Do evangelists bother you?

Question

What do you think of when you see someone preaching on the corner of the street, or handing out tracts? If someone were to tell you the greatest story ever told, what would be the most effective way to convey their message? How should people share the Gospel?

Answer 1

Preach Christ always, but speak only when necessary. Show your faith through your works. Faith is invisible, works are visible; thus when your faith leads you to do good works your faith becomes visible.

Answer 2

I don't even know why they are called "evangelists". The long-dead evangelists, Mark, Matthew, Luke and John, had the good sense to write their "good news" down. They didn't shout it from street corners. And it WAS "good news", about God sending his Son to change the world, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, forgiving sinners, freeing the imprisoned and finally establishing justice in the world.

Sure, there was a directive to "go forth and preach", but not the gloom and doom fear-mongering that most "Evangelicals" preach. Christ's message was about love and compassion, especially for the poor and powerless (and a call to responsibility among the rich and powerful), not some moralistic checklist of sex-crimes or a Biblical trivia test.

People do not respond to know-it-alls who tell them how wrong their lives are, especially when they hear the stories about rich, pretentious preaches fleecing their flocks, committing adultery and otherwise giving the hypocritical lie to their hyper-moralistic bombast. Humans know humans too well. Humans can lie. Humans can pose. They know that words mean nothing if not backed up by meaningful action.

The best way to share the Gospel is to shut up about it. The best way is to show a difference in the way you live your life. If people see you taking risks, social, financial or whatever, on behalf of other people, out of sheer love, they will be curious. If they see you stand up and fight, against popular opinion and city hall, for someone unpopular who can't fight for themselves, they will want to understand what compels you. If they find you donating your precious time and effort volunteering at a social service agency, they will ask how you manage to do it. That's when you can share the Gospel, not before. Because if the Gospel doesn't change your life, how can you expect it to change theirs?

And you don't share it by telling people what THEY'RE doing wrong. You share it by telling how YOU learned to try and to do things "right". You share the attitude, the values, that make you do different things than what they teach you on TV and in the press. But make it about you, not them. Be humble enough to acknowledge your imperfections as you describe the goals you are trying to reach in this life. Leave heaven and hell out of it for now. This is not about payoffs, it is about why you do what you do. You can't scare or bribe people toward salvation. They have to believe in what you're doing, and the only way to convince them is to do it. Example is worth a thousand tracts or canned speeches.

Answer 3

No, evangelist don't bother me. I seldom see any. I live in a semi-rural neighborhood and the door knockers don't come often. And I don't often hang around on city streets.

How should people share the gospel? Isn't that what church and Sunday school are for? My own feeling is that unsolicited evangelism is futile. They mean well but so many of these door bell ringers really don't know their business. I think most folks are eager to hear from anybody who has something interesting to say but these street evangelists seem to have nothing to say beyond a canned speech. You can't take them seriously. They say they're "witnessing" but you just can't witness what you haven't experienced.

Answer 4

Honestly, they kind of creep me out. I know what I believe, and no pamphlet is going to change my mind. I am not sure what the best way to convey the message is, but I guarantee you that standing on street corners bugging people is not going to convert anyone.

I am all for anyone expressing themselves, but trying to force beliefs on others is a different issue. The truth is that no matter how much you preach to someone, they aren't going to change or believe you until they decide to on their own. Start a constructive outlet, like a website, that interested people can go to for information or support.

Answer 5

They only "bother" me when they become aggressive demonstrators who violate your personal space and get right up in your face, insulting and inciting you.

There are plenty of these kinds of folks around; they're just not the norm, thank God.

They believe in their own twisted way that the Lord gives them license to push freedom of speech to the limit and beyond, and just as often, they find themselves before a circuit court judge who will explain to them the limits of "witnessing."

The Word should be shared with love and kindness; not aggression and anger.

I can't imagine any good Christian that would argue with the phrase (associated with sexual harassment),"No means no."

When you tell anyone,"no" about anything, they should back off.

Answer 6

I really don't have any problem with street preachers. The ones who bother me are the millionaire ministers who build palaces like the Krystal Kathedral. My grandmother regularly send a portion of her social security check to these charlatans. She really believed they spoke for God.
I think they give all ministers a bad name.
I'm also tired of faith based social service organizations. They cheapen their own religion by making accepting it the price desparate people pay for food or a place to sleep.
The Gospel (good or God speak) is part of your religion. You have a right to talk about it until the listener says they don't want to hear any more.

Answer 7

Here's an idea, share the Gospel in Church. Let the people come to you. If they come to you then they are ready to hear your message. If you shout it on a street corner, you're just pissing people off.

Answer 8

They do bother me simply because we are told when we do things not to be open (not to do our good works on street corners) just look at the Apostle Paul and the disciples they witnessed to individuals the only time they became public witnesses was when the religious dragged them to the courts.

Answer 9

TV, movies, radio, books, literature, personal witness mission work, Christian and humanitarian aid....What more can I say? If the things the person on the street corner is doing helps just one person, it's worth it. It's meant to help, not hinder. No, evangelists do not bother me.

Answer 10

Yeah, try answering to the question "Do you belief in God" with reasons to support your answer each time you meet them.

Then they ask you to 'open' up when they are being so closed on themselves.

So, being bothered? I would say yes. Definitely.

I suggest that the most effective way to convey their message is to set up a Q & A booth at Church every Sunday and let people walk in to ask them instead "why should I be Christian? or why should I join your church" instead.

Gospel should be shared to those with open hearts, not to those whom the very moment you walk up to with a "GET LOST" written on their face, which I believe most do. The truth shall not be forced unto non-believers, it only makes them 'never-believers'.

Answer 11

I've got idea....STOP bothering people with your religious HEE HAW, "evangelical" BULLSxHxIxT?

I live in Florida and I can personally attest to the fact that "in your face" evangelism Alienates, Offends and just really PxIxSxSxES people off!