is it normal to preach the gospel in the street? what are the benefits and consequenc
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Fresh home from Vietnam and 23ys old, it was 1973 and street preacher's were well know, like or dislike their ministry, they made me take notice and I listened to what was being preached intensely. Have you noticed that when you or a dear friend has heard the calling of God, He places people in their life "everywhere you turn", to point you to His Son and salvation, their were Christians everywhere, no escape. It was that way for me at least.
Jesus stood up and spoke loudly at the annual celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles. Just prior to His preaching on the last day the religious leaders were looking for Jesus of Nazareth to take him away and kill Him, but His time had not yet come. Our Saviour always used the most opportune times to preach salvation. And God, "Tabernacled among us"
OP,
[h=2]"is it normal to preach the gospel in the street?" (Yes)
"what are the benefits and consequence" (Lost sinners are saved)[/h]
"On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink." John7:37
Jesus stood up and spoke loudly at the annual celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles. Just prior to His preaching on the last day the religious leaders were looking for Jesus of Nazareth to take him away and kill Him, but His time had not yet come. Our Saviour always used the most opportune times to preach salvation. And God, "Tabernacled among us"
OP,
[h=2]"is it normal to preach the gospel in the street?" (Yes)
"what are the benefits and consequence" (Lost sinners are saved)[/h]
"On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink." John7:37
Willie,
I think it might be a good time in the thread to consider some clarifications and distinctions.
1. NARROW vs BROAD DEFINITION:
It seems to me you're postulating a fairly narrow definition of street preaching, when in fact the definition could just as easily be considered something very broad.
Your current definition seems to only describe an enterprise where people yell and antagonize passers by.
I will of course agree this DOES occur.
But there are also many other ways street preaching can be done.
By virtue of the fact it CAN be done many different ways, the definition cannot be limited to a single narrow definition, and the definition of street preaching must therefore, by logical necessity, be more broad and inclusive.
2. VIRTUALLY INFINITE VARIETY of METHODS:
As street preaching is an act of live oratory, and live audience interaction, it constitutes a creative endeavor - and as a creative endeavor it can be carried out in an almost endless variety of ways.
3. EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY:
I have personally seen street preaching conducted in many different ways which are quite different than what you describe.
I've seen it done graciously and politely.
I've seen it done with smiles, and music, and joy.
I've even seen it done quietly.
I won't ever deny there are idiots out there doing all kinds of rude things.
But "street preaching" is a word with a very broad definition, and it can be done, and is done, in many different ways.
4. CONSIDER JUDGING SOMETHING MORE SPECIFIC:
Perhaps you might consider weighing in on something more specific.
Instead of taking opposition to "street preaching" in general, which is a very broad term, you might instead take opposition to:
- street preaching where the guy is just trying to antagonize everyone
- street preaching where the guy just seems to be on an ego trip, and doesn't seem to care about the people
- street preaching where the guy is just trying to start a fight
- street preaching where certain topics are brought up you disagree with... etc etc.
The options I mentioned aren't prefect, but they would at least be more specific, and therefore, perhaps more accurate.
Again, I won't deny there are rude idiots in the world antagonizing people on purpose.
But perhaps we should just oppose the BEHAVIORS we dislike, instead of accidentally painting every street preacher, of every variety, with the same brush.
God Bless
I think it might be a good time in the thread to consider some clarifications and distinctions.
1. NARROW vs BROAD DEFINITION:
It seems to me you're postulating a fairly narrow definition of street preaching, when in fact the definition could just as easily be considered something very broad.
Your current definition seems to only describe an enterprise where people yell and antagonize passers by.
I will of course agree this DOES occur.
But there are also many other ways street preaching can be done.
By virtue of the fact it CAN be done many different ways, the definition cannot be limited to a single narrow definition, and the definition of street preaching must therefore, by logical necessity, be more broad and inclusive.
2. VIRTUALLY INFINITE VARIETY of METHODS:
As street preaching is an act of live oratory, and live audience interaction, it constitutes a creative endeavor - and as a creative endeavor it can be carried out in an almost endless variety of ways.
3. EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY:
I have personally seen street preaching conducted in many different ways which are quite different than what you describe.
I've seen it done graciously and politely.
I've seen it done with smiles, and music, and joy.
I've even seen it done quietly.
I won't ever deny there are idiots out there doing all kinds of rude things.
But "street preaching" is a word with a very broad definition, and it can be done, and is done, in many different ways.
4. CONSIDER JUDGING SOMETHING MORE SPECIFIC:
Perhaps you might consider weighing in on something more specific.
Instead of taking opposition to "street preaching" in general, which is a very broad term, you might instead take opposition to:
- street preaching where the guy is just trying to antagonize everyone
- street preaching where the guy just seems to be on an ego trip, and doesn't seem to care about the people
- street preaching where the guy is just trying to start a fight
- street preaching where certain topics are brought up you disagree with... etc etc.
The options I mentioned aren't prefect, but they would at least be more specific, and therefore, perhaps more accurate.
Again, I won't deny there are rude idiots in the world antagonizing people on purpose.
But perhaps we should just oppose the BEHAVIORS we dislike, instead of accidentally painting every street preacher, of every variety, with the same brush.
God Bless
Revival is no more a sign of a move of God than a baby christian walking in the gift of word of knowledge.
Gifts are not a sign of Spiritual Maturity and revivals are not a sign God has moved. This is because most so called revivals start out correctly, as a remnant renewing themselves into the original plan God had for them. Sadly they devolve into flesh shows or intentionally designed to scare people into accepting the Gospel.
I am perplexed why Depleted brings this up at all, seeing she proudly beats here chest saying she is one of the elect. Reformed really have no opinion that matters to me when it comes to revival and especially the great commission.
This is the double minded wisdom James told us to stay away from.
Gifts are not a sign of Spiritual Maturity and revivals are not a sign God has moved. This is because most so called revivals start out correctly, as a remnant renewing themselves into the original plan God had for them. Sadly they devolve into flesh shows or intentionally designed to scare people into accepting the Gospel.
I am perplexed why Depleted brings this up at all, seeing she proudly beats here chest saying she is one of the elect. Reformed really have no opinion that matters to me when it comes to revival and especially the great commission.
This is the double minded wisdom James told us to stay away from.
7
we cannot nourish the seed of the word in another's heart...we can plant and water, but life comes through the Holy Spirit
if we want to understand the outcome of forcing people to accept something, we only have to look at history
now some will not agree with what I am going to say next, but here it goes
Israel is a real good picture of what 'forcing' someone to believe even for their own good looks like
good thing God never intended that to be permanent knowing the fickle nature of the human 'heart'
He has put His Spirit INTO us ... a piece of Himself...so that we always come back to Him as there is no where in this world as safe as IN Him
we may know or think we know how things work, but I am never going to say that I do because God is about the only One left who still surprises me...in a good way
It was his uncle John Hawley, and he didn't commit suicide "over the sermon." He suffered from severe depression, the revival itself was blamed for his suicide in those days.
But that's just not the case, and I've known several who have committed suicide, it's the disease that takes them, not the environment which they blame in their state of mind.
Let's not try to rewrite the narrative in the way we want with bias by attempting to blame his death on Edwards message.
But that's just not the case, and I've known several who have committed suicide, it's the disease that takes them, not the environment which they blame in their state of mind.
Let's not try to rewrite the narrative in the way we want with bias by attempting to blame his death on Edwards message.
Like Lynn, you seem to like to fill a page and a half (at a minimum) with text that lists as many "what if's" as you can think of. While that makes for entertaining argument, I think it all comes back to what the OP meant by "Street Preaching." And, until he comes back to elucidate more, we cannot truly know his idea of "Street Preaching." But, the VAST majority of "Street Preachers" are exactly what I showed you in that video. That is why the stereotype of "Street Preachers" has spread so, and it is what most of America thinks of when "Street Preaching" is mentioned.
I Love this whole post. As to what I put in bold above. This is shown to us in the final restoration of Peter in John 21.
Peter went back to physical fishing, but Jesus reminded him that he was not destined to catch physical fish, but had become a fisher of men and be the start of the church. This is why Jesus asked Peter if he loved those 153 fish more than Jesus.
Many miss this and to their sorrow.
Peter went back to physical fishing, but Jesus reminded him that he was not destined to catch physical fish, but had become a fisher of men and be the start of the church. This is why Jesus asked Peter if he loved those 153 fish more than Jesus.
Many miss this and to their sorrow.
7
do you?
I guess I'm funny but it is always the little things that grab at me
both spiritually and in this world
I love the details God works out for us.
you know, I just am truly humbled by a very recent answer to a humanly impossible prayer
I don't know. Seems God does stuff like that for me. I have conflicting feelings about it because it's like I don't deserve it all but God steps in and says 'here yah go'
pretty sure God steps in like that for many. but so personal He leaves no doubt in His reality
1. "While that makes for entertaining argument"
Ridiculing my argument as "entertaining" does nothing to actually refute the points of the argument.
This is excellent rhetoric, but it doesn't actually constitute a rebuttal of the points.
2. "I think it all comes back to what the OP meant by "Street Preaching."
In order to debate, we certainly have to define terms.
But "street preaching", can in no way, be logically limited to the narrow definition you've tried to set for it.
3. "The VAST majority of "Street Preachers" are exactly what I showed you in that video."
You have no possible way to KNOW what the vast majority of street preachers do.
This is simply beyond your ability to measure.
- Do you know all street preachers?
- Do you know all street preachers all over the world?
- Do you know all street preachers who only preach now and then, or who only do it once?
- Do you have some magical ability to be in every place?
- Do you really think a few youtube videos, or your personal experiences, account for the ALL potential activities of a BILLION Christians all over the world?
- Do you have some magical ability to know what every christian, in the entire world, happens to do every day?
You are making vast assertions which you have NO ABILITY to make.
You cannot, logically, have any ability to know what the majority of street preachers do, as you can't even take the FIRST STEP in that argument, which is to NUMBER all the street preachers around the world to determine what a majority would even be.
