Street Preaching is Useless

[Tetra]

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?

 

[Ken Rank]

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 couldn't agree more! The "Great Commission" is even a call in this line. The "Go!" is really the passive participle "going" in Greek. The line "teach" (make disciples) is a command... since "going" carries the connotation of "as you are going about your life," then it is really a call to live in a manner that reflects the Lord's character and when they seek (for without seeking they will not find) then we can teach. It is God who draws a man unto Himself (John 6:44) our job is it teach (disciple) once they are drawn and want to learn.

 

[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?

I agree that some street preaching is poorly handled, but to say it is useless is non-scriptural. Paul preached to the crowds on the street at Mars Hill when he told them about the unknown god in Acts 17:23 in Athens.

 

[South Bound]

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?

Not only do we see open air evangelism practiced repeatedly in the Bible, it's a great way to present the Gospel.

We've preached to two or three people at a time and we've preached to hundreds of people at a time.

As for what is "effective", that's not my responsibility. My responsibility is just to be obedient. God will save who He chooses to save.

 

[South Bound]

Here's a good video of Emilio Ramos preaching to college kids down in Texas:

 

[Tetra]

I agree that some street preaching is poorly handled, but to say it is useless is non-scriptural. Paul preached to the crowds on the street at Mars Hill when I told them about the unknown god in Acts 17:23 in Athens.

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.

 

[John Hyperspace]

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 makes the job of those actually developing relationships much harder.

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

I would tend to agree. Most people who street preachers seek audience have heard the gospel by now. At this point, street preaching would seem to only be perceived as, pushing something into the face causing the pushed to push back. Unless it is being done where it brings the gospel to those who have not heard it. But I doubt you'd find many willing to street preach in the Middle East.

 

[Tetra]

As for what is "effective", that's not my responsibility. My responsibility is just to be obedient. God will save who He chooses to save.

I would disagree with this position. I know lots of people deeply harmed by those in the church that thought they were being "obedient". I think avoiding responsibility by sticking our head in the sand isn't wisest in my opinion. We should question our actions and how it impacts others. Where I live, I think street preaching harms more than helps.

 

[South Bound]

I would disagree with this position. I know lots of people deeply harmed by those in the church that thought they were being "obedient". I think avoiding responsibility by sticking our head in the sand isn't wisest in my opinion. We should question our actions and how it impacts others. Where I live, I think street preaching harms more than helps.

Jesus told us to preach the Gospel and call sinners to repent. So we're going to continue to preach the Gospel and call sinners to repent until He tells us otherwise.

What you choose to do is up to you.

 

[Tetra]

Jesus told us to preach the Gospel and call sinners to repent. So we're going to continue to preach the Gospel and call sinners to repent until He tells us otherwise.

What you choose to do is up to you.

No problem there, but I'm saying HOW you "preach the Gospel" matters... you seem to be saying it doesn't. I know lots of Christian's with a similar attitude, and I think it's unwise, and in some cases harmful.

 

[South Bound]

No problem there, but I'm saying HOW you "preach the Gospel" matters...you seem to be saying it doesn't.

I think you might need a little help with your reading comprehension.

What I said is that open air preaching is Biblical, not that how we preach the Gospel doesn't matter

I know lots of Christian's with a similar attitude, and I think it's unwise, and in some cases harmful.

Then do what seems right in your own eyes.

 

[JCFantasy23]

I agree it seems rather ineffective.

I did get delight seeing an elderly man holding a sign that said honk for Jesus. When people honked, it got so excited, it was cute. That was a nice bonding moment among Christians, although a small one, but it was still a mini celebration of our faith for those already in the light. Driving distraction is another matter...

I wouldn't listen to someone on the street trying to throw their opinions at me either.

 

[Tetra]

I think you might need a little help with your reading comprehension.

What I said is that open air preaching is Biblical, not that how we preach the Gospel doesn't matter.

I'm agreeing it's Biblical in that it occurred. No problem there.

 

[Tetra]

I agree it seems rather ineffective.

I did get delight seeing an elderly man holding a sign that said honk for Jesus. When people honked, it got so excited, it was cute. That was a nice bonding moment among Christians, although a small one, but it was still a mini celebration of our faith for those already in the light. Driving distraction is another matter...

I wouldn't listen to someone on the street trying to throw their opinions at me either.

That sounds more sweet than anything else. I more mean the bull horn approach in my OP.

Great point, how many here would be convinced to become an atheist by someone shouting on the street corner?

 

[South Bound]

That sounds more sweet than anything else. I more mean the bull horn approach in my OP.

Great point, how many here would be convinced to become an atheist by someone shouting on the street corner?

No one Just as no one is convinced to become a Christian.

No open air preacher who knows even a whit about Christianity would say he's convincing anyone to become a Christian.

 

[Tetra]

No one Just as no one is convinced to become a Christian.

No open air preacher who knows even a whit about Christianity would say he's convincing anyone to become a Christian.

I know what you're saying, but you can't just yell anything and hope people will automagically come to Christ.

 

[South Bound]

I know what you're saying, but you can't just yell anything and hope people will automagically come to Christ.

I'm sorry you have such a low view of the Gospel that you just view it as "yelling anything".

 

[Tetra]

I'm sorry you have such a low view of the Gospel that you just view it as "yelling anything".

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

 

[South Bound]

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

That's for God to decide not you.

 

[Tetra]

That's for God to decide not you.

Yup, keep shoving that head into the sand... why question how effective something is right?