lan Warner
When people think about the idea of someone standing on the corner of a street preaching a fire and brimstone message, it makes people so mad. It makes many Christians mad, it makes unbelievers mad and often people say that street evangelism does not work. Is that true though, and if it’s true how often do we run to the word of God to see what is true?
Street evangelism is not something that is talked about enough. A lot of people hate the idea of someone shoving their beliefs down others’ throats. I find this to be a weird thought process because everyone does this. Everyone has beliefs and they want to get others to think more like them in some way. When people see a street preacher they don’t listen to what he is saying because it’s pushing up against this idea that everyone can have their own truth and there is no one truth.
Why Do People Hate Street Evangelism?
People Feel Its Rude
John 8:45 -and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
The idea of preaching the word of God to complete strangers in our time is completely ridiculous to most people. Our society has been brainwashed with the idea that everyone can believe their own truth. Now I totally believe people have the ability to choose what they want to choose. But every choice comes with consequences and there can only be one truth.
The Bible can’t be kind of true. It’s either the complete word of God or it’s not. If the word of God is true and someone chooses not to put their faith in Jesus, it means that they will suffer for an eternity in hell.
There is no getting around this by telling yourself over and over again that you’re a good person. A good person based on what standard exactly? God’s stand is perfection, his standard is NO SIN! If you have even one sin to your name it means you are separated from God and you need a savior to bring you back into the grace of God.
The world says it’s rude to tell someone this truth. But I think the opposite is true. It’s rude not to tell someone that they are on a pathway to destruction. The best thing that ever happened to me was people stopping me and letting me know that the way I was going was not good. Praise God for those loving people!
There is No Relationship
The other argument that people make all of the time is that street evangelism is wrong because there is no relationship. To that I say RUBBISH! Most people don’t even know their own neighbors. They don’t take the time to meet and love the people who live right beside them because they want to hide in the castles they call homes. Yet people want to preach about love all of the time?
John 8:44 – You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
The most loving person you can do is tell them about what Jesus did for them. People will encourage their friends to make a lot of money, have sex, drink, and do all sorts of things that get people in deep trouble. But when someone comes around and says a truth that you need, people want to talk about a relationship.
I have watched a lot of street evangelism from Pastor David Lynn. One thing that stands out to me about his ministry is that it is often the beginning of a relationship. You walk up to someone and address the loneliness they feel, or you talk about how Jesus is the solution to that deep hole they keep trying to fill, and they will listen even if it hurts. They cant keep walking by and that could be the start of an amazing relationship. One that is different from many others because you were the person who loved them enough to say the truth.
It Should Only Be Done Inside of The Wall of The Churches?
One of the weirdest things that get people mad about street preaching is the idea that preaching should only be done at church. Should talking only be done in your home? Why is preaching something that should only be done at church? The church is not the buildings, the church is the people of God. The church is the saints who have accepted Jesus and become the body of Christ.
The church is anywhere that the Saints are gathered. This idea that people should only hear anything about Jesus if they come to a church is just made-up nonsense. How often do we have to be subjected to noise we don’t want to hear? People drive by blasting foul music and no one blinks an eye, but let someone say “Jesus loves you” and people lose their minds.
Is Street Evangelism Biblical?
Preach The Good News
Romans 10:13-15 – For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 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? 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!”
People need to go and preach the word of God. We love to think of this as being needed in the confines of the church walls and it’s needed there as well. But we need people willing to go and preach anywhere that people are. People will go to a loud outdoor concert and have no issue with that noise drowning out other people’s lives. But if someone even tries to do the same with the name of Jesus, people are quick to want to shut it down.
Street evangelism is Biblical and the fact the people get offended by it means nothing.
1 Cor 1:18 – For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.
Jesus Preached in Public
For Christians who think that Street evangelism is not biblical. Where do you think Jesus preached? Did he make sure he only did it in the synagogues? The Sermon on the mount is called that because Jesus just went to a mountain and started speaking the truth the people and a crowd gathered to hear the good word. When people hear the Gospel, someone will keep walking, but others will be stopped in their tracks, and the Holy Spirit will convict them on the spot.
There are so many times in the Bible where Jesus just ministered to people as he was walking and traveling from town to town. He did not say wait; I don’t want to offend anyone let’s find the closest building so I can tell you the truth there. He stooped what he was doing and gave people the word that their souls needed. You should want to do the same.
So What…
Stop hating on people who are doing street evangelism. Instead, encourage them because they are doing something that is biblical and being treated like crap all day for it. That is not easy. It’s one thing when I see non-believers condemn them, but I hate when I see Christians doing it. If you think they could change their approach a bit or if they say something unbiblical then let’s have a conversation. pray with them and for them but don’t just tear them down.
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