Why is Christianity declining?

[1Tonne]

Street preachers have their own little world. If you're not "sharing the gospel" as they do.....or to as many as they do, then you're wrong. That type of mindset is blatantly obvious on this forum.

Yes, these days, it's an unfortunate and frequent thing we see.

Jesus commanded us to go and preach the Gospel to as many people as possible. Those who truly love Him will do this. If you are filled with the Holy Spirit then witnessing will not be a work. It'll be an outflow of that great power moving within you.
"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me." The question you should ask yourself is, how much do you really love Him if you do not do as He says and then you also ridicule the ones that do? Also, how much do you really love your neighbour if you simply allow them to perish because you may get embarrassed to share the Gospel?

I don't think anyone likes having people use manipulative sales tactics on them and treat them like some kind of object to win. Which is where my issue with street evangelism is

Do you have any verses that can back up your opinion that sharing the Gospel by asking certain questions is wrong? Or is it simply opinion and you do not like it because it is confronting? Jesus confronted people and He used very similar "gotcha" questions. Look at the woman at the well. Jesus told her to go and get her husband when she had had many husbands and the one she was with was not her husband. That is a real "Gotcha" question. Wow.

why are you taking the side of the unconverted and their petty complaints about street-preachers?

Because he is showing where his heart is.
We are to do friendship evangelism, but not at the expense of going out and speaking the Gospel as Jesus commanded. Friendship is just a part of normal life. We live and if we get the opportunity to share, we do.
Many believers in this day and age make their own plans and schemes to save the lost and they ignore that Jesus said that we should tell as many people as possible. They take the easy road because it means that they will not get persecuted or ridiculed. They want everyone to like them.
It is similar to how the Pharisees overrode the commandments of God in Mark 7:5-13. Jesus has commanded us to go and preach the Gospel to as many people as possible but many Christians in this day will say, "I have a better idea. We now live in a post-Christian era where telling the Gospel in the streets is not good. Instead, we now want to make friends and then if we get the opportunity, we can then share the Gospel"

This seems like an entirely ridiculous complaint, because I'm not "taking sides" I'm relaying the perspective of those the street preachers are supposedly trying to reach. Do you think it's ok to dehumanize people while supposedly preaching the gospel?

Have you asked all those in the street what they thought about the street preachers once they had spoken? I don't think you have.
Also, what is more dehumanizing? Going out and warning people of the condemnation that they are under in the hope that they would turn to Christ or simply leaving them to perish because you have a blatant disregard for a person's life (apathy)

No, but street evangelists do play silly games by asking "gotcha" style questions that automatically make the encounter confrontational and puts people off the gospel.

Agreed. We do have questions that sometimes people do not like. That was why Jesus said that if we did what He did the world would hate us. He also said, "Woe to you when all the people speak well of you".
But there are people where these confrontational questions can flick a light on in their heads. They have a new understanding. They see their sin in a new light, and they turn to honour God. These people are very grateful.

If it were simply clumsy sermons, I wouldn't have an issue with it. But in my experience the type of street evangelist I am talking about isn't simply clumsily relaying a message but going through practiced routines that would be more fitting in a pyramid scheme than engaging people with honest witness.

So, as I said before, please tell us how you share the Gospel and how often you do it. Someone with such criticism must have a very good answer.

 

[1Tonne]

Many of us my be uncomfortable with "street evangelism" but it is a complicated issue

There is an Indian guy at my church (EFCA) who is very committed to the faith. He was thrown out of an Indian festival in my city for passing out copies of the Gospel and spreading Christian messages to Hindus and Muslims. He wasn't aggressive about this, and he didn't get out-of-line, but the organizers didn't want him there.

He showed up the next day and tried to get back in. And then the day after that. Someone let him in, and he continued with his efforts.

How many of us are willing to go to those lengths to spread the good news? I certainly wasn't

This guy comes from a Hindu family and is absolutely convinced of Christ's message--so much so, that he is willing to go against his culture, his people, and even his community, to spread the Gospel

That takes guts and commitment

and we wouldn't have a faith or a church if it weren't for people like this guy.

so let's go easy on those public preachers and evangelicals

The Christian life can be very abundant especially if you share the Gospel with strangers. Full of all sorts of excitement and persecution. These times of persecution are great stories once you get through them. (Sometimes even persecuted by Christians for sharing the Gospel)
My life used to be, go to work in the morning then come home, watch a bit of TV and then go to bed. This was Monday to Friday and then on Saturday I had sport and Sunday was church. So, life was pretty normal and mundane. But now that I share the Gospel, I have had many exciting encounters. Just last week, I was asked by someone in my church if I had been recording them. So, spreading the Gospel can make your life much, much more abundant and exciting. Look at Paul, he was three times beaten with rods, once stoned, three times shipwrecked, a night and a day spent adrift at sea and many other great stories in the process of sharing the Gospel.

 

[MForbes]

Jesus commanded us to go and preach the Gospel to as many people as possible. Those who truly love Him will do this.

As I stated....living in their own little world and they are the only ones who truly love Jesus.

The question you should ask yourself is, how much do you really love Him if you do not do as He says and then you also ridicule the ones that do?

You're not being ridiculed for preaching. You're being ridiculed for stating no one loves Jesus unless they do what you do.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Jesus commanded us to go and preach the Gospel to as many people as possible. Those who truly love Him will do this. If you are filled with the Holy Spirit then witnessing will not be a work. It'll be an outflow of that great power moving within you.
"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me." The question you should ask yourself is, how much do you really love Him if you do not do as He says and then you also ridicule the ones that do? Also, how much do you really love your neighbour if you simply allow them to perish because you may get embarrassed to share the Gospel?

1Tonne, please notice here, I'm not the one who is saying that you shouldn't be street preaching ......... you can street preach if you want.

You can talk to people out in the public all day, every day if you truly believe you're being called to do that. However, all I'm saying is that the particular fundamentalist angle that has been used from the time of Charles Finney to today's Ray Comfort may not be fully engaging people on the human level in a way that is actually reminiscent of the way Jesus, or even Peter or Paul, engaged people. But you think you're doing the same thing.

I'm just not sure you are, especially if we now live in the 21st Century with over a dozen major competing versions of "the Christian Faith." While I don't discount all that Fundamentalist think, I'm not one to assume they have it all correct, either, especially not where street preaching is concerned.

So, keep preaching if you feel led to. I wouldn't want to stop you from doing that. I would, however, hope and pray you take into account more than just the Bible alone when you preach to other vulnerable, maybe confused, human beings.

 

[1Tonne]

As I stated....living in their own little world and they are the only ones who truly love Jesus.

You're not being ridiculed for preaching. You're being ridiculed for stating no one loves Jesus unless they do what you do.

Please tell us how you share the Gospel and how often you do it. You must be very good at it.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

I'm just not sure you are, especially if we now live in the 21st Century with over a dozen major competing versions of "the Christian Faith."

O probably more than a dozen. And many nominal Christians who don't think they need any conversion.
Jesus did not just quote scripture to people. He met them where they were and somehow left them wanting more. They followed him and he attracted massive crowds. Today we might see that in some revivals or mega churches but certainly not on the streets. Still, not many people would turn down a blessing.

 

[1Tonne]

However, all I'm saying is that the particular fundamentalist angle that has been used from the time of Charles Finney to today's Ray Comfort may not be fully engaging people on the human level in a way that is actually reminiscent of the way Jesus, or even Peter or Paul, engaged people. But you think you're doing the same thing.

Ray may be looked upon as a fundamentalist, but He loves Jesus and does as He says. His actions speak of his love for Him.
I do it in a similar way to Ray Comfort and many others (modelled off Mark 10). He has been doing this for over 50 years now and so it would be foolish to ignore someone with so much experience. Especially when there are so many people who say that they came to Christ through watching a Ray Comfort video.
In saying this, I do not mind how believers say the Gospel as long as people are shown that they have fallen short of God's standards (God's Law), that they will be judged one day, that Jesus died in their place for their sins, and that if they put their faith in Him and turn from their sins, they will be saved. Sharing the Gospel comes from an overflow of the heart. "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:45
Ray must have a large abundance of love for God and his neighbour to continue sharing His word for 50+ years.

However, all I'm saying is that the particular fundamentalist angle that has been used .....may not be fully engaging people on the human level

We should ask the question, what does "fully engaging people on the human level" mean? If it means engaging someone in a conversation where people may turn to Christ, then Ray Comfort has much fruit and so we would be foolish to dismiss the way he does it. Many who undermine and criticize the way he does it will often not tell the Gospel to anyone. If they are going to criticize, I think that they should be coming from a place of authority where they themselves tell the Gospel to many. But most are armchair critics.

So, keep preaching if you feel led to.

Thank you for letting me continue to tell people the Gospel.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Please tell us how you share the Gospel and how often you do it. You must be very good at it.

"There are many gifts but one spirit." Not everyone is an effective preacher. It is important to let Christ live through us and we can do that in every single encounter. That takes humility and getting out of the way. My conversion was initiated by a guy knocking on my door. Just me and him having a talk.

 

[1Tonne]

Not everyone is an effective preacher.

Agreed. We all have different gifts. But we should all have a very strong desire to tell as many people as possible the Gospel. Whether that is at work, at school or some other place.
Also, we need to remember that the gift of evangelism is not being able to go out and share the Gospel with boldness in the streets. The gift of evangelism is a gift where a person has the ability to equip the saints for the work of the ministry so that the church may be built up. So, they will be able to teach and encourage others to get out there and tell the Gospel. That is the gift. Also, as all of us should do, they will tell many people the Gospel.
Ephesians 4:11-12 says, "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up".

Also, God did make us all different. Some he made to be ears, some he made to be hands, some he made to be a mouth and some he made to be feet.
If you are an ear, listen to people's problems and then tell them the Gospel.
If you are a hand, mow someone's lawn and weed their garden and then tell them the Gospel.
If you are a mouth, teach people and then tell them the Gospel.
If you are feet, walk to the parks or down the street and then tell people the Gospel.

We do have different giftings and abilities and with these, we should bring Glory to God. We should not use our gifts as an excuse not to give God glory.
I am a foot. I often choose to go to the parks and give God glory. Sometimes I am a hand and I share the Gospel. Sometimes I listen to people and then I tell the Gospel.

NOTE: I am not a great public speaker, and neither were all the disciples.
1 Cor 2:1-5 saying “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
Also, in Acts 4:13 it says that the Pharisees realised that Peter and John were uneducated and untrained men it says.
I am also very afraid when I do share but my love for God drives me to tell others.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Agreed. We all have different gifts. But we should all have a very strong desire to tell as many people as possible the Gospel. Whether that is at work, at school or some other place.
Also, we need to remember that the gift of evangelism is not being able to go out and share the Gospel with boldness in the streets. The gift of evangelism is a gift where a person has the ability to equip the saints for the work of the ministry so that the church may be built up.

More people are unaffiliated (None) these days but does that mean a decline in the church. A faith community is an important part of what it means to be "church" but I just wonder how much "faith" is really out there unaffiliated.

 

[1Tonne]

More people are unaffiliated (None) these days but does that mean a decline in the church. A faith community is an important part of what it means to be "church" but I just wonder how much "faith" is really out there unaffiliated.

Not sure by what you mean by unaffiliated.

 

[rebornfree]

My life used to be, go to work in the morning then come home, watch a bit of TV and then go to bed. This was Monday to Friday and then on Saturday I had sport and Sunday was church. So, life was pretty normal and mundane.

Didn't your Church have midweek meetings: Prayer, Bible Study, outreach events, etc.? In my last Church most of us would be involved in at least a couple of things, as well as Sunday morning service, which when you are working full-time and have a home to run is probably as much as you can manage. My Saturday was cleaning day

Also don't forget that those who do the practical tasks: setup rooms, cook, clean toilets etc. are also working towards an evangelist event.

I can understand stand your comments better now,

 

[1Tonne]

Didn't your Church have midweek meetings: Prayer, Bible Study, outreach events, etc.? In my last Church most of us would be involved in at least a couple of things, as well as Sunday morning service, which when you are working full-time and have a home to run is probably as much as you can manage. My Saturday was cleaning day

Also don't forget that those who do the practical tasks: setup rooms, cook, clean toilets etc. are also working towards an evangelist event.

I can understand stand your comments better now,

Yes. The church did have bible studies and I did go to one. What I was trying to get at was that my life was pretty stock standard like most Christians in church. But when you go out and share the Gospel, you will find that life becomes more fulfilling. Life is no longer stock standard.

I also found that in life we do need to be careful not to fill it up so much that we do not have time to go and share. This can be difficult though and so pray that God can show you how to make time.

Also don't forget that those who do the practical tasks: setup rooms, cook, clean toilets etc. are also working towards an evangelist event.

Yes. Sometimes there are people behind the scenes too. But their overall desire is that the Gospel is told to as many people as possible. So, they may not be the ones telling the Gospel at the event, but their overall goal is as a team, that the Gospel is told.
I run a bbq and the person who cooks does not get time to share the Gospel, but he desires that I get the chance to share it. Which I do.

Sadly, I have been to a large Christian outreach event that is put on each year and the Gospel is never told. The people running the event use these outreaches to make friends. Then, if the opportunity ever arises, they can share the Gospel. But often, the opportunity never arises.
This is once again placing friendship evangelism above proclamation. What would have been better, is that the Gospel was told at the event, and then afterwards we make friends. Then at least everyone would have had the chance to hear it. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. We need to trust in the power of the Gospel more than the power of our friendships. But do make friends too.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

More people are unaffiliated (None) these days but does that mean a decline in the church. A faith community is an important part of what it means to be "church" but I just wonder how much "faith" is really out there unaffiliated.

They do not identify with a specific denomination or Non denominational church.

 

[MForbes]

Please tell us how you share the Gospel and how often you do it. You must be very good at it.

There is no need for me to tell anyone how, when, and how often. That would be between me and my maker. Having to resort to advertising my "piousness" via the internet or social media amounts to nothing more that bragging.

As 2PhiloVoid stated, "So, keep preaching if you feel led to"; however, posting here about your street preaching activities and constant put-downs of those who don't does not draw anyone to Jesus. The only folks on this forum that seem to find it edifying are your fellow street preachers.

 

[1Tonne]

There is no need for me to tell anyone how, when, and how often. That would be between me and my maker. Having to resort to advertising my "piousness" via the internet or social media amounts to nothing more that bragging.

I thought so.

 

[1Tonne]

There is no need for me to tell anyone how, when, and how often. That would be between me and my maker. Having to resort to advertising my "piousness" via the internet or social media amounts to nothing more that bragging.

Look what just came on my feed

Watch the whole thing as the are many parts that are applicable to this thread.

 

[MForbes]

Look what just came on my feed

Watch the whole thing as the are many parts that are applicable to this thread.

Not worth my time. I’m not a disciple of Ray Comfort.

 

[seeking.IAM]

Lost me at 1:32: "...so an atheist who perhaps has no moral system could never go against the system he sets up..." The assertion that atheists may have no moral system is preposterous. One can have a moral code that is not rooted in religious faith, and the moral systems of non-Christians are just as important to them as our faith-based moral system is to us. I posit that most persons short of psychopaths have a moral system. It may be different than ours and not rooted in faith, but it is a code they live by, nonetheless.

I remember leaving my insular youth and heading off to college where I met a chap who was (and is) one of the most moral persons I had ever met. I assumed he must be a fine, upstanding Christian and asked him what church he attended. He had never been to church in his life and knew nothing about Christianity.

Moral (n): a person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Look what just came on my feed

Watch the whole thing as the are many parts that are applicable to this thread.

I skipped a lot but the guys being evangelized didn't seem impressed.