Rector's Ramblings

Rectors Ramblings

By The Rev. Jim Stewart

September 2025

          I have been fascinated by what Penn Jillette, of the famed Penn and Teller magic/comedy duo, as he once said: “I [am] an atheist.... I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize.... If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell and that people could be going to hell... How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize?”

     There is a difference between proselytizing and Evangelizing.  Evangelizing is sharing the good news with love and respect.  Proselytizing is seeking converts through manipulation or coercion.  Jesus words seem to disapprove of the latter.  We need to be careful about who we listen to.

     I have been rolling this over in my head for some time thinking about who the first Evangelist might have been.  The woman at the well is a good candidate for this.  She talked to Jesus a Jewish man not a Samaritan.  Once she found out who He was she ran to tell others the good news about the Messiah. Not to coheres them but to share the news through her love for Jesus.  Come and see.

     In John 1: 40-42 it was said Andrew was the first to run to Simon (Peter) and share the news that he felt that Jesus is the Messiah.

     Likewise, the women at the tomb (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James and the other women) were the first to go to the Apostles and speak about the resurrection of Jesus.

     This is what we as Christians are called to do.  We are not to know the good news and keep it to ourselves but to go into the world and proclaim it.  This is becoming harder and harder with the way the world is going.  People are dropping out of churches and losing their faith about what is good in our lives.  Our lives should be about morals and character, love and compassion.  Sometimes I think about what Penn has said and think I should be sharing the good news as often as I can because I do believe in heaven and hell and I do hope that everyone has the opportunity to hear what Jesus has taught us. Even Penn is a child of God and needs to hear the good news.

      I worry about the state of our country, but more important about the state of our eternity.

      I do not wish to be pushy but do believe through our actions and love everyone can see how God wants us to live.  If they choose the good news great if not at least I have tried.

     May many blessings fill your lives and the world we live in.