Comments on: Talking to strangers on airplanes.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 20:07:27 +0000

So very VERY true.

When we were riding the trolley downtown (in New Orleans visiting family) once, this woman harassed every single person on the bus about God. She literally started at the back of the bus “Do you have a relationship with God”, question after question until the person ignored her, then moved forward one seat at a time. Even if the person answered all the “right ways” (Yes, I have a relationship with God, yes I am born again, yes, yes, yes), she didn’t stop. She just continued by asking questions that seemed to assume that if even you thought you were a Christian you were wrong.
It was incredibly obnoxious. I wish she would have realized that doing that was NOT going to gain any converts.

By: visitor

visitor — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:10:40 +0000

If you read the Bible in public, you gotta be the best role model possible and self-sacrifice for the comfort of others as an actual witness, and not just show off with outward religion or use religion as an excuse so you can inconvenience others — You can't sit here, I need that seat for my giant Bible. On the bus, you give up your seat, and not just for old handicapped ladies. On the subway, you don't block the doors while your nose is buried in the Bible. On the train, you don't spread out across two seats. On the plane, you leave the armrest for others. Would Jesus hog the armrests? Would Jesus bring a picnic spread from home and stink up the cabin with tuna fish? You can't be annoying or you do a disservice to the cause. Best: Be a model fellow passenger first, and only after that, bring out your Bible. First get them interested in what makes you so dang kind and nice and caring towards total strangers and then show 'em!

Same goes for Jesus fish on the car — you gotta be a really good and extra courteous driver.

By: BrittanySkye13

BrittanySkye13 — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:27:01 +0000

I know Erwin McManus is a big fan of this, or at least, he mentions it occasionally in his podcasts. I'm all for people doing this; it certainly beats the pants off Christian mega-pastor-preacher-speakers who have their own private jets and so many speaking engagements that the only time they would ever have to personally engage with those who don't profess to know Christ (how I loathe the term 'non-Christian') in anything resembling a meaningful way, would be on a plane. But they can't. Because they went and bought their own plane so they wouldn't have to. Oh the irony. And yes, I realize that is a very long sentence. Peace and love from New Zealand

By: Randall

Randall — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:20:21 +0000

I thought "Share Jesus Without Fear" was done by Bill Fay.

By: thoughtriver

thoughtriver — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:12:50 +0000

i love doing this one. I have not done it on a plane, but the concept is the same

By: Alita

Alita — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:30:40 +0000

This one makes me think of something else Christians love to do: assume they are the only people around them who know Jesus. I have been in several "secular" public settings where I've witnessed "Christians" embarrassing the crap out of themselves, Jesus, and other believers, all in the name of "witnessing." This is one of the best ways they do it, but there are several others. What do I do when on the airplane (or any other like setting)? Pray that God uses me however he sees fit. That may mean keeping my mouth shut, reading my Bible or sharing my story, whatever!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:10:13 +0000

No airplane conversion attempts please! I once sat in front of a minister who was trying to convert a Hindu computer programmer seated beside him. The Hindu obviously didn't want to be bothered, but kept his cool, asking (reasonably, I thought) that if the minister was of the opinion that "If only you'd try opening your heart to Jesus for a while," perhaps the minister might try opening his heart to Krishna for a while in fair exchange? Instead of being amused, the minister got increasingly angry and just wouldn't let it go. It was the most uncomfortable flight I've ever been on. Plus I got the treatment next, the minister suddenly announced that God had given him a message for me, the devil had "a present" waiting at my destination and "not to open it." He had a business card with a cross impaling a heart. CREEEPYY. This experience rather sealed my opinion that ministering to people who didn't ask for it and can't escape is beyond rude and not terribly effective.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 17 May 2009 20:55:00 +0000

I read my giant picture Bible on the stairmaster at the gym (it’s easier to read when I’m moving!). I get funny looks, but it also repels people from getting on the machine next to me and gabbing on their cellphones REALLY LOUD about how drunk they got the night before.

By: Craig in Seattle

Craig in Seattle — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:55:00 +0000

I’d read my bible on my bus commute every morning. Not only did I eventually read the bible from cover to cover but it almost always guaranteed that I got the seats all to myself

By: Jen

Jen — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 23:02:00 +0000

How has no one mentioned that the most brilliant part of this entire strategy is that they are STUCK next to you, possibly for a number of hours? It’s an enclosed space with nowhere to escape…