Two Ways To Get Buy-in To Faith

I think there are two ways people get sold on a particular faith (product or service for that matter), that offers the path of least resistance.

First, is that the people need what the faith (product or service) is offering. Let's suppose your house or appartment is on fire. You need (not want) the fire department. The fire department doesn't need to hard-sell you on their services. They don't need to run ads, give discounts, or offer free coffee and donuts. You seek them out, because they are the best solution to your current problem.

Second, is that a person gets a recommendation from someone that is (to him or her) beyond reproach. We all have or know someone like that. That person recommends a certain movie and, no matter what it is, we go see it. Either that person is rarely wrong, or her judgement is trustworthy.

When I think about Christianity and evangelizing, I wonder why most organizations of faith, I've been a part of, don't examing and utilize these two ways more often. I returned to the Christian faith because of a someone illustrated in the second example. Yet that person doesn't fit the mold of what people would consider a "Good Christian". Still, he got me going back to church. Why? Because he knew me well enough, and I trusted him enough in this particular department.

When I speak with people that are ambivilent or doubt the legitimecy of organized religion, the reasons that I hear over and over are either hypocracy, piety (e.g. holier-than-thou attitute), judgmentalism, or "D", all of the above.

My revelation as I wonder how to get people to buy-in to faith, is that I will be more successful either being the source of the best solution to their current problem at the right time, or being that someone is worthy of their trust.