It was an early afternoon when I was walking past Sherrod Library toward my marketing class. I didn’t have my iPod and found myself completely tuned into the world and whatever it was going to throw at me.

I thought it was too late for a fraternity invite – the posters had come and gone, and I had found a way to dodge the army once again, by attempting to become an economist.

However, there is always one group that I can never evade regardless of my route, the men who push Bibles.

The mustached man, who had a smile that Joel Osteen would be proud of, asks me if I have one?

I acknowledge that I do. He is pleased with my answer and allows me to pass.

I conjure up images in my head as I continue to walk.

What about people who answer no?

Could they possibly be chased?

Are they asked if they can be prayed for?

Do they ask if they can have a minute of their time?

My mind often wanders further than it should with ideas like these, but it could happen.

I have no problem with the product that they are pushing free of charge. This is an eternal decision that they are talking about, and not which Greek letters will be plastered on your chest for the next four years.

It is more of a feeling of uneasiness about the way in which the Christian word is being handed on, a qualm, if you will.

I have had conversations with individuals who have felt that these men are moving something that makes them feel uncomfortable.

It pushes them away and does not pull them in in any way, shape or form.

They are simply throwing literature at them and not explaining why it is so important, even though it usually goes unsaid.

I remember when I was first given the opportunity to go to China.

I was going to help at English improvement camps with a group that just so happened to all be Christians.

My group coordinator told a story about how another group had come before and plastered Bible verses all over mailboxes, the houses, the cows and even the occasional chopstick.

This set back the hopes of establishing a more honest view of how Christ went about his business.

It continued a trend that allowed others to perceive Christians as pushing their ideals on “nonbelievers.”

What goes on in front of Sherrod Library is a continuance of that same idea. They are not plastering little green booklets on ETSU Pride signs, but they are putting it out there with no introduction.

The Chinese government did not appreciate what these people were doing by throwing Bible verses everywhere. So others have to go in and work extra hard to develop relationships and build up how Christ would have wanted it.

I do not mean to degrade the works of others.

I am also not saying that what these men are doing is wrong.

I really do appreciate their boldness, hearts for the Lord and willingness to go where they are called. I am just saying that it is not exactly turning heads like other actions on campus.

A group of people trying to build relationships for a common purpose, someone shedding a light on a place that is bleeding for truth and a little free ice cream never hurt anyone.

That is what He was about.

Oh yea, Jesus loved ice cream.

Simply giving someone the book is not what this whole thing was about; it was never about the book.

Yet, that is what I feel like when I am walking by these free handouts. It is about all that happened inside the book.

I know that sounds crazy and cliché, but wait until you see what happens next.

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