I had lunch with a friend in downtown New Phila yesterday. The weather was gorgeous so we decided to eat outside. We were part-way in to a very enjoyable meal when the street-corner preachers showed up and began shouting the "good news" at the top of their voices.
I told my friend, "You know, those guys make my job as a pastor more difficult."
I couldn't help but see some irony in the scene. Here I am, sitting at the street corner, having lunch--and a spiritual conversation with someone who I care about...someone I'm investing in, because I want to see him grow in his relationship with Jesus. Guy on the corner thinks the best way to share the good news is to wear signs and yell at people as they go by.
My friend asked me, "Do you think these guys really believe they're doing the right thing?" I said, "Unfortunately, I think they really believe that."
Here's a question. Who do you supposed accomplished more for the kingdom of God on the street corner yesterday? Three street preachers who hollered at a few hundred people as they passed by, or one guy (me) who spent the hour investing in a guy who's trying to figure out what it means to live out his faith?
It reminds me of this Tim Sanders quote:
You will accomplish more in the next two months developing a sincere interest in two people than you'll accomplish in the next two years, trying to get two people interested in you.I just think the street preachers are well-intended but severely misinformed.
Agree? Disagree?
5 comments:
AGREE! Even though I grew up with Street evanglism thinking, I have definately changed my Tude on it. My granfather was a street evanglist in the 30's and 40's, That probably worked OK back then, not now.
Sorry John, I won't let it happen again.....
I don't know. I wouldn't want to judge either way. I think it's wrong when people act like they are rioting on the streets with their abortion "preaching" signs. But maybe God has called this man to go out and preach on the corner. If it brings one person to Christ than it's worth it. Our church did a county wide street ministry and saw several come to Christ over a three week period. Everyone is called to different ministries.
That's just my opinion....for what it's worth. :o)
sue: thanks for the comment. Yeah, maybe things were different in years past. The world has changed and that means methods must change.
debbie: you know I love you...but I have a hard time believing God would call anyone to annoy and alienate a hundred people in order to reach just one person. That's just my opinion. :)
I definitely believe that there are ways to preach on the street that fall within being biblical. Considering that the God of scripture is unchanging even though men change all the time, I believe the call to preach is still a call that exists today. I know several street preachers and they not only preach but they sit down in a restaurants and share the gospel with someone that ironically enough stopped to hear them preach on the streets. They feed those that have need for food and give them the gospel, and they do simple things like handing out a gospel tract and praying for those that receive them. I know it easy to judge by appearance, we all do sometimes (i'm guilty), but when in doubt lets go to scriptures to decide what is right and what is wrong. Because in the end we all have to stand before God and be accountable to what we did with the Gospel. Keep sowing the seed of the Gospel for God's glory!
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