Well, last week I had opportunity to present the Gospel to two co-workers and ask them if they wanted to receive Christ.  I went 0 for 2.  If there is a way in a relationship with a non-Christian to know precisely when to ask them to receive Christ, I confess I don’t know it.  I was disappointed, of course, but not surprised.  It seems to me that, as our world gets more post-Christian, it is taking longer and longer to reach people who are unsaved.  But what struck me most from the encounters with them was the question one asked me after turning me down.  “Are we still friends?”

There is a theory of evangelism that I’ve always wondered about called the “low hanging fruit” theory.  In this theory, first popularized in the 1980s, we are to focus our main Gospel efforts on those who show signs that they are responsive or, as the theory states, “that the Holy Spirit is working in them.”  While they admit that sporadic attention should be given to the hard-core unsaved they suggest that 90% of our effort should be directed at those who are already showing interest.  They call such people “low hanging fruit” that can be gathered in easily. 

They reason that if the church would devote 90% of its energy in this manner we’d have a much higher decision rate and the church will grow exponentially.  Well, maybe so, but just how does fruit get to be low hanging if nobody has presented the Gospel to them?  Or as Paul puts it “how shall they hear without a preacher?”  Then too, what happens after all the “low hanging fruit” is picked?  Do we ignore all those who are on the upper branches? 

Also, I see no sign in the Gospels that Jesus was aware of this theory.  Yes, He responded to those who came to them with questions and interest.  But in cases like Nicodemus and the rich young ruler He almost seemed to force them to go through hoops to get His message.   While with the hard-core unsaved, for example the woman at the well, He initiated the effort.

I am 61 and thus far I have only had one person in my life who, on learning I was a Christian and missionary, asked me if she needed to accept Jesus as Savior in order to get to heaven.   I suspect that I am above average in the number of times Christians have that happen to them.  So, no, I am not a fan of the “low hanging fruit” theory.  More often than not we are going to have to form relationships, get to know them, let them get to know us, discuss their issues, answer their questions, persist in loving them, and eventually present to them opportunities to accept Christ, risking the “no thanks” answers.

So what about my friend’s question?  Actually it was a very astute and penetrating question.  What she was asking was “Is our friendship real?  Or were you just in it for the opportunity to ‘win’ me?”  My relationship with this unbeliever needed to be strong enough to desire that she have eternal life, but strong enough too that it survives a “no thanks” answer. 

There are two reactions that go through my mind when someone rejects an invitation.  One is that “I blew it.”  I can blame myself for doing it wrong.  I’ve learned to see that response is from Satan.  The other response is “Well, I tried my best.  I should move on to something else.”  And that too is from Satan.  The grace of God is strong enough to lift me up when my invitation is rejected.  It is also strong enough to make my relationship real and able to survive a rejection of that which I desired she have. 

Last week, not once but twice, I struck out and went back to the dugout, bat in hand.  But the game ain’t over.  And maybe, just maybe, God’s grace will give me another at-bat with these two friends.