Street Preaching

[stevevw]

I have been thinking about the current political claimte and how people are being cancelled and even killed for their views. Is street preaching or declaring the gospel in public now a dangerous occupation.

 

[Fervent]

It's never been without risk, since you never know how some random person will react. But are you suggesting that it has somehow become more dangerous? How many street preachers have faced reprocutions, and how does it compare to people who generally make spectacles of themselves in public?(i tried to phrase that less provocatively, but I couldn't quite figure out how to phrase it appropriately)

 

[Delvianna]

I have been thinking about the current political claimte and how people are being cancelled and even killed for their views. Is street preaching or declaring the gospel in public now a dangerous occupation.

Yes and in some places, worse than others. Like, I wouldn't street preach in the middle of Tehran. But specifically to western countries, I think it's getting worse and you just don't know which person is going to listen to the spirit of Satan when he tells them to go kill the preacher. The more a society moves away from Christian values, the darker and more hard hearted that society becomes, which means you're going to see evil become more and more apparent. I think if you're going to street preach, trying to hold a 1 on 1 conversation would be wiser than taking a speaker and a microphone and screaming loudly.

 

[stevevw]

Yes and in some places, worse than others. Like, I wouldn't street preach in the middle of Tehran. But specifically to western countries, I think it's getting worse and you just don't know which person is going to listen to the spirit of Satan when he tells them to go kill the preacher. The more a society moves away from Christian values, the darker and more hard hearted that society becomes, which means you're going to see evil become more and more apparent. I think if you're going to street preach, trying to hold a 1 on 1 conversation would be wiser than taking a speaker and a microphone and screaming loudly.

Thats interesting. So with that in mind that as society moves away from God more. Do you think it will become increasingly harder for Christians to preach or stand on their beliefs and values without causing conflicts or triggering others in western nations that are suppose to be where Christianity came from.

I agree that it depends on where its happening. Obviously preaching in a church or among Christians is different. But I remember times when say street preaching was almost a special vocation and even the bad guys use to look up to them as they saw some hope. Or got a free coffee lol. But there was more respect and tolerance.

But even in a work situation you could express your Christian views and it was respected. Now you have to be careful as it may offend someone. Certainly you have to be very careful on social media. Say the wrong thing and all hell breaks loose lol.

 

[PloverWing]

But I remember times when say street preaching was almost a special vocation and even the bad guys use to look up to them as they saw some hope.

This may be a cultural difference. Do you genuinely remember a time when street preachers were looked up to?

I've read that there were times in history when street preaching was a respectable thing that people did, but I've never witnessed such a time myself. My first associations with street preaching are the Hare Krishnas and the odd folks who walk around wearing signs that say "the end is near".

I assume things must be different in Australia. Can you tell me about that?

 

[Fervent]

This may be a cultural difference. Do you genuinely remember a time when street preachers were looked up to?

I've read that there were times in history when street preaching was a respectable thing that people did, but I've never witnessed such a time myself. My first associations with street preaching are the Hare Krishnas and the odd folks who walk around wearing signs that say "the end is near".

I assume things must be different in Australia. Can you tell me about that?

yeah, this is more in line with my experience as well. Street preachers have always been regarded more as a nuisance than being respected.

 

[ChubbyCherub]

It was dangerous to preach even during the time of Jesus when Jesus preached to the masses.

Mark 12:13-17

13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax[b] to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

Bible Gateway passage: Mark 12 - New International Version

 

[Apple Sky]

I have been thinking about the current political claimte and how people are being cancelled and even killed for their views. Is street preaching or declaring the gospel in public now a dangerous occupation.

Don't worry, if Jesus is with you he will protect you

 

[Delvianna]

Thats interesting. So with that in mind that as society moves away from God more. Do you think it will become increasingly harder for Christians to preach or stand on their beliefs and values without causing conflicts or triggering others in western nations that are suppose to be where Christianity came from.

Yes, for sure. While Trump fixed some things the government was doing, like spying on Christians and labeling them as "extremists" via the FBI, I think that isn't going to stop the people behind that from picking it back up once Trump is out of office. Then you have the idea where Christians are hated for being against some lifestyles because scripture says it's wrong. We're seeing a rise in that too and then let's not forget the rise in extreme Muslim thinking too that is leading to attacks against Jews and Christians in western countries. England is getting it the worst right now. So absolutely, I think it's only going to get worse as people get more brazen.

I agree that it depends on where its happening. Obviously preaching in a church or among Christians is different. But I remember times when say street preaching was almost a special vocation and even the bad guys use to look up to them as they saw some hope. Or got a free coffee lol. But there was more respect and tolerance.

I agree! My aunt was a street preacher before she died when I was little. The fact that a woman could do it alone back in the 70's and 80's vs today just essentially says all that needs to be said lol.

But even in a work situation you could express your Christian views and it was respected. Now you have to be careful as it may offend someone. Certainly you have to be very careful on social media. Say the wrong thing and all hell breaks loose lol.

Absolutely! That's another issue as well depending on where you work.

 

[Delvianna]

Don't worry, if Jesus is with you he will protect you

Doesn't necessarily mean protect you from never being attacked. Paul was stoned and attacked several times and Charlie Kirk is dead. So, I wouldn't say physical protection is 100% a guarantee.

 

[stevevw]

Yes, for sure. While Trump fixed some things the government was doing, like spying on Christians and labeling them as "extremists" via the FBI, I think that isn't going to stop the people behind that from picking it back up once Trump is out of office.

I have been thinking about this and realised that what is at stake is more than Christianity. But the freedoms that the west brought which stemmed from Christian values. But the principles of freedom and democracy was a western idea seperated from the church.

So really when people reject Christianity they are also rejecting constitutional rights.

It shows that this is about ideological belief in how the world should be ordered. A belief that is willing to sacrifice or deny the truth principles of freedom and democracy and to impose an ideology on others. Which is the complete reverse of how the church once imposed its will on society.

Then you have the idea where Christians are hated for being against some lifestyles because scripture says it's wrong.

Yes and it makes sense as far as the world is concerned. Logically if the State replaced the church and the State represents the social norms. Then as the social norms move further away from God it becomes more conflicting.

The State became the new church because the political was made the personal with identity politics. Which had been cultivated for decades. Once the political becomes the personal then morality comes in. Then its a battle of morality as to which belief should stand as the basis for society and the nation.

This is the beginning of the battle we are seeing happening now. As time goes by this will become more defined between Christians and the world. Christ and the anti Christ.

We're seeing a rise in that too and then let's not forget the rise in extreme Muslim thinking too that is leading to attacks against Jews and Christians in western countries. England is getting it the worst right now. So absolutely, I think it's only going to get worse as people get more brazen.

Yes and its interesting that both political extremists and Islamists are rising at the same time. I can remember when the western nations were allied against the barbaric terrorism of extreme Islamists. Remember 9/11 and the Bali nightclub suicide attacks. The train and bus bombings, and knife and vehicle attacks on the streets.

Then Covid came and it settled down. But then came the cultivation of identity politics and the culture war. I really think the radical Islamists were not stupid. They declare they will get the Jews and west anyway they can. So it seems their kind of extreme mindset has been brought into the west. Mixed with the already extremist politics and you have a perfect storm for sowing division and dissent.

The common enermy being Jews and the west and Christians by extension. But its interesting how it just happens to be the Jews and Christians and not say Greeks and pagans or Muslims or any other percieved enermy that needs to be stopped.

I agree! My aunt was a street preacher before she died when I was little. The fact that a woman could do it alone back in the 70's and 80's vs today just essentially says all that needs to be said lol.

Yes and I remember going to a church in the heart of Darlinghurst which is the Gay capital of the world back then. I would often walk the streets with Christian friends. Kings Cross was next door and you would see all sorts of preachers out and about. Or mission vans.

People loved the hope and even social aspect. They could talk religion and not get irrate, and share stories. It offered a different perspective from that which they lived everyday.

Absolutely! That's another issue as well depending on where you work.

Thats why I think the care industries good because you are always helping in some way which is a basic Christian value. But some organisations are better than others as far as ethics go. Plus I see a lot of church based retail stores and especially help services like job agencies or training programs.

A local church actually built a community center with offices for counsellors, psychologists and legal and working with the local government in different care industries such as aged care and youth justice. So there are a few Christian based organisations. Or secular organisations in the care industry with Christian values.