Responses to offensive evangelism

"Two ladies from Scotland, delighted that their request to have an evening with the Master while He was in London had been granted, were warmly received by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. How they relished having this intimate evening! Half an hour passed in His warm presence, when suddenly they were filled with consternation—an aggressive reporter strode into their midst and seated himself—he wanted information about the Master. His talkative, impolite manner left the ladies speechless—such an intrusion could spoil that precious evening. Then, to their surprise, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stood up and, beckoning the reporter to follow Him, led the way into His room. The ladies had indeed got rid of the intruder, but they had also lost ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. What were they to do? Before long the hostess went into the Master’s secretary and asked that He be informed ‘that the ladies with whom the appointment had been made are awaiting His pleasure.’ Very soon kind words of farewell were heard. Then the Master returned, pausing by the door. Gravely, He looked at each and said, ‘You were making that poor man uncomfortable, so strongly desiring his absence; I took him away to make him feel happy.’"

(Honnold, Annamarie, Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 54)

I just learned about a man who travels around, preaching at universities, in the name of Christianity, promoting views that seem very offensive and alarming to many Christians. I've thought about how I might want to respond to that, if I lived or studied on that campus.

One way of responding that I read about, and which I love, was students of all persuasions, including atheists and a diversity of Christians, gathering nearby, having loving conversations with each other about their beliefs.

Beyond that, here are some other things I might want to do, and not do, if I lived or studied on that campus:

1. If we had advance notice, I might want to prepare information booths to set up near where he was preaching, about the gospel. Or not. I see pros and cons to that.

2. I would want to try to show him God's love, and surround Him with God's grace. Give him friendly attention. Look for things in his behavior to appreciate, and praise him for them. Express appreciation for his courage and audacity in trying to teach the gospel as he understands it. Ask him about his family, his interests, looking for some possible topic for friendly conversation. Walk with him, offer to help him carry his things. Bring him water. Invite him to a meal. Every way I could think of to shower him with God's love. Of course I would need to fill myself up with God's love first, before I would approach him! Maybe pray together with some friends first, and read some appropriate Bible verses, and ask them to pray for me while I was with him.

3. I would *not* debate with *anyone* about *anything.*

4. I would *not* mock or ridicule him, or say or insinuate anything depreciating him or his views. If I openly objected to anyone's behavior, I would start with the behavior of any of my friends I saw treating him unkindly or depreciating him, before I would say anything about his behavior.

5. I might not encourage any women to spend time with him, or to talk to him more than briefly. It might be better for men to spend time with him, and women to pray for them. That might be something to consult about, with whoever is volunteering to shower him with love.

"My imprisonment doeth Me no harm, neither the tribulations I suffer, nor the things that have befallen Me at the hands of My oppressors. That which harmeth Me is the conduct of those who, though they bear My name, yet commit that which maketh My heart and My pen to lament."[1]

"All these things bring joy to the heart, and yet 'Abdu'l-Bahá is sunk deep in an ocean of grief, and pain and anguish have so affected my limbs and members that utter weakness hath overtaken my whole body. ... there hath arisen a dust cloud of ill will amongst the believers themselves. ... this doth lay upon the heart of 'Abdu'l-Bahá a heavy burden of grief, of inconceivable grief. For no tempest more perilous than this could ever assail the Cause of God, nor could anything else so diminish the influence of His Word."[2]

"Does not 'Abdu'l-Bahá wish us, as He looks down upon us with loving expectation from His glorious Station, to obliterate as much as possible all traces of censure, of conflicting discussions, of cooling remarks, of petty unnecessary observations that impede the onward march of the Cause, that damp the zeal of the firm believer and detract from the sublimity of the Bahá'í Cause in the eyes of the inquirer?"[3]

"With every day that passes, danger grows that the rising fires of religious prejudice will ignite a worldwide conflagration the consequences of which are unthinkable."[4]

"... the disease of sectarian hatreds, if not decisively checked, threatens harrowing consequences that will leave few areas of the world unaffected."[5]

For twenty years, from the earliest days of the Internet, the most popular Baha'i Internet forums have been divided into opposing ideological sanctuaries, with Baha'is in every forum continually maligning Baha'is with views opposed to theirs, often using Baha'i writings, and the words of Baha'i institutions and Baha'i celebrities, as excuses and instruments for their maligning. I've seen that same maligning in some of the most popular Baha'i Blogs and Web pages, and in the writings of Baha'i scholars; and I've seen the same division into opposing camps in Baha'i facebook groups.

I see that maligning as a symptom of divisions that have always existed within the Baha'i community, all over the world and at every level, and at the same time I see it threatening to deepen and widen those divisions. I also see it breaking hearts, staining the reputation of the Faith and repelling people away from it, and undermining the zeal and even the faith of some of its members.

I see a need for more individual initiatives to help calm that tempest. I'll be posting some relevant guidance I've found for those initiatives, and some ideas for strategies and lines of action. I would welcome any ideas from anyone, regardless of your ideology!

References:
[1] (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 23)
[2] (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 229)
[3] (Shoghi Effendi, 5 March 1922, to the Baha'is of the British Isles)
[4] (The Universal House of Justice, 2002 April, to the World's Religious Leaders)
[5] (The Universal House of Justice, Naw-Rúz, 2005, One Common Faith)