Pastor Refuses Gospel Tract...

[David Hunter]

While passing out Gospel tracts, I handed one to a man who said he was a pastor. How would you have responded if you were a pastor?

 

[Vambram]

I would have responded by saying, "Thank you. I am a pastor. May I help you pass out some of your tracts?"

He probably kept on walking because he felt like he was too busy to stop, talk, or help. Also, it is possible that the man lied to you.

 

[David Hunter]

I would have responded by saying, "Thank you. I am a pastor. May I help you pass out some of your tracts?"

He probably kept on walking because he felt like he was too busy to stop, talk, or help. Also, it is possible that the man lied to you.

Thanks! And that's what I would think a pastor would say, or some kind of encouragement.

I did think that too, maybe he was lying, but I figured I'd give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Paidiske]

I'd probably have responded similarly to the way he did. If I were not in a hurry, and felt you were open to a conversation, I might have stayed to talk.

I wouldn't want to help you hand out tracts, though, because I generally don't think that is a helpful approach.

Also, if I knew you were recording your interactions, I would be extremely uncomfortable with that, and definitely want to avoid you.

 

[David Hunter]

I'd probably have responded similarly to the way he did. If I were not in a hurry, and felt you were open to a conversation, I might have stayed to talk.

I wouldn't want to help you hand out tracts, though, because I generally don't think that is a helpful approach.

Also, if I knew you were recording your interactions, I would be extremely uncomfortable with that, and definitely want to avoid you.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[d taylor]

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I would have looked at the track as most tracks teach a work based salvation. Where people are called to do more than simply believe in Jesus for God;s free gift of Eternal Life.

I would have looked at it, then may have ask person handing out the track. Why are they promoting a work based salvation.

Do Some Gospel Tracts Hinder People from Being Born Again? – Grace Evangelical Society

 

[chevyontheriver]

While passing out Gospel tracts, I handed one to a man who said he was a pastor. How would you have responded if you were a pastor?

I don't know. It would very much depend on the tract. Not all tracts are noble.

 

[GodBeMercifulToMeASinner]

They are effective. It may take years for that seed to grow, but you are planting seeds nonetheless. Looking back, when I used to be a pagan..I’d always take one of those tracts when offered one. Or sometimes people would just leave them in places around town and I always picked them up out of curiosity. They always got me thinking, even if only for a moment. Keep handing them out, I know some people will benefit from them.

I think that ‘pastor’ was sort of rude.

 

[lismore]

They are effective. It may take years for that seed to grow, but you are planting seeds nonetheless.

Yes. I have met many people who were saved through reading a gospel tract. The tract-evangelist will never know this side of eternity just how much good they did.

I think that ‘pastor’ was sort of rude.

Yes. If he was in a hurry he could at least say something encouraging, even a 'God Bless You, I'll pray for you!'. Only takes two seconds, can provide encouragement. God Bless You

 

[rebornfree]

I think the Pastor just didn't want you to waste a tract on someone who didn't need it. I probably would have done the same. When I passed a girl handing out tracts in the town centre I said that I was a Christian and she said "Praise God" and that was that.

He was probably on his way to meet someone and may have had a lot on his mind. They do have a great deal of responsibility.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

While passing out Gospel tracts, I handed one to a man who said he was a pastor. How would you have responded if you were a pastor?

I don't understand why one would judge his reaction and worst of all, post it????

A quick pass by on a freezing cold day; while others ignored you he at the very least gave you the courtesy of why he didn't pull his had out for a track. Maybe that track went to someone who really needed it. Much to do about nothing, just more negative rhetoric and disunity. Sorry for my harshness. This really hit a nerve with me.
Be blessed.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

While passing out Gospel tracts, I handed one to a man who said he was a pastor. How would you have responded if you were a pastor?

As a matter of fact...in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, consider pulling your youtube video. He doesn't need more bad press coming from His Flock.

 

[jas3]

Yeah, recording yourself handing out tracts (or, more specifically, recording other people as you try to give them tracts) doesn't seem like it can possibly be constructive. If someone approached me with a camera and a piece of paper he wanted me to take I would probably try to get out of that situation as quickly as possible too.

 

[1Tonne]

I wouldn't want to help you hand out tracts, though, because I generally don't think that is a helpful approach.

Hudson Taylor came to Christ through a tract.

 

[David Hunter]

Thank you all so much for sharing your thoughts/concerns!

For some who were wondering about what the tract said, here's a link to that specific one so you can read it (though, I use multiple tracts, so groups of people will get a different tract): Your Life-05-CL-002

 

[Paidiske]

Hudson Taylor came to Christ through a tract.

In 1848. We are in such a different social context now.

 

[Kokavkrystallos]

I might take the tract if I hadn't read it before, or else I'd say, "No thanks, I'm already a believer, best give it to someone who needs saving, May God bless you and bear fruit!"

 

[Kokavkrystallos]

In 1848. We are in such a different social context now.

So all those tracts and printed out messages I leave in public restrooms, waiting rooms, and elsewhere are a waste of time? I pray after I leave each one, and I know at least one got picked up before I could even get out of the restroom! I sometimes use Chick tracts but I think some of their devil cartoons are over the top, and plainly not true, such as demons controlling hell and escorting lost souls to the pit, etc.
Then again I prefer something that catches attention, either by the title, or a picture.

Here's an example of one I made:

 

[Paidiske]

So all those tracts and printed out messages I leave in public restrooms, waiting rooms, and elsewhere are a waste of time?

I am not saying that. But note that I said to the OP that I felt that handing out tracts was not generally helpful. People do not respond well to someone they don't know pushing material on them in public. It's impersonal and off putting. I do think that leaving material for others to choose to pick up - or not - without any pushing by a person, is slightly different.

In general, though, I think proclaiming the good news is much more effective when we have already established a relationship of trust, rather than people feeling like we are pressuring them "cold."

 

[1Tonne]

In 1848. We are in such a different social context now.

In general, though, I think proclaiming the good news is much more effective when we have already established a relationship of trust, rather than people feeling like we are pressuring them "cold."

What you say is similar to what I have heard being taught in some churches. They say, "We are in a post-Christian era and so therefore we no longer should go out and preach the Gospel with everyone. Instead, we are to make friends and then share the Gospel with our friends."

This type of thinking goes against what Jesus commanded. He said that we are to go and tell everyone the good news. Limiting it only to people who we make friends with, also limits the amount we can share the Gospel. It can take months to get to a place in a friendship to be able to share the Gospel. But you can make a relationship with a person in about 1 minute and you do not have to be their best friend to share the Gospel. Today I told 20+ strangers the Gospel and I had never met any of them before.
Watch some of these vids and they may equip you to share with people you do not know.

https://www.youtube.com/@raycomfortjustwitnessing

We need to put more faith in the Gospel. After all the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation and it still has power today. Our friendships are not the power of God unto salvation, and neither are our youth groups, Christian social groups or even the church. It is the Gospel, and it can change lives. So, tracts, if they have the Gospel, can change people's lives today. Trust in the power of the Gospel because it is the power of God unto salvation.

The early believers were fishers of men. Today's believers are merely just aquarium keepers.
We need to be fishers of men and get outside the four walls of the church.

PS. I believe that we are to do friendship evangelism. We all make friends in our normal lives. It is everyday living. Then with those friends, we should share the Gospel. It would be unloving not to. And it is also unloving not to share the Gospel with other people you do not know. Love your neighbour even if you do not know him and tell him the good news.
By all means, we should try to save the lost.