This is an archived version of this page. The current blog is here
I saw one of those guys in town on Saturday who have to get up on a box and talk about Jeeesus for the benefit of the rest of us heathens. I was quite impressed though, that he'd come up with a novel approach. Rather than the usual straightforward haranguing, he was offering a test with a cash prize of £20. You had to answer a few questions to prove you were a good person, and then he'd give you the money.
I'm not quite sure what the catch would have been - if unsubtle, it would probably be that you don't worship Jesus; if subtle, it would probably be a more Socratic attempt to show that nobody lives up to their own standard of goodness, and that therefore we all need - guess who? - to help us on our way.
The whole scene was ironic on so many levels though: firstly, nobody was taking him up on his offer. Everyone could see it was a trick, or they didn't think they needed someone offering them £20 to know whether they were good or not, or they thought it politest to ignore him. At any rate, the effect was that the chap was standing there offering free money, with no takers.
Except one. The whole time I was there, there was a guy standing right in front of him, his hand slightly raised in an attitude of supplication. The preaching guy was desperately trying not to pay any attention, only acknowledging the man's presence by saying "Take the test! You just have to be sober and speak English!"
So to sum up, the preacher is trying to do good by spreading the gospel. He wants to give away his own money, except that the only person who wants to take it is seemingly not worthy to receive it.
Personally, I'm tempted to say that Jesus would have given the drunk guy the £20. As an example of charity, I'm sure it would have had more effect than any number of hours of preaching.
Posted by MFreestone at August 21, 2006 02:29 PM