Door to Door

A few days ago, I was approached on the street by 2 nicely dressed guys in their late teens. Tracts in hand, ties around their necks and name cards promiently displayed, I smiled and greeted them on my way to pick up my years stash of contact lenses. (You can take the girl out of the South, but you can't take the South out of the girl...) Their eyes lit up and immediately they began their spill. Now usually I am very amendable to a chat about the differences between Chrisitanity and Mormonism. I like to argue, I like to debate. Heck, you know me... I just like to TALK.
But, a few days ago, I was still recovering from the flu and had ventured out briefly to get the lenses and wanted to simply crawl back into bed as fast as possible. Extracting myself from the initial greeting with these two guys became difficult. Finally, I abruptly thanked them for their time, assured them I knew how hard it was to approach people they didn't know, but that I had been a missionary for the last 10 years in Africa. I was committed to my beliefs and they simply weren't going to convince me otherwise. Not with a tract. Not with a 20 minute conversation. Let me repeat... 10 years. Africa.
They were tenacious. Perhaps if I just prayed a little bit harder, with a more open mind, God would show me the error of my beliefs and I would come to recognize the truth. They could help me look at the scriptures and get a better understanding of what they were really saying.
It became uncomfortable, and I was sick, so I thanked them again and just walked away. Feeling annoyed and mostly violated. I found myself disgruntled. Wondering when it became okay to talk about something as deeply personal as religious worldview on the street with a stranger. When obviously they weren't interested in a real dialogue but had a particular script to follow and a bottom line to fill.
I felt the long ago angst, the college annoyance with "evangelism." With the door to door, let's talk with strangers about our faith. Let's enter into a relationship (short or long term) with no other motivation than to tell people that they are wrong and that we have the right answer. As if people are projects, or worse objects.
Do I think people should be honest about what they believe? Sure. As a person of faith, should I talk about my faith when asked? Of course. But rather than cold conversations, or evangelistic gimmicks, shouldn't we be engaged in activities, services, and works of faith that prompt curiosity and discussion from those around us?
And even though they annoyed me, last week, shouldn't I have offered to sit down with the Mormon Brothers over a cup of tea or coffee? Listened to their stories, engaged them in appropriate, honest conversation about our beliefs. Where they intersect, where they diverge. Shouldn't I have treated them like people, instead of walking, talking tracts? Spending some time to find out how they are enjoying their year of missionary service. What they hope to do in the future and how their faith plays into that.
I know I was sick, but it would have left a better taste in my mouth, if I could have practiced a bit of what I preach....