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Mar 31, '08 1:58 PM
for everyone

When I take a bus and an evangelist boards and starts "preaching the Word of God" it pisses me of. Why? Because we can't walk away. We are, in effect, FORCED to listen (unless you happen to have an MP3 player handy, which I don't. And now they have extended their "captured market". They now evangelize in jeepneys and trains!

Today I had the misfortune to be on the train (MRT) standing at the junction when this very old lady (white hair, wrinkles on wrinkles, stockings rolling down the legs) boarded the train in Cubao. She starts off on the wrong foot with me when she repeatedly stood on my foot despite my telling her several times that she was hurting me. She apologized each time, of course, and then would promptly turn her back and put her foot RIGHT BACK ON TOP OF MINE. I was thinking, "patience ... she's old ... she may even be senile ... she isn't doing it intentionally ..."

And then a young lady (n her early 20s) across the car from me stood up and offered the old lady her seat. The old lady refused and even got angry when the young lady insisted she sit down. Before the young lady could say anything else the old lady suddenly stands straighter and in a loud voice says, "Greetings, my brothers and sisters in Christ ..." The young lady immediately reclaimed her seat, shoved earphones in her ears and proceeded to ignore the sermon.

I looked at her and I was thinking, "shucks! I wish I had brought my earphones!" I had to suffer through that sermon (spoken at a loud voice beside me) for several stations. By the time I was 1 station away from my destination (and could, by then, change location without arousing suspicion that I was just avoiding her) I immediately moved to the doors. I don't think I had ever been so happy for the doors to open.

I'm a Christian but ... if there is one thing I hate, it is being preached at. I hate people who think or act that they are better than me. I hate it when people start their sentences with, "take me, for example ..." or "look at me ..." I understand the concept of giving personal testimonials but holding yourself up as an example seems to be boastful (prideful).

There was this other time when I rode a jeep and across from me was a young pregnant woman. Beside me was an older woman who I thought at first was just kindly. She asked the pregnant lady if it was her first baby. Next thing we knew she spent the ENTIRE jeep ride lecturing the poor pregnant lady TO DEATH! I was beside her and thinking, "shut up!" especially, when she started spouting nonsense, and later, forcing her beliefs on us, the other passengers.

She spoke in the vernacular (Tagalog) but since I am not good at that, here is a rough translation of some of the stuff she said:

Have you accepted Christ into your life? I can tell you are going to say yes but I can see in your eyes that you haven't ...

The Lord provides. Take my word for it, you will not have to work a day in your life to feed your family. It is your husband's job to make sure to earn enough to feed you and your children together. Your job is to stay home and be a mother to your children and a wife to your husband, nothing else. I have never worked a day in my life but my belief in God was strong and he has provided. By the miracle and grace of God we were able to raise four children.

Don't use a cellphone. It is dangerous for the baby because of the radiation. Do you know why there is radiation? Because it is one of the instruments of the devil. If you keep using a cellphone that means you are inviting the devil into your life. That's why, look at me, I don't have a cellphone. This is because I want to keep my spirit pure.

You know television? Work of the devil. The radio? Work of the devil also. The devil uses our modern communication devices to tempt us to hell. That's why for me (and my family) we don't have any phone, tv, or radio at home. Bad for the soul.

Yada yada yada ...

When I was a little girl I used to watch The 700 Club. At the time, I don't think I realized that it was a Christian (religious) show. I just liked the stories and debates. Nowadays, anything religious on TV is anathema to me.

Enough with the egotistic know-it-alls.
I'd rather have a philisophical DISCUSSION (which translates to an exchange of ideas) rather that to be preached at (talked at).
I'm sure you will agree with me when I say, we hated it as kids when the grown ups kept telling us what to do. I'm all grown up and I still hate it.

I'm a Christian. But I'm a Christian with a brain ... with my own thoughts and beliefs and, as I recall, according to the bible, God gave me the right to free will. Then, what gives these evangelists the right to strip me of it?

Do your preaching at churches and prayer rallies and prayer meetings. That's what they are there for. THAT is your venue. Shut your trap when you are commuting. Give your fellow commuters some peace and quiet.

I hate commuter evangelists.

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33 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded

rmacapobre wrote on Mar 31

its funny when at the end of the sermon they then would argue about giving them money in the name of god .. or else we all shall perish in hell ..

hecman wrote on Mar 31

Yep, earphones. I never commute without 'em....

apollog wrote on Mar 31

I have to agree with you, penny. I'm a born again Christian but I dont agree with the methods that street evangelists use. I hate the fact that they even collect money claiming that it will be used for something good. Yeah right! I think that it is all just a ploy by gangs who tries to collect money from people in different ways. Born again Christians do not collect money when they preach. There is always a right time and a proper way to share the gospel to people.

igme wrote on Mar 31

I worry about earphones cause then i might be vulnerable to phone snatching....

pinoyavenger wrote on Mar 31

hecman said

Yep, earphones. I never commute without 'em....

amen!

pinoyavenger wrote on Mar 31

slvrdlphn said

Don't use a cellphone. It is dangerous for the baby because of the radiation. Do you know why there is radiation? Because it is one of the instruments of the devil. If you keep using a cellphone that means you are inviting the devil into your life. That's why, look at me, I don't have a cellphone. This is because I want to keep my spirit pure.

You know television? Work of the devil. The radio? Work of the devil also. The devil uses our modern communication devices to tempt us to hell. That's why for me (and my family) we don't have any phone, tv, or radio at home. Bad for the soul.

this is hilarious!
but it got me thinking... some congregations in the US broadcast their service on TV and recently, I discovered some who broadcast through Ustream.tv... work of the devil?
but nah! i'm done with listening to interpretations...

francismir wrote on Mar 31

Amen!

achua88 wrote on Mar 31, edited on Mar 31

Hey I used to watch Pat Robertson too! I found the 700 club amusing and funny... Pat Robertson still looks the same as he did when I was a kid!

I also loved watching that Reverend something every Sunday morning... the funny evangelist with a Southern (or Texan??) accent who heals people by touching them and saying "Baby!!!" and "I believe!!!"

forsaketh wrote on Mar 31

hecman said

Yep, earphones. I never commute without 'em....

I never commute.

hehehe.. joke lang. =)

forsaketh wrote on Mar 31

"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians.
Who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door
And deny Him by their lifestyle
That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."

~ What if I Stumble
Jesus Freak, DC Talk

slvrdlphn wrote on Mar 31, edited on Mar 31

Rex Humbard.

I used to watch that, too. He used to say things like ...

Because Jeeeezuz ... the Son of God, the Saviour, the CHRIST ... was HUman ... he wuz ... AFRAID! Yes, AFRAID, when he LEARNED he was going to die. Because Jeeezuz SPOKE TO THE FATHER, Our Lord and KNEW, just KNEW that his number was up!

Could you hear his voice in your head while reading that? I could! hehehe

slvrdlphn wrote on Mar 31

I normally have a book I read. Unfortunately it doesn't filter out the sound.

It does pass the time, though.

slvrdlphn wrote on Mar 31, edited on Mar 31

apollog said

There is always a right time and a proper way to share the gospel to people.

Amen to that! If there is one thing this ambush preaching has done, it has turned people AWAY from God. We don't want to listen anymore. I don't want to listen anymore. --- To them anyway,

I still tune in to the 700 Club every now and then, hehehe

Oh, and say hi to my cousins Pepper (Lozada) and Medal (Elepano) if you bumped into them in worship, ok? Say hi to Erika also. She is shy to approach you when she sees you, hehehe.

slvrdlphn wrote on Mar 31

True, that is one risk.
If I had earphones, though, I still wouldn't be listening to music. I'd be listening to an e-book, hehehe.

totst wrote on Mar 31

Uy, sayang! magandang photo op sana yun. Siguro aalis kapag ginawa ko silang subject? :-)

slvrdlphn wrote on Mar 31

So true ...

diwanggising wrote on Mar 31

forsaketh said

Ooooh. Suddenly Miss DC Talk a lot.

What song is it where Bono says "Well the God I serve isn't SHORT of cash, Mister!" ?

A classmate of mine who works with the SEC used to point out that every time we have an economic crisis, there's a sudden increase in the registration of new "religions" and of new "churches." Hay. I'm afraid onslaughts such as this will continue to be part of daily life for a while... :-S

ecyor wrote on Apr 1

As for me, I was able to hear something else while riding the LRT. I finally got to see and hear Mr. Salenga --discoverer of the electron & proton stuff. It was quite an amusing ride hearing how the "sun" is actually a cold heavenly body and not hot as what is commonly known hehehehe

stompbox wrote on Apr 1, edited on Apr 1

No TV+no phone+no radio=ignorance. One of the devil's best tools.

oneiros wrote on Apr 1

slvrdlphn said

Funny thing about what your encountered commuter evangelist said.These conservative types said the same thing about rock and roll in the past.Now I hear some Christian youth groups in campuses gather up like they are in a band concert.

ligayadiwata wrote on Apr 1

^ To add to what Vinnie said, some of these youth groups gather their fellow youth THROUGH rock & roll, if not rock & roll concerts. ;3

oneiros wrote on Apr 1, edited on Apr 1

I also had a share of these encounter in a bus ride.After their message, they ask the passengers for offerings.While the companion of the evangelist distributed envelopes,I told them I give my tithe offerings to the church I go to regularly.The evangelist heard me since she was standing in my aisle and said,its still not enough that you give to your tithes to church.I felt insulted.I gave her a contradicting question.So you think I should give my regular offerings to your church instead?What do you do with your money?Does your worshippers don't give much that's why you beg in public vehicles.I would rather give to Salvation Army instead 'cos the money they beg goes to the calamity victims.She had this one last look at me and glared and left on the next stop.I know a hypocrite when I hear what message they convey.

adelramos wrote on Apr 1

I was almost to use Rex Navarette's technique once approached by commuter evangelists in MRT:

"Ho che waaah wong pay la pa cheeeh pah cheeeh..." hehehe...

(Then those %*(*(#)@ speak Chinese too!... "Hoooo che wah paah cheh paah cheeeeh..." hehehe...)

bongerbongerbonger wrote on Apr 1

As for me, I am humbled by street evangelists. They are doing what every Christian is commissioned to do: to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am in awe of their stamina and persistence in face of a possibly obstinate and stiff-necked people. Most Filipinos look away and try to be polite.

Arguably, we may all not agree with their methods. So when I encounter a street or bus or TV evangelist, I know God is using that person as a heart check. Am I sharing the Gospel to my circle of influence? My family, friends, colleagues? Am I living the Gospel? Am I bearing the fruits of the Holy Spirit?

All these questions I grapple with the Holy Spirit through the grace of God.

slvrdlphn wrote on Apr 1

totst said

Siguro aalis kapag ginawa ko silang subject? :-)

Di kaya lalong mag-posing? hehehe

hecman wrote on Apr 1

igme said

I worry about earphones cause then i might be vulnerable to phone snatching....

it hasn't happened to me yet. i guess it's because half the people out now wear earphones. or was it cellphones you're worried about?

luckily my mp3 player is strapped to my armpit under the shirt. hehe.

diwanggising wrote on Apr 1

slvrdlphn said

Di kaya lalong mag-posing? hehehe

Wait. This has never happened to me (being Promdi and all, now) so I don't actually know... Are these people given permits by the MRT admin?

totst wrote on Apr 1

bongerbongerbonger said

ah yes of course, but when money comes into the picture, it becomes a whole different thing. Sharing is exactly what it is, you become a witness for Jesus. Whether you get any monetary exchange for this should not matter. It, salvation, is a gift as the Bible says. Tithes are to be stored in the house of God ( Malachi). In Acts, tithes were shared, evangelists should not make this a prime concern or we actually rush in the flesh and distrust in the provision of Jehovah Jireh. The Bible tells us many times to be wise also. My 2 cents.

slvrdlphn wrote on Apr 1

diwanggising said

Are these people given permits by the MRT admin?

They're just regular commuters like you and me, so ... no permits. Except that while everyone else would listen to music, read, or chat with their friends to pass the time. They would preach.

diwanggising wrote on Apr 1

I suppose if the MRT admin got enough complaints about them, something might happen. While freedom of speech means they can preach till they're hoarse, I suspect solicitations are something MRT admin can make policy about. In the case of Laguna buses, there was a time when the drivers and conductors disallowed this practice. I noticed that after that, these preachers would always only preach with permission from the drivers. (No less irritating, but hey, it's just a bit more civil...)

In fairness, there was this one time that a bus preacher actually said "Wala pong solicitation dito. Hindi po ako naghahanap ng pera." and the phrasing of the speech was very polite, which I found that a breath of fresh air. It sounded though like it was a one time only gig for him and it wasn't a regular practice. Still irritating if one is trying to sleep (this was on the NLEX), but the guy apologized so profusely. People on the bus actually smiled after it and some of the people up front actually approached him later and told him he was a good speaker. (He wasn't, but he tried, so we were rooting for him. hehe.)

I also remember sometime in the late 90s that rallying transport union members would speak on all the Manila-Laguna routes. That, too, was irritating, but at least it wasn't hypocritical.

Hm... let me try and synthesize what seems to have been asserted thus far...

What constitutes irritating in these cases:
1. Hypocrisy in the case of money-centered evangelists
2. Unfair appeals to conscience (this one for unionists as well, and lets include "students selling mangoes for tuition" too, since the product value for the buyer has no relation to the proposed purchase anymore)
3. Intrusion on the right to one's right to peace and quiet during a commute
4. The offensive tone taken by most of the speakers

Hm. Did I miss anything?

I find this irritating, but I'm not sure I'd go the way of Singapore, where one is breaking the law by addressing a crowd without a government permit. (IMHO that's FAR too much power in the hands of ANY central authority)

stompbox wrote on Apr 1

diwanggising said

In fairness, there was this one time that a bus preacher actually said "Wala pong solicitation dito. Hindi po ako naghahanap ng pera." and the phrasing of the speech was very polite, which I found that a breath of fresh air. It sounded though like it was a one time only gig for him and it wasn't a regular practice. Still irritating if one is trying to sleep (this was on the NLEX), but the guy apologized so profusely. People on the bus actually smiled after it and some of the people up front actually approached him later and told him he was a good speaker. (He wasn't, but he tried, so we were rooting for him. hehe.)

Hmm. Interesting. That's very, very rare. A polite preacher who actually knew that he may be intrusive, apologetic about it, but was aware he had to do it? And he worked.

Kind of reminds me of Moses, who was by no means a Charlton Heston. More like a stuttering john. (where did "stuttering john' come from anyway when it was Moses who had public-speaking insecurities? hahaha)

oneiros wrote on Apr 2

I got to chat with a theologian who teaches Phil. History in a college.He told me that the evangelists who preaches in buses and any public transportation and begs for offering afterwards are from the 4th Watch group.I think they also go for the name Pentecostal Mission or something like that.Anyway,I got to encounter one when I was studying at UE.They don't claim they're Christians.Generally,they're Unitarians.They also preach in streets or public places like a market.Most of the time,they bring a microphone, a speaker and a guitar.

diwanggising wrote on Apr 2

oneiros said

I think they started it, and then a bunch of other people got into the gig. Hardly surprising as it's rather lucrative...

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