GUEST COLUMNIST: Part of Christianity is to evangelize

From Jason Hsu, Guest Columnist From Jason Hsu, Guest ColumnistI often go to my wife with my problems. She is someone who cares about me deeply and has a genuine desire to help me when I need it. But most importantly, I go to her because I know she has an incredible ability to see an issue clearly and to solve it. There's one particular instance that comes to mind. One night over dinner I asked my wife what she thought. And sure enough, after a few hours of discussion she came up with a solution. I asked her if it was okay for me to show her idea to my associates. She said it was fine as long as I give credit to her. My wife is awesome. So I talked to some of my wife's business friends and some of my own MBA buddies (they also know my wife -- actually, they introduced us to each other) and they agreed her plan was the best way to save my company. The next day, I brought her idea to my fellow board members. As I presented her case, it was evident they liked the proposal. And as I finished up, I remembered my promise to my wife. I told them these were my wife's ideas, she was the one responsible for letting them keep their jobs. The room fell silent. As I was walking out of the seminar perplexed, I approached one of my associates and began to talk with her. "Why was everyone so shocked when I mentioned my wife?" "Come on. Don't you know that we're not supposed to mix our personal life with our business life?" "But how can I not mention her? She's the one that figured out how to save our jobs, not me. Besides, she asked me to give credit to her, which I want to do anyway." "Don't you know that our corporate culture is against marriage? We think it distracts workers and managers from their careers." "But my marriage brings me joy. It allows me to work harder, knowing I have someone to work for. You know, maybe you should get married." "This issue should have been addressed a long time ago. Ever since you started wearing that ring on your finger, we've noticed you've really changed. And it's really annoying. You keep on telling us how wonderful your wife is and how we should all really consider marriage." "Yeah, but I'm just expressing the joy I have. Besides, I'm not forcing you to get married, am I? I understand nothing I say can convince you that marriage is as great as it is. I can only hope you find love and be convinced of it yourself. But look, I'm not going to lie and say I think marriage is nothing special." "Yeah, but it annoys all of us when you keep on talking about it and pushing it on us." "Oh? I'm sorry if it seems like I've been pushy. I just really think my marriage to my wife is the best thing in the world and you all would be much better off in a marriage as well." "I think you need to be more sensitive to people who don't believe in marriage. There are people who are not married, who don't want to be married and there are people who think there are other equally good ways of being happy. Why can't you be more tolerant of their beliefs?" "Because I think they're wrong. Why can't you be more tolerant of my belief they are wrong?" "Wait, that doesn't make any sense. You're asking me to be tolerant of your intolerance? I can't accept that. I'm tolerant of everything except intolerance." "Oh?" "Well, anyways. I was sent to tell you if you want to keep your job you're going to have to stop talking to your wife and about your wife, stop showing us pictures of your wife and also, you'll probably have to take your ring off before you come to work as well. Basically, we don't want to hear or see anything that has to do with your marriage." "But my love for my wife is such a huge part of me. I can't just forget I'm married, that would be like forgetting who I am, a husband." "Well, it's your choice?" So I don't have a wife and I haven't even graduated, let alone become a board memeber of a large company. And although this analogy is imperfect (for example, I personally don't think marriage is good for everyone, while Christianity is), I still think it adequately explains why I, as a Christian, evangelize. If you were to replace the word "job" with "life," "husband" with "Christian", "marriage" with "faith," and the word "wife" with "God," then you would get a pretty good idea of what goes on in my head when I hand you a tract, or approach you to talk with you. Christianity does not authorize Christians to convert anyone. We believe only God has that power. In fact, we as Christians believe we're so imperfect, we can't do anything right, including convince you of this fact. What I'm saying is it really irritates me when pro-tolerance people tell me I can't do the things my faith prompts me to do. They might as well tell me to renounce my faith. If you attack me for my evangelism, then you attack my religion. In this case, you cannot advocate universal tolerance and yet tolerate my faith because Christianity believes there is only one way (John 14:6). And for us to say otherwise would be for us to betray Jesus. This is an explanation of how I feel when people tell me I can't proclaim my God's name on Locust Walk or anywhere else. I do not, however, offer this as a complaint, as a justification or as an attempt to convert anyone. I do offer this because I love Jesus and would be willing to put my self and my pride on the line for him.