Street Preaching is Useless

[smithed64]

No, what I am saying, is that street preachers might as well just yell anything, because that's how effective it is in 2017.

Question for you Tetra.

Do you believe in God's Word? In the Authority of His Word that is?

 

[South Bound]

Yup, keep shoving that head into the sand

No need to be rude.

... why question how effective something is right?

We don't need to question how effective it is because God has already promised us it will be effective.

You're defining "effective" by your own arbitrary human standards We're looking at the Bible's teaching on evangelism and basing our understanding of what is or is not "effective" on that.

 

[Tetra]

Question for you Tetra.

Do you believe in God's Word? In the Authority of His Word that is?

I love questions!

Clarification, do you mean scripture or Jesus? The Bible says Jesus is the Word.

 

[South Bound]

I love questions!

Clarification, do you mean scripture or Jesus? The Bible says Jesus is the Word.

It also says scripture is the Word

 

[Tetra]

No need to be rude.



We don't need to question how effective it is because God has already promised us it will be effective.

You're defining "effective" by your own arbitrary human standards We're looking at the Bible's teaching on evangelism and basing our understanding of what is or is not "effective" on that.

I apologize, I'm just getting frustrated is all. I will try not to be rude.

 

[Sheep4Christ]

Sometimes a preacher has to be stern and bold and have nerves of steel to take the gospel to the streets. Out there is where one really walks into the lion's den. At church people are well behaved for the most part and they usually don't heckle the preacher but on the streets it's raw and unruly and unlawful. That's why scripture speaks about being wiser than serpents yet harmless as doves because out there the wolves will rip you to shreds. It also takes skill and someone with a true evangelical calling to handle street preaching. I believe that any time one does something for the Lord it helps somebody else. Even If it only reaches one person out of twenty.

 

[roamer_1]

Yes that's a bold statement, especially because there are those who just love to get out there and yell at people... telling them they're headed for hell... but in my experience, no one cares.

Where I live, I don't think I have seen a single person ever approach a street preacher. I mean, not even once. I have have seen people laugh at them, but never approach.

Why do people think this is an effective means to spreading the gospel?!?

Wouldn't developing relationships be a more effective method?

I am more likely to listen to a street preacher or a preacher in a tent beside the road, than listen to the strained pablum coming out of most established 'churches' around today.

 

[Tetra]

Sometimes a preacher has to be stern and bold and have nerves of steel to take the gospel to the streets. Out there is where one really walks into the lion's den. At church people are well behaved for the most part and they usually don't heckle the preacher but on the streets it's raw and unruly and unlawful. That's why scripture speaks about being wiser than serpents yet harmless as doves because out there the wolves will rip you to shreds. It also takes skill and someone with a true evangelical calling to handle street preaching. I believe that any time one does something for the Lord it helps somebody else. Even If it only reaches one person out of twenty.

What if it reaches 1, just to push 20 away?

 

[AlexDTX]

I would define usefulness based on the time period, and geographic location. It may have been effective in Biblical times, hence why it was practiced. Where I live, in 2017, it seems to be the least useful way to spread the gospel, and generally seems to make the job of those actually developing relationships much harder.

I might even argue street preachers are more hurting the Gospel than helping it.

This is the problem with your point of view: you define useless according to your natural understanding, not by the Spirit. God only knows the hearts of people. In the parable of the sower and the seed the seed was cast everywhere. The sower did not look for just good soil he cast it upon all soil. I agree there needs to be wisdom, which Paul used at Mars Hill, but for you to say that it was useful in biblical times but not today contradicts the Scriptures. There is nothing new under the sun. That which was is today and that which is today will be tomorrow (Ecclesiastes).

 

[Sheep4Christ]

What if it reaches 1, just to push 20 away?

Well if it reached one by pushing twenty away then that is still an accomplishment. Remember that not everyone Christ preached to accepted Him.

 

[brinny]

It depends on the Holy Spirit's prompting. If the Holy Spirit has prepared hearts to hear the message, there will be an "unction" to do so.

What was said earlier about building relationships is crucial. It's what Jesus Himself did.

Any thing we do or say should be in love, and that should be evident.

 

[Sheep4Christ]

It depends on the Holy Spirit's prompting. If the Holy Spirit has prepared hearts to hear the message, there will be an "unction" to do so.

What was said earlier about building relationships is crucial. It's what Jesus Himself did.

Any thing we do or say should be in love, and that should be evident.

Right.Because Jesus showed such love and compassion on the people. He fed them,healed them ,cast out demons, raised the dead. He truly is a skilled holy ghost filled bold soldier for the things of God.

 

[Aryeh]

Yes that's a bold statement, especially because there are those who just love to get out there and yell at people... telling them they're headed for hell... but in my experience, no one cares.

Where I live, I don't think I have seen a single person ever approach a street preacher. I mean, not even once. I have have seen people laugh at them, but never approach.

Why do people think this is an effective means to spreading the gospel?!?

Wouldn't developing relationships be a more effective method?

This goes back to the days of Christ, when people would preach to anyone on the street. The same things happened (ridicule and laughter,) but I am sure whoever needed to be reached was reached. Even, if it was a decade later.

So, I heavily doubt it's uselessness.

Now, if it is something other than fr saving souls and glorifying God, it isn't meant to work in the first place.

I am of the school of thought that relationships can do more than preaching. But, we are at the final parts of this war; some people don't have the luxury of being rubbed, or even shaken awake.

Some people need their clock smashed (no snoozing,) and need to be awakened by smashing pots together. Otherwise, they stay sleep.

Picketers, street preachers and so on - the legitimate ones - are alarm sounders for those of us that have not realized there is a battle going on, and for those of us who will answer the call to arms.

We are at war; sometimes the most unconventional and ridiculous methods win it all.

 

[South Bound]

What if it reaches 1, just to push 20 away?

A very common misconception. Many people mistakenly believe that an unsaved man is like a tightrope walker in the circus: that he is balanced evenly on the rope, but a gust of wind might cause him to fall to the left or to the right.

That isn't what the Bible describes at all. Just the opposite, in fact. It tells us that the unregenerate are already at enmity with God and reject Him. So much so that the Bible says that the unregenerate man cannot seek God. That's why the Bible tells us that no man seeks God and that no man can come to Christ unless God first draws Him.

Men who are already spiritual dead and at enmity with God cannot be pushed away because they already are "away".

But lets say that your misunderstanding is correct and that the Gospel does push men away. So what? Isn't that what the Bible has already told us would happen? That the Gospel would be a stumbling block and be foolishness to the that are perishing?

Do you really think God is not aware of man's heart and what his reaction to the Gospel will be? Do you really think that God is not sovereign over who is in the crowd listening to the Gospel?

 

[Sheep4Christ]

A very common misconception. Many people mistakenly believe that an unsaved man is like a tightrope walker in the circus: that he is balanced evenly on the rope, but a gust of wind might cause him to fall to the left or to the right.

That isn't what the Bible describes at all. Just the opposite, in fact. It tells us that the unregenerate are already at enmity with God and reject Him. So much so that the Bible says that the unregenerate man cannot seek God. That's why the Bible tells us that no man seeks God and that no man can come to Christ unless God first draws Him.

Men who are already spiritual dead and at enmity with God cannot be pushed away because they already are "away".

But lets say that your misunderstanding is correct and that the Gospel does push men away. So what? Isn't that what the Bible has already told us would happen? That the Gospel would be a stumbling block and be foolishness to the that are perishing?

Do you really think God is not aware of man's heart and what his reaction to the Gospel will be? Do you really think that God is not sovereign over who is in the crowd listening to the Gospel?

Right. I so agree with this.

 

[AlexDTX]

It depends on the Holy Spirit's prompting. If the Holy Spirit has prepared hearts to hear the message, there will be an "unction" to do so.

What was said earlier about building relationships is crucial. It's what Jesus Himself did.

Any thing we do or say should be in love, and that should be evident.

I don't disagree with building relationships, but what kind of relationship did the thief on the cross have with Jesus? He certainly knew who he was, but what interaction did Jesus have other than saying that this day he would be with him in paradise?

 

[brinny]

I don't disagree with building relationships, but what kind of relationship did the thief on the cross have with Jesus? He certainly knew who he was, but what interaction did Jesus have other than saying that this day he would be with him in paradise?

Jesus welcomed this thief, who confessed from his heart, into the family of God.

In the blink of an eye it happened.

 

[AlexDTX]

Jesus welcomed this thief, who confessed from his heart, into the family of God.

In the blink of an eye it happened.

That does not mean they had a relationship. Frankly, as I think about it more, claiming the need for relationship to evangelize is baloney. Jesus said a prophet has no honor in his own home. None of his siblings embraced the gospel until after the resurrection. Families are the hardest to share the gospel with. Relationship is for discipleship, not evangelism. Jesus preached on the streets of Jerusalem, he preached to the multitudes on the hill of Capernaum. He did not know those in the crowd. To say you need a relationship is a cop out for not sharing your faith at all. I have done dozens of missions to countries sharing the gospel with total strangers that I had no relationship with. This is an excuse for cowardice in not sharing. This excuse is similar to saying you should not share if you can not have follow up. Don't want to leave a baby in Christ alone. What nonsense! When you lead someone to Christ you are putting them in the care of God Almighty. He is more than able to take care of those entrusting their lives to Him. This thread is foolish. To say street evangelism is useless is another coward's statement.

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm.

 

[brinny]

That does not mean they had a relationship. Frankly, as I think about it more, claiming the need for relationship to evangelize is baloney. Jesus said a prophet has no honor in his own home. None of his siblings embraced the gospel until after the resurrection. Families are the hardest to share the gospel with. Relationship is for discipleship, not evangelism. Jesus preached on the streets of Jerusalem, he preached to the multitudes on the hill of Capernaum. He did not know those in the crowd. To say you need a relationship is a cop out for not sharing your faith at all. I have done dozens of missions to countries sharing the gospel with total strangers that I had no relationship with. This is an excuse for cowardice in not sharing. This excuse is similar to saying you should not share if you can not have follow up. Don't want to leave a baby in Christ alone. What nonsense! When you lead someone to Christ you are putting them in the care of God Almighty. He is more than able to take care of those entrusting their lives to Him. This thread is foolish. To say street evangelism is useless is another coward's statement.

Perhaps you misunderstood my intent when i mentioned "relationship"?