12 thoughts on “Confrontational Evangelism”

  1. There is nothing that says: “I want to reach you for Jesus” by not listening to a word you say!

  2. Jesus didn’t say to listen to all nations, he said to preach to all nations. Amen? Amen?

  3. I go to UNC-Chapel Hill, and I see these preacher guys all the time. This guy is actually way better than most of the ones I’ve seen. At least he’s actually giving the gospel (albeit in an ineffective, confrontational way). I have neither seen nor heard of any positive fruit coming from this type of evangelism on campus.

  4. If this guy were a true “fundie”, he wouldn’t be wearing shorts and a t-shirt when he was preaching.

  5. I have done this type of evangelism. I spent two years in Bible college going twice a week, and I would like to give little perspective.
    First, I think public preaching does accomplish some good. It causes some to think about the message, and it can be a testimony of burden for people’s souls. Sometimes the street-preacher can be found when a person doesn’t know where to go. I have had many a profitable spiritual conversation because of street-preaching.
    Second, there is a correct way to do this, and a hundred incorrect ways. I have probably seen them all. I have been on the street when God was working in a heart (during a one-on-one conversation generated by the preaching), and I been out preaching and wanted to strangle the guy I was with for his fleshly, calloused responses to heckling. He completely undid any good we may have done that day. But remember, the preacher doesn’t validate the style as legitimate. If that were true, preaching as a whole would be gone. My good friend and I were usually approached in public as “being different” than the other preachers. This speaks to me of the difference in heart attitude being the validating factor.
    I have seen a few saved during public ministry. I have had good witnessing opportunities. I have been heckled by drunks. I have been nearly pounded into the sidewalk by a man who had to be removed by the police (who, by the way, were glad we were there). Nothing else considered, street-preaching is definitley exciting.
    I would welcome any serious conversation about public ministry. I believe it is a good antidote to the tendency to “keep it in the church-house.” I also believe I can demonstrate proper methods from the Bible. Although most street-preaching is worthless, and most street-preachers are even more worthless (and probably unsaved), it is a legitimate form of ministry.

    1. So…Aaron….evangelism is “preaching” (actually shouting tradition-based, undefined catch-phrases at complete strangers) to random people with the intended purpose of (1) fulfilling some guilt-producing requirement mandated by your unaccredidated fundy Bible college, and/or (2) get someone to “accept” Christ, thereby allowing you “notch” your (a) extremely large KJV1611 Bible, (b) your headboard, or(c) your just-a-little-too-short-very-big-knotted-polyester tie, but not giving a single future thought as to what ultimately may become of this professing person or what happens in his life. Basically you tell him he now has eternal security and that he needs to let God “work” in his life (i.e., cut his hair immediately, buy a very large, JV1611 Bible, and find a GOOD IFB church)…Ok…good to meet you…Umm…Oh….what was your name? People like you falsely convince people that repeating the sinners’ prayer = becoming a true follower of Jesus Christ. Why? Well, it’s easy, measurable and nicely fulfills your guilt-based “Christian” ideals and obligations…Oh and your “man of Gawd” preacher or fundy-school president tells you that’s what scripture says so you don’t need to think, study or analyze any other possibilities. Actually share the gospel with people by building caring personal relationships? Why would I do that? I’d have to leave my fundy cocoon and get too close to the “world”…plus, I just couldn’t get the numbers necessary to really impress my bus captain, right? Rant’s over and I feel better…

  6. Aaron, I commend you. If more street preachers had the humble, respectful attitude like yours, they would be taken more seriously, and more listeners would be saved. Keep up the good work.

  7. These guys come to my campus all the time, but this guy is a lot more polite(yea the ones at my college are that bad). On my campus we even have a corner in the middle of campus called the freedodm corner where anyone can stand and say anything they want, but this one guy comes every year, never stays in the freedom corner comes sraight up to me and my friends(most of my friends are gay and we all smoke,we sit a a bunch of picnic table under a big tree in the middle of campus) stands up on the table we are sitting at and starts telling us that we are all going to hell and that we need to repent, we cal the cops on him every time, and they remove him from campus every time, but still once a quarter he comes back. persistant little s.o.b ill give him that.

  8. I don’t get street preaching, because every time I run across it, I can barely understand what they’re saying.

    Someone should give this guys a tract that teaches him about ankle socks.

    1. Another point is that most of the time these guys use the “one size fits all” approach to their “evangelism”. There is no thought taken to presenting the Gospel in a manner that is appropriate for the audience. In most college campus cases I’ve witnessed, the speaker makes assumptions based on preconceptions, and preaches a hellfire and damnation message. Completely different from what Jesus did in the Gospels. Can you imagine what this guy would have said to the Samaritan woman at the well?

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