Street Preaching is Useless

[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[AlexDTX]

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?

After further thought, the better question is, "Why Are American Hearts so Hardened Against the Gospel?" If you go on mission trips to South America and other places you will find the harvest is ripe and street preaching is effectively received. But Americans have many factors that have hardened their hearts. Government education making science God and evolution the means of creation is one thing. Televangelists transparently seeking money is another. But I think the greatest factor hardening the hearts of Americans is prosperity. When you have abundance you don't see the need for God.

 

[DawnStar]

Colossians 4:6
"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man."
Some who fancy themselves as street preachers need to follow this advice. It is called street preaching but many times ends up being street screeching.

 

[Tetra]

After further thought, the better question is, "Why Are American Hearts so Hardened Against the Gospel?" If you go on mission trips to South America and other places you will find the harvest is ripe and street preaching is effectively received. But Americans have many factors that have hardened their hearts. Government education making science God and evolution the means of creation is one thing. Televangelists transparently seeking money is another. But I think the greatest factor hardening the hearts of Americans is prosperity. When you have abundance you don't see the need for God.

To answer your question, in my experience it's been Christians who ruin Christianity.

 

[smithed64]

I love questions!

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

Scripture.

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[Tetra]

Scripture.

I need more clarification then, when you asked me if scripture is authoritative, are you also asking me if it's inerrant?

 

[AlexDTX]

To answer your question, in my experience it's been Christians who ruin Christianity.

Then you impose an ideal upon Christians that hinders your love of the saints.

 

[Tetra]

Then you impose an ideal upon Christians that hinders your love of the saints.

Can you please elaborate for me?

 

[JoeP222w]

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?

Well then you disagree with Peter and Paul and Jesus.

Mark 16:15-16 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. (16) Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Acts 2:14-38
Acts 17


"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."

Pragmatism has never saved a single soul.




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

Because it was modeled by Jesus, Stephen, Peter and Paul and all of the Apostles, and Old Testament Prophets.



"Wouldn't developing relationships be a more effective method?"

Where in the Bible did Jesus says "go to all the nations and develop relationships"? How long do you wait to tell someone about the truth of Jesus Christ and His gospel, a day, a week? What happens if that person dies the hour after talking with you, but you never told him the gospel because you were too busy making an idol of yourself and your feelings and how you wanted to be accepted by that person as that "cool Christian"?

 

[Tetra]

Well then you disagree with Peter and Paul and Jesus.

Mark 16:15-16 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. (16) Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Acts 2:14-38
Acts 17


"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."

Pragmatism has never saved a single soul.




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

Because it was modeled by Jesus, Stephen, Peter and Paul and all of the Apostles, and Old Testament Prophets.



"Wouldn't developing relationships be a more effective method?"

Where in the Bible did Jesus says "go to all the nations and develop relationships"? How long do you wait to tell someone about the truth of Jesus Christ and His gospel, a day, a week? What happens if that person dies the hour after talking with you, but you never told him the gospel because you were too busy making an idol of yourself and your feelings and how you wanted to be accepted by that person as that "cool Christian"?

You do realize that it may have been effective 2000 years ago... but not necessarily the case now right?? So yes, I recognize it happened in the Bible... does not mean it's effective today.

Again, I would argue it hurts more people then helps.

 

[South Bound]

You do realize that it may have been effective 2000 years ago... but not necessarily the case now right?? So yes, I recognize it happened in the Bible... does not mean it's effective today.

Again, I would argue it hurts more people then helps.

Again, who are you to impose your standard on God?

 

[Tetra]

Again, who are you to impose your standard on God?

Again, I know you're claiming that... doesn't mean that's the case.

 

[JoeP222w]

You do realize that it may have been effective 2000 years ago... but not necessarily the case now right?? So yes, I recognize it happened in the Bible... does not mean it's effective today.

Again, I would argue it hurts more people then helps.

Then you are arguing against God.


Romans 10:13-21 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (14) How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (15) And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" (16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" (17) So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (18) But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world." (19) But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, "I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry." (20) Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, "I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me." (21) But of Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people."

 

[South Bound]

Again, I know you're claiming that... doesn't mean that's the case.

But the fact that you're imposing your standard of effectiveness and declaring what God has called good and commanded us to do means that it is the case.

Your contempt for God and your low view of His Word is coming out in every one of your posts.

 

[South Bound]

nt

 

[Tetra]

Then you are arguing against God.

Such poor reasoning, this happens so much I had to create a thread to deal with it, please read:
The God Says Trump Card

 

[Tetra]

The Bible says that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to them that perish.

Tetra is consistent in arguing against the public preaching of the cross.

You do the math.

I'm against pushing people away from Christ... I believe street preaching is doing that... so yes, I'm against it.

You're arguing it's in the Bible... I'm saying I think it's dependent on cultural variables and time. Hence why it was effective in Biblical times, and not now.

So I'm going to maintain my original position. I will not advocate pushing people away from the Gospel.

I feel like we're going in circles. lol

 

[smithed64]

I need more clarification then, when you asked me if scripture is authoritative, are you also asking me if it's inerrant?

First, where do you live? You don't have to be specific. But it obviously leads you in your thought pattern as to street ministry.

There is a right way and a wrong way to use street ministry.

The right way is with Love, patience, understanding and truth.
The wrong way is with yelling, screaming and trying to be politically correct. (lying)

We are told and shown how to witness through the Word of God and through examples from Christ and the apostles, including Paul.

The one thing they all did with their preaching was to start with something common to those they spoke to. Paul, when speaking to the Greeks, spoke of the statue of the one god they had.
Christ, used parables and allegories to make things simple for them to understand better.
The Peter used the events that had happened before and during the crucifixion.

I do street ministry, but I just don't pick a corner and start yelling through a megaphone.
I first go fishing.
Yep, it's just like finding that really good fishing hole. A busy corner, somewhere where people are waiting in line, whether for an event or going into a store.
Sometimes, I just start witnessing to one person, and it ends up with me speaking with a few more who show up.

But I do agree though, there are times, when people don't want to hear it. You try, you speak about sin, and then you go through the gospel. Then leave. Find somewhere else to go.

Because there is one thing the scripture does. When it's preached, it never comes back void. God's Word always get's there attention even when they don't look at you. Because it goes to the conscience and lingers there. Our job isn't to save them. Because we don't. Our job is to tell them the information, tell them about sin and the consequences of sin, death. To tell them what happens to those who die in their sins, hell. Then tell them a way out of going to Hell. The Gospel.

There Is a right way to do all those things. Use the Law. Its perfect in convicting the soul. When used right, it will convict the unrighteous and it will stop their mouths. But you use the law, with love, asking questions, not accusing. By explaining what sin is. Not by talking down to people, but talking to them.

Street Ministry isn't useless. Unless you don't use it. If you've never tried and made excuses for not doing so. Then you'll never know. We are to plant the seed, God reaps.