Preaching Christian with a MEGAPHONE?

Question

I just saw this on a busy street corner outside a shopping grocery store, screaming at everyone about the lake of fire. How incredibly annoying! Anyway,a few questions::

1) what do other people think of this? Non-Christians, does this turn you off to Christianity? Does this seem to be taking it to far? Christians: was this appropriate or inappropriate behavior?

2) Is this legal? Can I call the police next time? I live close to where it was happening and could hear it from my home a block away.

Hinds: is that really what we want? Everyone ranting and yelling at eachother via megaphones all the live long day?

Also, hinds, I CAN'T walk away. I can hear it in my own house. I feel really sorry for the people who live even closer to the store. Do you really think you've converted anyone by bombarding them with the "good word" in their own homes and denying them any peace and quiet?

I'm very glad to hear that most Christians don't feel this is the right way to go about doing things. :)

Answer 1

I have been a Christian for over 30 years and have always thought this as an annoying way to spread the Gospel. I don't believe there is any Biblical example of anyone screaming at people about the Good News. I believe the best way for most of us to share the Gospel is through relationships, not megaphones.

If this is truly a matter of disturbance of the peace, the authorities could be involved. They will know how to handle the situation.

Answer 2

well It is legal and we do it all the time. There are two churches here in this town of 20,000 that actively preach on the streets and we are one..
All of the churches have open air meetings in the various basketball courts here. There is about 1 meeting every 2 months .. It is everyone's legal right when they are on public property. You can get your own megaphone and tell everyone else that the christians are crazy if you want.. not a problem.
If you want to take away freedom of speech then that is another issue and we will all be silenced.
Preaching on the street is not forcing anyone to do anything, if you don't like it then walk away..
IF you consider yourself a Christian and are ashamed of the gospel then don't tell anyone you are Christian. Jesus preached in public all the time and to thousands of people.

Answer 3

Yes it turns me off to Christianity. I don't get why preachers preach fire&brimstone, are they trying to get people to turn to their religion or run in the opposite direction? I do the latter. When I was in NYC, in Times Square there was this poor woman with a sign attatched to her back saying "the End is coming" and handing out pamphlets from her church about Revalations and the Apocalypse. . . . I actually felt kind of sorry for her.

I'm pretty sure it's legal, people are allowed to express their opinions. . . . even if those opinions, or the way they are expressed annoy the rest of us.

Actually it could be considered as disturbing the peace. . .

Answer 4

Befor I was a christian I had many encou nter or the third kind like this. It was such a turn off, I was afraid that I would becomeoe of them. Once I began to meet normal people that were christian i realized that the people doing that were not all there mentally. I can see why this would turn non chrictians off. And yes if you can hear him in your home the call the cops.

Answer 5

Sounds like a bunch of Kentucky Fried Christians on here.
Read the Bible and see how Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and all of the Apostles did. All of the Apostles except John were killed for preaching the Gospel.. Look at Paul. These guys weren't chickens hiding in some church, they preached in the streets and anywhere they were.
Read Hebrews Chapter 11.
So is it ORIGINAL or EXTRA CRISPY for you??

Act 15:25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
Act 15:26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Heb 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

Answer 6

I think that's called disturbing the peace, and I think you can call the police.

I think preaching on a street corner is tacky. It is (preaching) one of many things that turn me off about Christianity. Well, moreso the people that used to preach on the college campus back when I was still in school. Those people would come up to you while you were minding your own business studying or whatnot, and interupt you to talk about Jesus. I was nice about it the first few times. I eventually had to get downright nasty to get them to leave me alone.

Answer 7

You see that all the time. It just illustrates the sort of penetration that the Jesus™ brand name achieves. Everybody from Pat Robertson to filthy bums on the street use it to fortify their case. OK, not much of a range there, but still.

1) Nobody worth his salt is going to base his opinion, pro or con, of Christianity as an institution on the bum. Pat Robertson, maybe.

2) Disturbing the Peace ought to cover it.

Answer 8

It sure turns me off. The people that do that are pretty much nut jobs and I just ignore them. The ones I think are really annoying are the ones that picket movies like the De vinci Code. It was a movie, a movie based on a fictional book. No one was saying it was real ! Get over it.

Answer 9

I am Christian, and I think that it is not only improper, but rude, annoying, etc.
Unfortunately, I do not think you can get him arrested, except perhaps on disturbing the peace...after a certain hour of the day though I'm sure.
I think he has the correct idea, but is going about it in a completely wrong way.

Answer 10

That's very annoying. I would've called the police for disturbing the peace.