How do you feel about yourself after you throw away God's word?
Silly comics or pamphlets that:
1. Are distributed impersonally with bad marketing,
2. Or are handed to you by people who are far too interested in your personal beliefs, especially when you're already a Christian,
3. Or come with a turn-or-burn tone,
4. Or make false claims about other religious groups,
and just happen to have some Biblical references on them are not "the word of God." They are silly pamphlets that... (see above). Therefore, I don't feel particularly one way or another if I throw one out. In my view, tracts are like telemarketers. They interrupt whatever you're busy with at the time, and don't really offer anything interesting, useful, or effective.
For some people though, they seem to be effective. More power to those people. Many people, though, reject them with the same mindset that they reject telemarketers or e-mail spam.
__________________ Don't worry, I'm from the Church and I'm here to help!
There is no conspiracy. Come along. The helicopter's waiting.
As someone who has distributed thousands of tracts and often in New York City (not the most stranger-friendly environment) I think tracts are very effective. NO method of witnessing is going to work 100% of the time. But people do read tracts.
If you are really concerned about how tracts will be received, get different types. I use Chick tracts, but I use many other types as well that have plain messages in them which much more direct themes in them. I also use Milloin dollar tracts, which I leave on subways, post offices, banks, and all over the mall. And believe me, they get taken in about 30 seconds. And they are read. The message is short, but it has the Gospel, which is the power of God. And I also tell people that I am giving them the Gospel when i hand them out. I don't like to just hand people things without saying what it is.
I have had MANY, MANY people reject tracts from me. I also have people throw them out. AT the same time, I have seen people pick up a tract I put on the seat next to me, read it intently and then put it in their bags. And if one person does that out of 30 tracts I give out in a day, to God be the glory!
We cannot measure "effectiveness" by people's reactions to tracts. We measure effectiveness by our obedience to God. It's not about us, it's about The Lord. We are commanded to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and tracts provide a way to do that every single day. If you are not witnessing to the Lost people either verbally or with tracts, what is your excuse to God for slacking in your duty? Read the book of Jeremiah. He spent the entire book preaching to people who would not listen, beat him up and jailed him. And yet he continued. Never once did question the "effectiveness" of God's words. He just pressed on in obedience. I can't say it enough: it's not about us!
So don't worry about perceptions and reactions, just worry about pleasing Jesus, our Lord and Savior. God bless.
As someone who has distributed thousands of tracts and often in New York City (not the most stranger-friendly environment) I think tracts are very effective. NO method of witnessing is going to work 100% of the time. But people do read tracts.
If you are really concerned about how tracts will be received, get different types. I use Chick tracts, but I use many other types as well that have plain messages in them which much more direct themes in them. I also use Milloin dollar tracts, which I leave on subways, post offices, banks, and all over the mall. And believe me, they get taken in about 30 seconds. And they are read. The message is short, but it has the Gospel, which is the power of God. And I also tell people that I am giving them the Gospel when i hand them out. I don't like to just hand people things without saying what it is.
I have had MANY, MANY people reject tracts from me. I also have people throw them out. AT the same time, I have seen people pick up a tract I put on the seat next to me, read it intently and then put it in their bags. And if one person does that out of 30 tracts I give out in a day, to God be the glory!
We cannot measure "effectiveness" by people's reactions to tracts. We measure effectiveness by our obedience to God. It's not about us, it's about The Lord. We are commanded to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and tracts provide a way to do that every single day. If you are not witnessing to the Lost people either verbally or with tracts, what is your excuse to God for slacking in your duty? Read the book of Jeremiah. He spent the entire book preaching to people who would not listen, beat him up and jailed him. And yet he continued. Never once did question the "effectiveness" of God's words. He just pressed on in obedience. I can't say it enough: it's not about us!
So don't worry about perceptions and reactions, just worry about pleasing Jesus, our Lord and Savior. God bless.
Oh and I forgot to mention, there are also DVD tracts now, which people burn and distribute as well. I think this is a great new way of spreading the Word.
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