My family and I were riding rails on the Branson Scenic Railway this week with about 200 of our closest friends. We shared a nice table for 4 in an historic railcar from the 1950s that had been restored.
We were on this journey at the insistence of my 6-year old grandson, who rode it with me last year. He was excited to show it off to his mother and GiGi this time around.
This trip took us from the station in downtown Branson northwest through the community of Reeds Springs and ending on the southern edges of the town of Galena, Mo. We stopped for a couple of minutes on a long trestle that crossed the James River, then headed back to Branson on what would be a relaxing trip of just under two hours.
Our railcar, the Silver Lake, was full except for one empty table across the aisle from us. Seated at the first table beyond that was a man and his wife that I estimate were roughly 65 years of age.
The husband wore a T-shirt that said “Heaven is my home” in large print on the front. I saw him looking over at our table several times.
Finally, as we neared Branson on the return trip, he walked over to our table and struck up a conversation.
Had we been to the Sight and Sound Theater, where they re-enact stories from the Bible? They have live animals and realistic scenes, and it’s so good that people have been saved because the Spirit of God moves them.
Then he dropped the hammer.
“Do you know Jesus?” Well, uh, we do, we said. Yes, sir.
“Well, I’m glad because I want to go to heaven and hope you do, too.”
With that, Mr. Heaven Bound went back to his table, and we could relax. I’m not sure why he singled us out, unless our dress identified us as part of the Great Unwashed. I was wearing a Flannel Shirt and OKC Comets cap. My wife had on a blue sweater.
The rest of the ride was pretty uneventful until just before we arrived at the station. A conductor came by and greeted everyone, including Heaven Bound and his wife.
All of a sudden, he loudly addressed the entire railcar of passengers.
“I really enjoyed traveling with all of you,” he said. “I hope you all know Jesus and hope to get to Heaven. I plan to go to Heaven and not the other place.”
Then an awkward quiet washed over the entire railcar. Fortunately, we pulled up to the station right then and everyone piled out as quickly as possible.
I’ve been in uncomfortable situations like that several times in my life, when someone so passionate about their faith that they want to grab you by the collar and force feed some Jesus down your throat.
I appreciate their passion, but not sure how this form of proselytizing can win many souls. I think it makes people run the other direction, even those of us who attempt to follow Jesus in some fashion.
To me, this type of ‘Gospel sharing’ is a shallow attempt to convert someone when there’s no history between either party or context to the theology he’s trying to reach them with.
Besides, everyone’s faith journey is different. I respect those whose journey has landed them in the arms of Jesus or another religion or even no religion at all.
When we all get to heaven we may be surprised to see who we meet there.
Jim Stafford's BlogOKC 