Pepper Sprayed While Evangelizing

1Tonne said:

He was arguing that we are more than just an evolutionary process. This means he was arguing for the existence of a creator.
Sometimes, we need to show a person that God exists to start off with. Then, once they think that there is a God, we need to tell them the Gospel.
So, he was still evangelising. He may not have been telling the Gospel, but he was getting the person to come to the conclusion of the first point, that we are not an evolutionary process and that there is a creator.

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Without seeing the whole video, its rather impossible to see what was going on before, and how the whole situation developed, I wasn't even sure at first who was saying what. But what happened is the sort of outcome seem to indicate one is not doing it right.

Apologetics is about helping people with their misunderstandings about Christianity. Eristics is just arguing for the sake of arguing, seeking to win an argument. And devoid of christian love, it won't matter how good one's arguments are.

dms1972 said:

Without seeing the whole video, its rather impossible to see what was going on before, and how the whole situation developed, I wasn't even sure at first who was saying what. But what happened is the sort of outcome seem to indicate one is not doing it right.

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So, when Jesus said things that people did not like, and they reacted in a bad way, was Jesus not doing it right? -Of course, He was.
The Gospel is offensive to the lost. Especially when we do as Jesus did and show people their evil deeds so that they will turn from them.
Sadly, too many Christians will criticise those who do go out and confront the lost while they themselves stay quiet.

dms1972 said:

Apologetics is about helping people with their misunderstandings about Christianity. Eristics is just arguing for the sake of arguing, seeking to win an argument. And devoid of christian love, it won't matter how good one's arguments are.

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Sometimes we can make the very best argument for the existence of God and the Cross, but no matter how good the argument, a person’s heart may still remain hard. Yet you never know, they might go away and think about it.
I’ve had several debates with hard-core atheists, and at the end I often shake their hand and say, ‘Thanks for the discussion. You really pushed me, but I think you’ll agree I gave some solid answers.’ Most of the time, they smile, agree, and leave on good terms. When they acknowledge that I gave good answers, I believe a small pinprick has been made in their misunderstanding.
Charles Spurgeon understood that we are to do all we can to save the lost, and sometimes that may mean debating them when it seems like a lost cause. He said,
“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our dead bodies.
And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees,
imploring them to stay.
If hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”

We need to do our best to reach these people. But remember, it’s not apologetics that changes a heart of stone into a heart of flesh. It’s the Gospel. Apologetics is useful, but only the Gospel transforms the heart.

To refer to peoples reactions to Jesus (remember it was the Scribes and Pharisees who approached Christ to try and test him) is a rationalisation here. Sorry you need to build a connection with people, not ambush them. Leave it to other christian students on the campus to witness in word and deed and pray for them. You have to have the green light from the Holy Ghost to approach people.

dms1972 said:

To refer to peoples reactions to Jesus (remember it was the Scribes and Pharisees who approached Christ to try and test him) is a rationalisation here.

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I am not talking about the Scribes or Pharisees. I am talking about the world. He said, "The world .... hates me because I testify that its works are evil." John 7:7. So, if someone reacts badly because you are pointing out their sin, then remember that Jesus did the same, and the world hated Him too.

dms1972 said:

Sorry you need to build a connection with people, not ambush them. Leave it to other christian students on the campus to witness in word and deed and pray for them.

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Jesus said, 'Go and preach the Gospel to all creation". He did not say, "Go and make a connection and then preach the Gospel to all creation."
I go into the parks and share the Gospel to total strangers and it only takes me 1 minute to make that connection so that I can get to a place where I can share the Gospel.
Sadly, too many Christians have made it a doctrine that we need to make a strong connection first. This then limits the amount we can share the Gospel.

dms1972 said:

You have to have the green light from the Holy Ghost to approach people.

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Yes. Those of us who are filled with the Holy Spirit already have the green light to preach the Gospel to as many people as possible (Mark 16:15). The Holy Spirit was given not so that we would be quiet, but so that we would speak (Acts 1:8). Many times, in the bible we see time and time again, those who are filled with the Spirit spoke and they did not hold back.

"Often individuals will say, “I am willing to go, should God call me to go, in the meantime, I am going to stay.” What we need to do is go, but be willing to stay if God calls us to stay. God has already called us to go." Mark Spence

I find it strange that believers who are filled with the Holy Spirit keep so quiet about the wonderful sacrifice their saviour has made.

1Tonne said:

I am not talking about the Scribes or Pharisees. I am talking about the world. He said, "The world .... hates me because I testify that its works are evil." John 7:7. So, if someone reacts badly because you are pointing out their sin, then remember that Jesus did the same, and the world hated Him too.

Jesus said, 'Go and preach the Gospel to all creation". He did not say, "Go and make a connection and then preach the Gospel to all creation."
I go into the parks and share the Gospel to total strangers and it only takes me 1 minute to make that connection so that I can get to a place where I can share the Gospel.
Sadly, too many Christians have made it a doctrine that we need to make a strong connection first. This then limits the amount we can share the Gospel.

Yes. Those of us who are filled with the Holy Spirit already have the green light to preach the Gospel to as many people as possible (Mark 16:15). The Holy Spirit was given not so that we would be quiet, but so that we would speak (Acts 1:8). Many times, in the bible we see time and time again, those who are filled with the Spirit spoke and they did not hold back.

"Often individuals will say, “I am willing to go, should God call me to go, in the meantime, I am going to stay.” What we need to do is go, but be willing to stay if God calls us to stay. God has already called us to go." Mark Spence

I find it strange that believers who are filled with the Holy Spirit keep so quiet about the wonderful sacrifice their saviour has made.

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Those are some really good scriptures, and points you made.
Acts 1:8 especially, shows the role of the holy spirit, in preaching urgently, and speaking boldly.

I'm reminded of the situation described for us at Acts 5.
The disciples were on fire with zeal, and 'large numbers of men and women, were being added to their number (Acts 5:14)'.
This annoyed some... chiefly, the religious leaders.
They grabbled the apostles and imprisoned them (Acts 5:17, 18).
God said, 'Really.' Sent an angel to release them, with these words...
“Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple area the whole message of this Life.”
At this, the apostles entered into the temple area about daybreak and began to teach (Acts 5:19-21).

The religious leaders grabbled them against... this time, a little less forcefully, since they were afraid the people would stone them, and they had them stand before the Council. The high priest interrogated them, saying,
Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:27-29)

Had Gamaliel not intervened... no doubt, by God's spirit, the apostles would be dead men, right there and then (Acts 5:33, 34), because they gave a bold witness to people who were telling them to keep quiet about the things they were teaching.
The account ends with these words...
Acts 5:40-42
40 They followed his [Gamaliel] advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and preaching the good news of Jesus as the Christ.

Not only did the holy spirit infuse in them courage and zeal, but it also protected them from death... which they were willing to face, like Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
God's people need holy spirit to preach... among other things.

CoreyD said:

Those are some really good scriptures, and points you made.
Acts 1:8 especially, shows the role of the holy spirit, in preaching urgently, and speaking boldly.

I'm reminded of the situation described for us at Acts 5.
The disciples were on fire with zeal, and 'large numbers of men and women, were being added to their number (Acts 5:14)'.
This annoyed some... chiefly, the religious leaders.
They grabbled the apostles and imprisoned them (Acts 5:17, 18).
God said, 'Really.' Sent an angel to release them, with these words...
“Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple area the whole message of this Life.”
At this, the apostles entered into the temple area about daybreak and began to teach (Acts 5:19-21).

The religious leaders grabbled them against... this time, a little less forcefully, since they were afraid the people would stone them, and they had them stand before the Council. The high priest interrogated them, saying,

“We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this Man’s blood upon us.” ​

Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:27-29)

Had Gamaliel not intervened... no doubt, by God's spirit, the apostles would be dead men, right there and then (Acts 5:33, 34), because they gave a bold witness to people who were telling them to keep quiet about the things they were teaching.
The account ends with these words...
Acts 5:40-42
40 They followed his [Gamaliel] advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and preaching the good news of Jesus as the Christ.

Not only did the holy spirit infuse in them courage and zeal, but it also protected them from death... which they were willing to face, like Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
God's people need holy spirit to preach... among other things.

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Here is a quick study on the Holy Spirit. Many who read this will hopefully see that one of the main reasons, if not the main reason, we were given the HS was so that we would speak. This is well worth the read.

In Acts, whenever people received the Holy Spirit, their mouths were opened. At Pentecost, ‘they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak. This even happened in the very first instance when the Holy Spirit first came down. (Acts 2:4). Later, ‘when they had prayed, the place was shaken…and they spoke the word of God with boldness’ (Acts 4:31). In Cornelius’ house, ‘the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word…for they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God’ (Acts 10:44–46). Again and again, the Spirit fills, and people speak.

And in John 14:16 it says “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”(KJV). In this verse, the Spirit is called the “Comforter”. But in 1611, when the King James bible was written, the word ‘comfort’ did not mean to soothe but to strengthen, to urge on. In a famous tapestry from 1070AD, it shows Bishop Odo with a staff, urging his men into battle. The Latin says ‘confortat pueros’, meaning, he strengthens the boys, prodding them into action. That’s what the Spirit does in us. He strengthens us, empowers us, and pushes us into the battle.
“Expel the wicked person from among you.” (St Paul)

Acts 1:8 connects directly to the role of the Holy Spirit as the Comforter/prodder by showing that His work is not about inner peace but about empowerment for mission:
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The word “power” in Greek is “dynamis”, meaning strength, force, ability.
So when we receive the Holy Spirit, we will witness to others of Him. We will have a power within us that pushes/prods us and strengthens us for the battle. When He fills us, silence is no longer natural; witnessing becomes the overflow.

Many times, in the New Testament, people received the Holy Spirit, and they opened their mouths. And some who received the Spirit spoke so clearly that people from other nations understood them in their own language (Acts 2:1-13).

Verses where people received the Holy Spirit and they spoke:
Matthew 10:19–20
Mark 13:11
Luke 1:41–42
Luke 1:67
Luke 2:25–32
Luke 12:11–12
Luke 21:14–15
Acts 1:8
Acts 2:4
Acts 2:14–18
Acts 4:8
Acts 4:31
Acts 6:10
Acts 7:55–56
Acts 8:29–35
Acts 9:17–20
Acts 10:19–20
Acts 10:44–46
Acts 11:12
Acts 11:15
Acts 13:9–10
Acts 13:52
Acts 19:6
Acts 21:9
Acts 21:10–11
Romans 8:14
Romans 10:14–15
2 Corinthians 5:17–20
Ephesians 6:18–20
1 Corinthians 12:7–10
1 Corinthians 14:1–5
1 Corinthians 14:26–33
1 Peter 3:15
Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22

NOTE: You will also notice that some verses say something along the lines of "And they received the Holy Spirit, and they prophesied". Now, God does give some people a direct revelation to pass on to others, but many of the cases in the New Testament where it talks about prophesying, I believe that it is actually talking about going and sharing the Good News. These people are giving a testimony of Jesus. A testimony about what He did and His future judgment (future being prophecy). That He lived and He died, He rose again and paid the price for our sins, and that one day He will judge the world in righteousness. Revelation 19:10 even says that when we give a testimony of Jesus, telling the Good News, we are prophesying or walking in the heart of prophecy.
Revelation 19:10 "For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

Repent of your sin.
“Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ” Acts 2:38.
In this verse, it says to receive the Holy Spirit, the very first step we need to do is, repent. That is to change from our unbelief to belief and so change from living sinfully to a way where we are honouring God.
We also have this verse that says the same thing: “We are witnesses... and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Acts 5:32

End Note: I do not believe that everyone is called to be a street preacher. But I do believe that everyone is called to preach the Gospel to as many people as they can. Whether that is in the workplace, schools or in your own friendship group. We are all called to share, and we should have a prodding desire to share.

The study is not properly completed as I am heading away. But the contents should interest and challenge many.