You've seen 'em. C'mon, you're a Christian, you've definitely seen 'em before! Admit that you have! After all, if you are a true follower of Christ, you must use the most effective evangelical tool available to the modern world (and I mean "modern" in the sense that it contrasts with the present "postmodern" context)

The tract.

Just writing the word makes this 31-year-old (excuse me for the McLaren-like description of myself) missional, evangelical, post/protestant, liberal/conservative, mystical/poetic, biblical, incarnational, emergent, unfinished, pastoral forgiven sinner CRINGE (thanks for your patience, friends). You find them in gas station bathrooms, rolled up in toilet paper. You find them on diner tables, picnic tables, bowling alleys, grocery stores, and even tacked to telephone poles. They are everywhere.

Unfortunately, the people who placed them in these strategic locations are not available for comments, questions, or meaningful dialogue of any kind. Tracts then become impersonal little pamphlets or cards that are left with people or left behind in the hopes that "sinners" will read the ever-so-easy and doable "3 steps to salvation" (biblically, where are the 3 steps anyway?) and consequently secure their one-way ticket to heaven to inhabit a mansion and sing in the halls of God's glory.

Yes, my sarcasm is overwhelmingly thick but I do not mean to "de-tract" (yeah, I know,the intentional pun) from the motives of those leaving the tracts. By no means do I want to judge the desires of one's heart to leave behind a potential tool that could help initiate a move towards Christ. And this last statement demonstrates my support for the people who leave the tracts (emphasis is key). These people want to share Christ, and if they can't talk about Jesus with someone in person, perhaps the tract will communicate what they could not. Keeping the fingers crossed, the hope is that people will pick them up and read them, pray a prayer, and "get saved" (another term that I accessed growing up in an evangelical environment...stay tuned for my thoughts on that at another date).

I love all people. I am still learning how to do this, however. I firmly believe that in this post-christian, post-modern context, people are looking for real, relevant, effective relationships that are built on authentic empathy and unconditional love. I, like all of us, have ta endency to wear the robe of a Pharisee or the high hat of a Sadducee. Even both of these leaders of the law in Jesus' day didn't get along, despite their "efforts" to enforce the law! Regardless of whether you utilize the tract system or not, understand that I love you because Christ first loved me, and I can love you as a forgiven sinner just like you can love me with that knowledge. I am called, I believe, to shed light on the darkened places of our spiritual lives that go unquestioned. God has called me to proclaim the Word in fresh, understandable ways that help people ask questions of the christianity they "have always known." Asking questions in our faith is paramount to a growing relationship with Christ.

Hence, this article, a thin beam of light illuminating the usage of tracts in the 21st century.

I don't corner the market on truth about tracts; in fact, I don't corner the market about anything. But I do know this, that while I was yet a sinner, Christ died for me. I didn't hear about it through a tract. I didn't have to say the ABC's of faith to become a Christian. I didn't have to attend VBS to get the "steps" I needed to follow to put on the new self. My mother led me to Jesus almost twenty-five years ago.

Friends, Jesus provides the grace to allow faith to be possible. Because of God's leadership through my mother, I began a process in 1982 as a six-year-old to daily give my life to Christ. Although I was only six, I continued to learn (and praise God I am STILL LEARNING AND ALWAYS WILL!) how to work out my salvation with fear and trembling. Salvation is not just a momentary decision to lay down one's life (yes, making the choice to give your life to Christ is imperative); rather, it is a continual process from that point of decision by which we are being transformed into the image of our Redeemer, our Eternal Hero, our Father, our Mother, our Everything, our Jesus!

Granted, the Lord saved us. The Lord saves us. And the Lord WILL save us when Jesus returns again (read that one again).

Tell me, what do people need to hear? Should they heed the steps to "get saved" or understand the good news that while they had no hope, no family, no possessions, NOTHING...Jesus steps in and shows us how to live out our faith by becoming less so that he can become more (John 3:30). The tract, despite its commendable intention to communicate beginning a life with Jesus, is incomplete at best.

A tract can't wrap its arms around the body of a suicidal girl. A tract can't hold a tiny baby who has 3 weeks to live because of a drug-infested mother. A tract can't wipe the tears of someone who has waited a lifetime to confess their sins openly and honestly without fear of immediate judgment and abandonment. A tract can't answer the tough questions or even the easy ones. A tract doesn't hear the groans of the seeker; it only tells one-way story. A tract, in all of its glory, doesn't actually communicate. Let me explain.

In order for communication to take place, there must be a sender with a message, the message must be received, and then feedback must return to the original sender. When this happens, communication takes place (think about Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-40).

Are we communicating the Gospel message with tracts? Perhaps some of us are, and for that, I exhort you. I would venture to say, however, that people in this post-modern era are wanting the genuine article expressed through a life lived out in truth and in love. Has anyone seen the GREATEST LOVE expressed through a tract? No, one hasn't. But, the world has yet to see what happens to lost people when someone loves them by laying down his/her life for them. Greater love has no person than this (I John 4).

I value relationship over materials.
I value hugs over dogma.
I value Jesus over being right.

Remember, GOD DOESN'T NEED US TO CARRY OUT HIS KINGDOM WORK. He chooses to allow us that privilege so that we can see the glory of God expressed by the grace of Jesus Christ in the lives of those who (subconsciously or consciously) are desperate for God's Son.

Today, the message of Jesus will NEVER change, but the methods MUST (1 Cor. 9:19-23). Think about Paul in Athens. He was effective in his message because he used the environment to start a conversation about Jesus. Why are we not doing the same things in our schools, our homes, our workplaces, our restaurants, and even our churches? We need not forfeit the BLESSING of sharing Christ by passing along that responsibility to a tract, for God's sake (and I mean that literally!)!

If using tracts has been or IS a dis"tract"ion in your life as a Christian, place the focus on what Jesus has/is doing in YOUR life and share your story through the conduit of relationship.

Jesus did that.

He commands us to do the same today. Know the scripture. Seek God's face. Be more than a tract. Be a person humble enough to admit that you don't know it all...but you know Someone who does:)...and then, don't stop asking questions of your own faith...questions lead to greater understanding...greater understanding leads to a deeper faith...deeper faith leads to an overpowering romance between you and your Creator.

Eliminate dis"tract"ions and let us love the Lord not only with our heart, soul and strength, but as Jesus added, with our MINDS. Then, and only then, will be able to "test and approve what God's will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2).

Somewhere, in some lonely town, there is someone aching for Christ. Avoid the tendency to leave behind a tract. Instead, enter a life out of Christ's love for that person, in GENUINE relationship, and leave the tracts behind. After all, as the cliche says, "You might be the only scripture someone will ever read."

Just make sure you don't just leave them with a lone bible verse. Instead, leave them with the touch of Jesus Christ on their hearts.

I am still learning how to do this and thankfully always will. Therefore, friends, when it comes to sharing Jesus relevantly with others, let's use relational tact...and wean ourselves off the modern tract.


*God bless ALL OF YOU as you seek God's will for you as a minister WHEREVER you are. People are waiting to hear the message of grace through the actions of a willing disciple of Jesus. Love to all of you.*

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