Would it be weird to mail a gospel tract to someone you don't know

[pinkjess]

It must be tough fighting an illness, but I don't think mailing strangers religious literature is a good idea. Perhaps you could share your faith in another way, such as by making a donation to a charitable cause.

May you find healing & peace. Good luck.

Thanks, but I can't do that either. I want to share the gospel with words. I have to tell someone what Jesus has done. Perhaps a chatroom would be a better avenue for me to do this. I came to my rational mind and realized it would be very weird for someone to send someone a tract with a written testimony. I don't want to cause any trouble or have police after me. They might wonder how I got their address, etc.

 

[Tiny Bible]

I was at a restaurant with friends once. This large table near us was having a celebration of some sort and someone got up to take pictures.
Those type events are sad in the sense that someone holding the camera is always out of the memorial those images afford those who attended. I go over and say to the person with the camera that I'd be happy to take a snap so that they're also included in the picture. They're very appreciative and join their friends for the picture.

Later, as I'm sitting back with friends that same person comes back into the restaurant and says that they'd like to be kind to me as I was to them. And they hand me a tract.

That's not the first time that has happened. People have come up to me at work and offered that same little pamphlet. I was raised by a religious family and I know that the scriptures tell us to deliver the good news to the world. And yet, I find it presumptuous for a perfect stranger to imagine on sight of me that they can judge me to be damned and in need of saving on sight.

I wouldn't mail a tract to people I don't know. It's as bad as those who trespass against signs at the mouth of a home's driveway that forewarns: NO TRESPASSING!
Just to knock on the door and presume the property owner is in need of Jesus.

How do you know that? What makes you think I'm not a Christian? Isn't it judging me to think I need to be told the good news when you don't know me?

Do I look damned? Do I have, "Property of the Devil" scrolling across the top of my head in some ethereal text that only the saved can read when they have tracts in their hands?

Besides, what are you going to put as your return address if you do mail tracts to perfect strangers? What right do you have to go through a white pages and judge those who are in need of you to bring to their attention that in your opinion they need the Jesus they could already know?

My experiences like that at the restaurant don't stop me from asking if I can help people. However, most times it results in someone bringing a tract to me afterward. The thing is, when they make that hand off they walk away. They don't stay to tell me about Jesus. They presume I can read after they've presumed I need to be saved by their piece of paper.

Jesus said to spread the good news. He didn't say hand some perfect stranger something some stranger printed and sold to you so as to deliver the message anonymously.

I'm trying to figure out ways I can bring glory to God's kingdom and maybe leave an imprint on souls. I'm limited in what I can do at the moment and had an idea that I could mail gospel tracts with my testimony to people via whitepages. Would it be weird? Someone from a Kingdom Hall near us once mailed my dad a magazine and letter. We had no idea who she was. I thought it was cool she took time to send us that. What do you think? Yay or nay?

 

[Goodbook]

Shes going to put her testimony on it, dont know what the big deal is, its not some religous tract someone else has made. Anyway, I think its a good thing. Its only planting a seed, nobody says you have to bulldoze anyone into believing.

 

[DiscipleHeLovesToo]

I just want to tell another person about Christ and leave my mark on this world before I die and was trying to think of avenues I can go down to do so. I can't go outside and tell people up front, I am too sick. I just want to bring the gospel to someone else, even if they reject it, before I die.

the best witness is for you right now is to receive your healing from God; surely you must want to be well, right? you know the medical industry doesn't have much to help you, so why not risk taking God at His word? what have you got to lose, except your sickness???

 

[pinkjess]

I was at a restaurant with friends once. This large table near us was having a celebration of some sort and someone got up to take pictures.
Those type events are sad in the sense that someone holding the camera is always out of the memorial those images afford those who attended. I go over and say to the person with the camera that I'd be happy to take a snap so that they're also included in the picture. They're very appreciative and join their friends for the picture.

Later, as I'm sitting back with friends that same person comes back into the restaurant and says that they'd like to be kind to me as I was to them. And they hand me a tract.

That's not the first time that has happened. People have come up to me at work and offered that same little pamphlet. I was raised by a religious family and I know that the scriptures tell us to deliver the good news to the world. And yet, I find it presumptuous for a perfect stranger to imagine on sight of me that they can judge me to be damned and in need of saving on sight.

I wouldn't mail a tract to people I don't know. It's as bad as those who trespass against signs at the mouth of a home's driveway that forewarns: NO TRESPASSING!
Just to knock on the door and presume the property owner is in need of Jesus.

How do you know that? What makes you think I'm not a Christian? Isn't it judging me to think I need to be told the good news when you don't know me?

Do I look damned? Do I have, "Property of the Devil" scrolling across the top of my head in some ethereal text that only the saved can read when they have tracts in their hands?

Besides, what are you going to put as your return address if you do mail tracts to perfect strangers? What right do you have to go through a white pages and judge those who are in need of you to bring to their attention that in your opinion they need the Jesus they could already know?

My experiences like that at the restaurant don't stop me from asking if I can help people. However, most times it results in someone bringing a tract to me afterward. The thing is, when they make that hand off they walk away. They don't stay to tell me about Jesus. They presume I can read after they've presumed I need to be saved by their piece of paper.

Jesus said to spread the good news. He didn't say hand some perfect stranger something some stranger printed and sold to you so as to deliver the message anonymously.

Yikes. Sorry about that. I didn't mean to make you mad. We have very different views of evangelism. To me, Jesus said to go out into the whole world, preaching the good news to all creation--not just people we may happen to personally know. I believe in witnessing to strangers. I believe in divine appointments. I believe in uncanniness. I believe God works in weird ways. The way I see it, what if the person I want to mail it to is going through something in their life, and God prompted me to send my letter to them, and it encourages them? It could save their life. Yes, it is a long shot. They may throw it away, but God sees my heart. It will have some effect.

 

[pinkjess]

the best witness is for you right now is to receive your healing from God; surely you must want to be well, right? you know the medical industry doesn't have much to help you, so why not risk taking God at His word? what have you got to lose, except your sickness???

How can I receive my healing? I have been praying asking God to help me.

 

[Tiny Bible]

You didn't make me mad. It was my error in writing style if I gave you that impression.
I don't believe in Evangelism as my walk in this faith. I believe my living in the faith of Christ is the spreading of the good news of Christ and his Holy Spirit in me.

Otherwise, were I to approach perfect strangers I'm presuming and levying judgment upon them that they are not saved. And when they are what does that say of my violating Christ's commands to judge not?

That's just my perspective. I shared my opinion here and that is all. To each their own. I apologize for my writing style if it made you feel bad that you'd upset me. You didn't. And I pray I haven't upset you either.

Cheerfully In Christ,
Lilly

Yikes. Sorry about that. I didn't mean to make you mad. We have very different views of evangelism. To me, Jesus said to go out into the whole world, preaching the good news to all creation--not just people we may happen to personally know. I believe in witnessing to strangers. I believe in divine appointments. I believe in uncanniness. I believe God works in weird ways. The way I see it, what if the person I want to mail it to is going through something in their life, and God prompted me to send my letter to them, and it encourages them? It could save their life. Yes, it is a long shot. They may throw it away, but God sees my heart. It will have some effect.

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

It may be weird but you can try it if they want. I think it may put up some defenses though. My dad though prints tracts by the hundreds every few weeks. Anywhere he goes he puts them everywhere. Bathrooms, sinks, random shelves, in books, by doors, on tables and so on. Its great but at the same time he over does it sometimes and if security sees him on camera placing things they probably will bust him since technically your not allowed to do that. Not saying he shouldn't of course, as christians we are judged already for what we do. But theres still a line between trying to save people and making it so noticeable that you could go to jail. Then again there are missionaries who go to dangerous countries and do the same thing. Facing possible death. So I guess in the spectrum of it all what he is doing is not all that dangerous. Better to be arrested for placing them everywhere then being beheaded for even mentioning God in another country.

 

[Goodbook]

Yikes. Sorry about that. I didn't mean to make you mad. We have very different views of evangelism. To me, Jesus said to go out into the whole world, preaching the good news to all creation--not just people we may happen to personally know. I believe in witnessing to strangers. I believe in divine appointments. I believe in uncanniness. I believe God works in weird ways. The way I see it, what if the person I want to mail it to is going through something in their life, and God prompted me to send my letter to them, and it encourages them? It could save their life. Yes, it is a long shot. They may throw it away, but God sees my heart. It will have some effect.

Well, thats right you dont know. God often knows just the right person at the right time your message will touch, ESPECIALLY if you pray about this first. Sometime we do things where the right hand doesnt know what the left is doing. And that brings more glory to God, because its not actually you detemining the outcome.

 

[DiscipleHeLovesToo]

How can I receive my healing? I have been praying asking God to help me.

step one is to believe that God is so good and loves you so much that He made healing available to you before you had any symptoms, while knowing all the details about the mistakes (sins) you would make over your entire life on this earth - even before you were born. you received spiritual rebirth by placing faith in what Jesus did at the cross 2000 years or so before you were born, and the way you received was to believe His word about that (believing His word is the essence of faith); you receive healing the same way. does that make sense?

 

[graceandpeace]

Thanks, but I can't do that either. I want to share the gospel with words. I have to tell someone what Jesus has done. Perhaps a chatroom would be a better avenue for me to do this. I came to my rational mind and realized it would be very weird for someone to send someone a tract with a written testimony. I don't want to cause any trouble or have police after me. They might wonder how I got their address, etc.

Understood. The only thing I could add is that authenticity matters. That's why I don't think it's a good idea to mail strangers literature - or wave signs on street corners, or knock on doors to preach to people, or any such similar actions. I think it's great that you want to share your faith, but doing so in the context of a real relationship would be wiser than approaching strangers.

Good luck to you.

 

[Goodbook]

Make a blog about you faith journey and complete strangers may read it. At least that way, you not getting anyones address. i think a written testimony is important, no matter how its dessiminated. I read books written by people unknown to me ALL THE TIME.

 

[Goodbook]

Even on this forum, though its in the context of a CHristian Forum, so ppl who go on here are those keen to seek out Jesus, we are actually strangers to each other if we dont know Him.

But I was emailed the gospel by a girl on an online support group. So. Even though we only had a few discussions initially, she did that, she took a step of faith. Praise the Lord. And ive never met her in person, like Ive never met you people. But Im sure I will meet her one day!

 

[pinkjess]

the best witness is for you right now is to receive your healing from God; surely you must want to be well, right? you know the medical industry doesn't have much to help you, so why not risk taking God at His word? what have you got to lose, except your sickness???

I had a dream about doves flying into a grave yesterday, and when I woke up I asked God "does this mean I am going to die?" and within minutes I was reading from my Bible study plan and found Romans 8:6 "to set the mind on flesh is destruction, but to set the mind on the spirit is life and peace". I felt God say to me, "you're letting your faith in me die because of this...don't count me out!". I am believing God can help me with this. This is just another mountain for me to climb to come up in stronger faith and closer relationship with God. Thank you for your advice. At first I was annoyed because I feel like "is it really possible people today can be healed just like that?" but I want to give it a chance. I want to believe.

 

[DiscipleHeLovesToo]

I had a dream about doves flying into a grave yesterday, and when I woke up I asked God "does this mean I am going to die?" and within minutes I was reading from my Bible study plan and found Romans 8:6 "to set the mind on flesh is destruction, but to set the mind on the spirit is life and peace". I felt God say to me, "you're letting your faith in me die because of this...don't count me out!". I am believing God can help me with this. This is just another mountain for me to climb to come up in stronger faith and closer relationship with God. Thank you for your advice. At first I was annoyed because I feel like "is it really possible people today can be healed just like that?" but I want to give it a chance. I want to believe.

then relax; this is the first step in faith. remember, God has faith in you; that's why He chose you; He's not wringing His hands trying to figure out what to do about your situation - in order to perceive His leading, you must first trust Him enough to relax. next, shift your focus with an open mind to His word about healing - there are spiritual laws you need to learn in order to receive anything from God, and you may have to un-learn some things as you 'mine' His word for wisdom; this will help:

http://www.awmi.net/audio/audio-teachings/#/awm_1036a_atonement.mp3

 

[Goodbook]

Have faith. God has given healing gifts to many elders so maybe you just need to ask them to pray for you?