Authenticity in Evangelism

When I first became a Christian as a junior in high school, I was led to believe that being a Christian was all about being loud and crazy, and laughing at everything (whether it was funny or not) in order to be more likable to people who don't believe. But Christianity is never about being something you're not. It's about being who God created you to be and living out your unique purpose—whatever that is. I don't think an authentic God would have looked too kindly on my being fake, nor would I have enjoyed being a hypocrite when I probably have hidden traits that can be used very effectively in the expansion of the kingdom.

People may call me a rogue or a nonconformist, but forgive me if I think that the scope of what I'm called to be as a Christian is broader than pretending it's the zombie apocalypse.

Braaaains.

(Ok, you're probably wondering if I'm crazy. It's a game you play on college campuses called Humans vs. Zombies.)

These things have merit and there is a time for them, but I could never use them as a primary method of evangelism. Some of the things we did in college were fun, but constantly being extraverted felt forced. I could reach people much better by visiting them in the hospital, befriending them while they were alone on the street, or having a heart-to-heart over tea. There need to be other ways I can show that I care. Yet I was taught it was wrong to waste time on community service when I could be evangelizing (a classic example given was "feeding the homeless," but let me tell you, when I was what they call "needy," food could have won me a best friend!) Isn't evangelism the point of showing Christ's love to people? Shouldn't merit be given to evangelistic "activities" and talents that don't fit the organizational or institutional mold?

It's important to allow our identities to be used to share the gospel message instead of letting a church attribute an identity—and an evangelism method—to us. The Apostle Paul went to the synagogues because he understood Jews, and to the Greeks because he was a Roman citizen. As for me, I enjoy talking to religious people and people who are psychologically "abnormal" and unique (in any way). But these people aren't the target of campus ministry and probably wouldn't fit in very well due to the strict strategy used, so we must be very careful that God's plan to reach the world (which includes unique people) isn't inadvertently foregone for an organized plan. We need individuals to reach people no one else can. In order for the kingdom to grow in a healthy way that is inclusive of all people instead of just one type, we need to be authentic.

How can your identity (or your identities) be used to advance the kingdom?