Guy From Medina Pride Came Back...

David Hunter · Jul 9, 2025

Howdy! Whelp, the guy from the last video I posted telling me not to preach hate to my kids came back. I asked him what was wrong with Jesus and he hand a mouthful to say... Thoughts on how you would have handled it?

Hoping2 · Jul 9, 2025

David Hunter said:
Howdy! Whelp, the guy from the last video I posted telling me not to preach hate to my kids came back. I asked him what was wrong with Jesus and he hand a mouthful to say... Thoughts on how you would have handled it?

I'ld have told him the truth, that no Christian is any of the things he cited.
It is the false-Christians who continue to commit sin after their conversion.
"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." (1 John 2:19)

PloverWing · Jul 9, 2025

I don't think there's anything you could have done better, in that setting.

Some of his points are legit. For example, Christians in recent centuries did own slaves, and I've seen patriarchy and misogyny even in modern Christians. There's a complicated conversation that one can have -- talking about how God reveals God's self in the context of different cultures, and how God seems to teach humankind in small steps, and how sometimes it's challenging for people to sort out which bits of early Christian practice were simply reflecting their culture's assumptions and which bits were direct teachings from God. But it requires a long span of time and patience to have that conversation -- maybe an hour, maybe multiple hours or more -- and it requires that both parties be ready to listen to each other with an open mind. A quick exchange on a street corner isn't going to be a good setting for a nuanced conversation.

What he doesn't say explicitly is that because you were standing at the entrance to a Pride festival, he may have assumed you were there to communicate an anti-gay message. If that's his perception, then that will tend to shut down the possibility of honest conversation. Perhaps a more neutral setting would be a more productive place for your message -- a table at a farmer's market or community fair, for example, where it's clear that you're not condemning the festival itself, but are just there to tell people that Jesus loves them and invites them into communion with him.

I'm pleased that you're going out into places where people are to meet people and tell them about your faith. It's easier, and more comfortable, to sit inside a church building and wait for people to come to us, but it's out in the world where we have the opportunities to listen to people's stories and minister to their needs.

David Hunter · Jul 16, 2025

Hoping2 said:
I'ld have told him the truth, that no Christian is any of the things he cited.
It is the false-Christians who continue to commit sin after their conversion.
"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." (1 John 2:19)

Thanks!! And you're so right. So many people will do things in the "name of" Christianity but not actually be Christians.

PloverWing said:
I don't think there's anything you could have done better, in that setting.

Some of his points are legit. For example, Christians in recent centuries did own slaves, and I've seen patriarchy and misogyny even in modern Christians. There's a complicated conversation that one can have -- talking about how God reveals God's self in the context of different cultures, and how God seems to teach humankind in small steps, and how sometimes it's challenging for people to sort out which bits of early Christian practice were simply reflecting their culture's assumptions and which bits were direct teachings from God. But it requires a long span of time and patience to have that conversation -- maybe an hour, maybe multiple hours or more -- and it requires that both parties be ready to listen to each other with an open mind. A quick exchange on a street corner isn't going to be a good setting for a nuanced conversation.

What he doesn't say explicitly is that because you were standing at the entrance to a Pride festival, he may have assumed you were there to communicate an anti-gay message. If that's his perception, then that will tend to shut down the possibility of honest conversation. Perhaps a more neutral setting would be a more productive place for your message -- a table at a farmer's market or community fair, for example, where it's clear that you're not condemning the festival itself, but are just there to tell people that Jesus loves them and invites them into communion with him.

I'm pleased that you're going out into places where people are to meet people and tell them about your faith. It's easier, and more comfortable, to sit inside a church building and wait for people to come to us, but it's out in the world where we have the opportunities to listen to people's stories and minister to their needs.

Thank you! He was a tough one. I usually go to our weekly farmer's market and have some nice conversations with people. Just never know where it'll lead or who you'll talk to.

Thanks again!

1Tonne · Monday at 3:05 PM

David Hunter said:
Howdy! Whelp, the guy from the last video I posted telling me not to preach hate to my kids came back. I asked him what was wrong with Jesus and he hand a mouthful to say... Thoughts on how you would have handled it?

I have encountered many people like this. Your best bet is to do what you did. Just let them go. If you waste time debating someone so closed, then you may miss an opportunity to speak to someone who may listen.
Another thing to note is that if you respond nicely each time and they see you reasonably regularly, then their opinion of you may change over time, and you may eventually be able to have a good conversation with them.

PloverWing said:
For example, Christians in recent centuries did own slaves, and I've seen patriarchy and misogyny even in modern Christians.

Many believers think that patriarchy is bad. But I do not believe it is.
I think it's important to clarify what we mean. The Bible does teach that God has given men and women different roles, especially in the home and church. That order, when modelled after Christ, is not oppressive, but loving and sacrificial.
Sadly, some have abused leadership and called it "biblical," which is wrong. But that doesn't mean God's design is the problem. True biblical headship isn't about power or control; it's about responsibility, service, and Christlike love. Let's not throw out God's good order just because some have distorted it.

PloverWing · Monday at 8:51 PM

1Tonne said:
Many believers think that patriarchy is bad. But I do not believe it is.
I think it's important to clarify what we mean. The Bible does teach that God has given men and women different roles, especially in the home and church. That order, when modelled after Christ, is not oppressive, but loving and sacrificial.
Sadly, some have abused leadership and called it "biblical," which is wrong. But that doesn't mean God's design is the problem. True biblical headship isn't about power or control; it's about responsibility, service, and Christlike love. Let's not throw out God's good order just because some have distorted it.

This may not be the most inviting point in your evangelist's sales pitch.

1Tonne · Monday at 9:18 PM

PloverWing said:
This may not be the most inviting point in your evangelist's sales pitch.

I don't need to talk about patriarchy when sharing the Gospel. Why would I?
Also, to call speaking the Gospel a sales pitch does seem as though you are denigrating the Gospel.

rebornfree · Tuesday at 12:11 AM

1Tonne said:
I have encountered many people like this. Your best bet is to do what you did. Just let them go. If you waste time debating someone so closed, then you may miss an opportunity to speak to someone who may listen.
Another thing to note is that if you respond nicely each time and they see you reasonably regularly, then their opinion of you may change over time, and you may eventually be able to have a good conversation with them.

Many believers think that patriarchy is bad. But I do not believe it is.
I think it's important to clarify what we mean. The Bible does teach that God has given men and women different roles, especially in the home and church. That order, when modelled after Christ, is not oppressive, but loving and sacrificial.
Sadly, some have abused leadership and called it "biblical," which is wrong. But that doesn't mean God's design is the problem. True biblical headship isn't about power or control; it's about responsibility, service, and Christlike love. Let's not throw out God's good order just because some have distorted it.

I agree with what you say, and I'm writing as an elderly female who feels that the main areas of male leadership are in the home and the church. The only thing is how does the OP get that across in the few moments he has with the guy? (I would love to see a course on Christianity in contemporary society, which addresses these issues as well as teaching about Jesus, His life and ministry and atoning death. The OP, and the rest of us, could then invite people to it when there would be time to discuss things further.)

PloverWing · Tuesday at 12:49 AM

1Tonne said:
Also, to call speaking the Gospel a sales pitch does seem as though you are denigrating the Gospel.

There was a snarkiness in my tone, and for that tone of voice, I apologize.

I will say, though, that I'm uneasy about the form of evangelism that I was taught in the Baptist churches of my childhood and young adult years. Think of Evangelism Explosion, the Four Spiritual Laws, and (more recently) folks like Ray Comfort. The approach is very much like the way one would sell a product.

What keeps me from complaining too loudly is 1) the practice of open-air preaching goes way back, so I guess it must have been effective in some times and places; and 2) I have trouble envisioning any other approach to evangelism. If I'm going to say that I don't like a salesman-type approach, I should be able to say "do it this other way instead", and I don't know what an alternative would look like.

None of this is denigrating the Gospel itself, the message that Jesus has conquered sin and death and has reconciled us with God. It's some methods of communicating the message that make me feel uncomfortable.

rebornfree · Tuesday at 12:50 AM

David Hunter said:
Howdy! Whelp, the guy from the last video I posted telling me not to preach hate to my kids came back. I asked him what was wrong with Jesus and he hand a mouthful to say... Thoughts on how you would have handled it?

Well done for staying polite and bringing the discussion back to the main issue of the Cross.

A couple of thoughts. His aggression towards Christanity (and didn't he use a lot of adjectives!) seems to be directed at some atrocities which were done in the Lord's name but were not of Him. I would point out that the true Church (i.e sum total of born-again believers) is not the same as the established Church. I'd agree that those things were terrible but were not done by the Lord.

The issue of misogyny is so difficult to discuss in such a short time. It might be best to say that he may have some misunderstandings, but God loves us all.

Unless you are sure that the Lord wants you there, I agree with those who say that a more neutral location might be better. After all, gay people may go to farmer's markets too, so you would still have a chance to witness to them.

As I've said, in my post above, I would love for there to be a course which covers some of these things. Alternatively could you invite him to Church?

Thanks for sharing and asking for feedback. It's easy for us to make comments after seeing the clip and thinking about it. It's much harder for you responding in the moment. May God bless your endeavours.

1Tonne · Tuesday at 2:01 AM

PloverWing said:
There was a snarkiness in my tone, and for that tone of voice, I apologize.

I will say, though, that I'm uneasy about the form of evangelism that I was taught in the Baptist churches of my childhood and young adult years. Think of Evangelism Explosion, the Four Spiritual Laws, and (more recently) folks like Ray Comfort. The approach is very much like the way one would sell a product.

What keeps me from complaining too loudly is 1) the practice of open-air preaching goes way back, so I guess it must have been effective in some times and places; and 2) I have trouble envisioning any other approach to evangelism. If I'm going to say that I don't like a salesman-type approach, I should be able to say "do it this other way instead", and I don't know what an alternative would look like.

None of this is denigrating the Gospel itself, the message that Jesus has conquered sin and death and has reconciled us with God. It's some methods of communicating the message that make me feel uncomfortable.

I can really relate to your unease, it is a scary thing to approach strangers, and I’ve often felt the same discomfort.

The reason I tend to use a method similar to Ray Comfort’s is because, at its core, it mirrors how Jesus Himself spoke to people. When the rich young ruler came to Him asking about eternal life (Mark 10:17–21), Jesus pointed him to the Law, not to shame him, but to reveal the condition of his heart. That approach of using God’s standard to show our need for grace is both loving and truthful.
One of the benefits of this kind of direct evangelism is that it allows the Gospel to be shared with many. And because the Gospel itself is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16), I try to trust the message more than my method or personality or friendship with the person. Even if my approach feels weak or awkward, God can still work through it to reach hearts.
I know there are other ways to share the Gospel. Such as building long-term relationships and waiting for the right moment to speak. But sometimes that can delay the message for months or even years. Meanwhile, there are people who need to hear it today.
That said, I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all method. Different people respond to different approaches, and God uses all kinds of messengers. What matters most is that Christ is proclaimed, clearly, faithfully, and in love.

DragonFox91 · Tuesday at 6:01 PM

I'm not sure what more can be said in a situation like that. OP did fine, sharing Christ died for his personal sin & rose to give him eternal life

My guess is he's well-learned based on his response & he took time to think out his beliefs. I would venture he's read the Bible to a greater extent then many people who identify as Christians. His response can't be given the care he requires in that short time frame. His response requires Apologetics & time. Sadly, I fear many Christians downplay the need for apologetics when evangelizing. The NT is more then just 'you will believe b/c an Apostle told you.'

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Guy From Medina Pride Came Back...

David Hunter

Be passionate about pursuing your purpose in life.

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Hoping2

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PloverWing

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David Hunter

Be passionate about pursuing your purpose in life.

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1Tonne

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PloverWing

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1Tonne

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rebornfree

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PloverWing

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rebornfree

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1Tonne

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