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Featured Are most churches moving away from tracts?

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by evangelist6589, Jul 10, 2014.

  1. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    One church I was in years ago had a massive tract wall with lots of selection. However most these days have few tracts for people or most are not used and such. This begs the question if most churches are moving away from tracts and just not sharing their faith as they once did but sending out missionaries but ignoring american culture and the many lost.
     
  2. ShagNappy

    ShagNappy Member

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    Many churches have realized that a great many tracts are vile, hate filled, un-Biblical piles of tripe that do far more harm than good. They are also associated with things which give Christians a black eye, such as the classless people who use the money tracts instead of a tip.
     
  3. RLBosley

    RLBosley Active Member

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    While that is probably all true that doesn't mean tracts are useless or should be abandoned. Tracts, good ones, are very useful and helpful things. I actually use "money tracts" and almost always have positive reactions, however I have 2 rules for these tracts:

    1. Never leave it, by itself, as a tip.
    2. Never give it to beggars by itself or even with cash/food

    I also have 2 rules for general tract use:
    1. Never force it. If they don't want it say "OK, have a nice day."
    2. If left with a tip at a restaurant, leave a good tip - at least 20%. I try to avoid using the money tracts with tips at all.


    To the OP: I think a part of the reason is that most churches just don't do evangelism of any kind, let alone the confrontational style that tracts are geared towards. By and large, I think we've been indoctrinated that we need to bring the lost to church and have the "professionals" tell them the gospel.
     
    #3 RLBosley, Jul 10, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 10, 2014
  4. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    How many on this board became a Christian - at least in part due to a Bible tract?

    I have heard that less than 10% store coupons are redeemed.

    I would suppose that Bible tracts have even a lower %

    But is even one soul worth the time and money spent on Bible tracts?

    Found this blog called "Sharing Jesus?
     
  5. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    Very wise response. Yes never leave a tip with only a money tract and never give to beggars. I have made these mistakes however recently I included cash and a money tract at a restaurant. You are right in that most are not evangelistic. I will also say that many think that mowing someone's yard and being involved in service projects is evangelism when it is not.
     
  6. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    I am a Calvinist and believe God can use whatever means to bring the elect to salvation. All I do is obey the great commission.
     
  7. go2church

    go2church Active Member
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    Save a tree, build a relationship
     
  8. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Aaaannnnnddddd....back to reality.


    Tracs are not a primary source any more but they are being used quite frequently for situations where time does not permit relationship building.
     
  9. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    and to add to that - tracts should not be used as a substitute to relationship
     
  10. ShagNappy

    ShagNappy Member

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    I did not say they were all garbage or that they should not be used. Our friend here started a thread on churches moving away from tracts and I am discussing some of the reasoning behind it. Many tracts are awful, some are great and my church will be using them when working with the food bank handing out food.
     
  11. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    There are so many cases where a tract is all you can do to get out the gospel. At the grocery store, the bank, going to a fair, going to downtown Denver, etc.. Building relationships takes time, and in a busy city few have that time as most have their own cliques, family, and are attached to their phones and social networking profiles. What better way to witness than a tract in our society?

    Also the world will not think highly of christianity as Jesus himself said you would be HATED for his sake in John, so trying to make it attractive to the world, or trying to say that tracts give christens abad rap is very unbiblical, because the world should and will hate those that stand for the gospel.
     
  12. ShagNappy

    ShagNappy Member

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    I will have to ask you to quote book, chapter, and verse where the Bible mentions tracts and that not liking some of them, and certain uses of them in the past giving us a black eye, is unBiblical.

    I won't hold my breath...
     
  13. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    Hello but the printing press was not invented for sometime a long time after the last Bible book was written. God expects us to use common sense and He has laid out the principles for us to follow in His word.
     
  14. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    What's a tract?
     
  15. DHK

    DHK <b>Moderator</b>

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  16. ShagNappy

    ShagNappy Member

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    In other words.... you were talking out your ear again!
     
  17. DHK

    DHK <b>Moderator</b>

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    2 Timothy 4:13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
     
  18. RLBosley

    RLBosley Active Member

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    I always thought it was obvious he was talking about the OT Books and the NT letters. Do you have another opinion?
     
  19. DHK

    DHK <b>Moderator</b>

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    Books: There were no printed books as we know them. The word is biblia, of which A.T. Robertson says:
    If you one want Biblical evidence for a tract, his "writings" would be the closest one would get. That is all.
     
  20. RLBosley

    RLBosley Active Member

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    I know that there were no printed and bound books. When I said books I was using it in the way Paul did here.

    Maybe. But I think that's a stretch. A tract is written to unbelievers for the purpose of sharing the gospel. Paul's letters were to Christians to instruct them in the faith.

    ALSO.... 1,000th post!
     
    #20 RLBosley, Jul 11, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 11, 2014
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