal dialogue on the streets, not to present an indepth message, not at that moment anyway.
I don't know how much you're familiar with the Jews for Jesus ministry but I'd encourage you to check out the web site www.jewsforjesus.org and see what we're about. Which is largely as our mission statement has it, to make the Messiahship of Jesus an unavoidable issue to our Jewish people worldwide.
Thanks again for your comments, Reid.
Posted by: Rich Robinson | July 22, 2006 06:08 PM
Rich,
Thanks for the gracious note. I know Jews for Jesus very well and I fully support what you guys are all about.
I think I understand the heart behind the tract and very much appreciate the desire to connect the gospel with others.
I also know the tech world, and the unbelieving tech person a bit...That is the reason for the critique I wrote. Again, I don't critque the heart, the desire to reach out others, see Jesus known as the Messiah of Israel, the light to the Gentiles, the unique Savior of the world.
What I questioned was the implementation of an attempt to contextualize. In my opinion, a piece written affirming technology as a gift from God which has brought some good to people and then calling it out as a poor savior would have been a better approach.
How techcnology can really crowd out our lives as we are always connected, isolate us from our neighbor, and not reach the deepest issues of the soul. We can be crowded with techno stuff and have an empty life, lost heart, alienated community, and be apart from the covenants - without hope and with God in the world. Technology can be an idol - which is the essence of sin - turning from the source of living water to dig our own cisterns which hold no water.
I am thankful for your comment and do pray my original critique did not seem to harsh. I do not want to discourage you from being creative in reaching out, and it does sound like you have learned a bit in this process.
Many blessings as you serve our Lord and seek to bring the gospel to those who desparately need Messiah. I pray for the rest of Christ's church might have the passion for evangelism that your team exhibits.
Posted by: Reid | July 23, 2006 09:49 PM