Are These Mystic Practices OK?

[dies-l]

His command in Acts 1:8 says to go and preach the Gospel, if this were done on the scale that it should be, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Get a few thousand Gospel tracts put them where the pizza guys put thier coupons and watch God work in your lives!!!!!!!!!!!Then when you run out of that few thousand get a few thousand more...

Do you really think that tracts attract more people than they turn off? The Great Commission is not about giving people tracts; it is about living out the Great Commandment and watching lives changed by the love of God, which nonbelievers experience through the people of God, living as the the people of God. If tracts were really all that effective, I think I would be a JW by now.

 

[dugger]

God's own WORD promises that HIS WORD will not go forth void. Tracts bring the WORD that bring salvation to some and damnation to others. In the judgement I'm sure God will smile on those that helped get out the countless number of tracts that have been distributed over the course of time-Shalom

What could it hurt to pass out God's WORD of the Gospel?

 

[dies-l]

Tracts are not God's Word. There is nothing wrong with them, per se, but when they become a primary means of evangelism in an attempt to convert the largest number of people with the least amount of effort, rather than a tool to be used in the context of relational evangelism, this is problematic. But, as this is off topic, I will leave my comments on the matter at that.

 

[Faith.Man]

Tracts are not God's Word. There is nothing wrong with them, per se, but when they become a primary means of evangelism in an attempt to convert the largest number of people with the least amount of effort, rather than a tool to be used in the context of relational evangelism, this is problematic. But, as this is off topic, I will leave my comments on the matter at that.

What you're saying is true, no argument from me. Tracts are good for people (like me) who are uncomfortable doing evangelism. Not all of us have the necessary people skills to witness or evangelize others. It's not our gift to the body of Christ.

 

[VCViking]

Do you really think that tracts attract more people than they turn off? The Great Commission is not about giving people tracts; it is about living out the Great Commandment and watching lives changed by the love of God, which nonbelievers experience through the people of God, living as the the people of God. If tracts were really all that effective, I think I would be a JW by now.

I have to disagree. Tracts are very effective as ice breakers or conversation starters. We try to go every other week to the streets of New Paltz, NY. Atheist and occult central! People take the tracts, stop and ask what are these? That opens up the conversation to bring them the gospel. The bible tells us the Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation. Good, biblical tracts have the Gospel of Christ on them.

Alot has to do with what tracts you use. I find the Ray Comfort's tracts at www.livingwaters.com the best. Even Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers stated:"When preaching and private tale are not available, you need to have a tract ready...get good striking tracts, or none at all...therefore, do not go out without your tracts."

The Great Commission is spreading the Gospel to all the nations of the world. It takes more than living out the Great Commandment. It takes more than a "relational evangelism" approach, which is one of the worst ways of evangelism. Relational evangelism is usually good for family members, close friends, etc but only after you have given them the Gospel. It takes physically going out and telling people about Christ. It is talking, preaching, handing out tracts, etc. and yes, building a relationship but only after the Gospel has been presented.

 

[Test All Things2]

VCViking,

God bless you for your evangelism!

I really like watching Ray Comfort's approach. I have seen him make grown men cry. Quite an effective approach when the Spirit has prepared someone beforehand. You can never tell who is ready to make the leap from spiritual darkness to the light of Jesus Christ and his kingdom.

You will look good wearing that "soul winners crown" in his kingdom.

God bless your efforts to bring the sheep back into the fold my brother.

 

[gratefulgrace]

Any sort of evangelism done as directed by the HS is wonderful. What I always object to is the works type of evangelism that feels good only because X number of tracts got delivered today. IMHO that is cult thinking.
This sunday in worship time we were singing about God shining his light on the world. What came into my spirit is that Christ always said we were the light that is His light shines not apart and separated from us but through us. He can use even the shiest of shy person to share his light and love witht his hurting world. The key???? Listen to the HS leading He made you for a purpose and He will use us if we are willing. We are witnesses and if God is working in our lives we have lots to share.

 

[nChrist]

God's own WORD promises that HIS WORD will not go forth void. Tracts bring the WORD that bring salvation to some and damnation to others. In the judgement I'm sure God will smile on those that helped get out the countless number of tracts that have been distributed over the course of time-Shalom

What could it hurt to pass out God's WORD of the Gospel?

Amen! The same is true for people who leave Bibles in hotels, hospitals, schools, etc. I firmly believe God's Promise that His Word will never return void. This is not our sole method of reaching the lost, but it's one of the ways we reach the lost.

Isaiah 55:6-13 KJV Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

 

[VCViking]

Any sort of evangelism done as directed by the HS is wonderful. What I always object to is the works type of evangelism that feels good only because X number of tracts got delivered today. IMHO that is cult thinking.
This sunday in worship time we were singing about God shining his light on the world. What came into my spirit is that Christ always said we were the light that is His light shines not apart and separated from us but through us. He can use even the shiest of shy person to share his light and love witht his hurting world. The key???? Listen to the HS leading He made you for a purpose and He will use us if we are willing. We are witnesses and if God is working in our lives we have lots to share.

Evangelism is work, for it requires laborers. By handing someone a tract, you are handing them the Gospel. I'll take 10 people who want nothing to do but hand out Gospel tracts over one million people who want to just let their light's shine.

Tell me how do you share your light and love with His hurting world?

 

[gratefulgrace]

Evangelism is work, for it requires laborers. By handing someone a tract, you are handing them the Gospel. I'll take 10 people who want nothing to do but hand out Gospel tracts over one million people who want to just let their light's shine.

Tell me how do you share your light and love with His hurting world?

I think you totally missed the point of my post if not I guess we will have to agree to disagree.

 

[gratefulgrace]

You share your light by sharing what God has personally done for you. Not just by handing someone a scripture verse. That is ok as I said directed by the Holy Spirit such as with a tip in a restaurant etc.

 

[VCViking]

I think you totally missed the point of my post if not I guess we will have to agree to disagree.

My apologies. Sorry if I did.

 

[VCViking]

VCViking,

God bless you for your evangelism!

I really like watching Ray Comfort's approach. I have seen him make grown men cry. Quite an effective approach when the Spirit has prepared someone beforehand. You can never tell who is ready to make the leap from spiritual darkness to the light of Jesus Christ and his kingdom.

You will look good wearing that "soul winners crown" in his kingdom.

God bless your efforts to bring the sheep back into the fold my brother.

Thank you my brother for the kind words and thank you for effort in reaching the lost, but I am always ashamed on what little I do. No crown for me. Just hope I hear "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

Ray Comfort is awesome. He is the reason I totally changed my approach to witnessing or what pathetic witnessing I was doing (or not doing) at the time. Him and Paul Washer. Check out a book by Mark Cahill called "One Thing You Can't Do In Heaven." A must read for any Christian. Ray Comfort said Mark Cahill is the only man who makes him feel like warm.

God Bless brother.

 

[dugger]

Evangelism is work, for it requires laborers. By handing someone a tract, you are handing them the Gospel. I'll take 10 people who want nothing to do but hand out Gospel tracts over one million people who want to just let their light's shine.

Tell me how do you share your light and love with His hurting world?

Amen & Amen, We are told in Scripture to preach the Gospel this word preach also translates to publish and proclaim. A search of the word publish in Scripture shows that this is a proper way to put out a message of redemption such as was the case the demoniac of the Gaderrenes. He wanted to travel with Jesus and was told to tell people his story. The Scripture says that he published his story and spread it. To say this form of comminication is any thing but effective goes against so many verses we don't even know where to begin! Shalom

 

[Test All Things2]

I LOVE to give people bibles. I want to be guilty of giving many people the WORD of GOD. I give bibles to whoever will accept them. I like to keep some extra on hand at all times for that very purpose. If it only helped one enter the kingdom...all the effort expended would be worthwhile. I do seek the soul winners crown. Hope I am worthy.

 

[nChrist]

I LOVE to give people bibles. I want to be guilty of giving many people the WORD of GOD. I give bibles to whoever will accept them. I like to keep some extra on hand at all times for that very purpose. If it only helped one enter the kingdom...all the effort expended would be worthwhile. I do seek the soul winners crown. Hope I am worthy.

Amen! We'll probably never know how many lives are touched with the Bible we give away, but we do have God's Promise that He will use it for His Purpose and it will not return void. A Bible can testify many times over multiple generations, even when it's worn out and falling apart. So, a Bible is one of the most beautiful gifts we can give, and it still contains the most powerful and precious message on earth.

 

[VCViking]

I LOVE to give people bibles. I want to be guilty of giving many people the WORD of GOD. I give bibles to whoever will accept them. I like to keep some extra on hand at all times for that very purpose. If it only helped one enter the kingdom...all the effort expended would be worthwhile. I do seek the soul winners crown. Hope I am worthy.

Amen! God used a Gideon's NT Bible to save me. Nothing else. That's why I became a Gideon.

 

[VCViking]

Amen! We'll probably never know how many lives are touched with the Bible we give away, but we do have God's Promise that He will use it for His Purpose and it will not return void. A Bible can testify many times over multiple generations, even when it's worn out and falling apart. So, a Bible is one of the most beautiful gifts we can give, and it still contains the most powerful and precious message on earth.

Amen! And I like the username!

 

[airō]

You cannot separate Yoga from Hinduism. In fact Yoga IS Hinduism, and Hinduism IS Yoga. I can't post links yet, but do some research at Lighthouse Trails Research, Christian Answers for the New Age, and consider reading the following books: Out of India by [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Caryl Matrisciana, Yoga and the Body of Christ by Dave Hunt, and [/SIZE][/FONT]A Time of Departing by Ray Yungen. You might also want to check out the video, Yoga Uncoiled - from East to West. All of these can be purchased at Lighthouse Trails Research.

A Christian practicing Yoga is like a Hindu taking Communion. They are diametrically apposed.

 

[bloodbought09]

I LOVE to give people bibles. I want to be guilty of giving many people the WORD of GOD. I give bibles to whoever will accept them. I like to keep some extra on hand at all times for that very purpose. If it only helped one enter the kingdom...all the effort expended would be worthwhile. I do seek the soul winners crown. Hope I am worthy.

You are worthy and you will lay that crown at the feet of Jesus Christ one day. You as well as I have done more than we really realize and that is why we are coming under attack by the kingdom of darkness. You are worthy of the high calling in Christ Jesus and are worthy to put the devil to flight with His tail between His legs. Today our feet are on the neck of our enemy. The Lord Jesus Christ rebuke Him. Be blessed, brother.