Featured How would you reach these people?

As grave as it is there is nothing funny about that question.

 

I like your spirit and enthusiasm evangelist, but I have doubts about tracts. I know from the perspective of my own family that they throw them away when they figure out what they are. Of course, you are probably getting through to at least one person with that many tracts, but I wonder if your energy could be more wisely spent. Of course, you are doing an exemplary job with your service to the Gospel.

I myself was doing evangelism to people I sat next to or near for long periods of time (~30 minutes). However, I have stopped as I grapple with one question on reaching the lost: what happens when I meet a Christian living in sin in my conversations or even Christians who I consider flatly unbiblical? When we discover that each other is a believer, this usually resulted in congratulating each other on finding Christ and going on with our lives. However, I have serious qualms about that, as it seems to enable sin. I believe I need to be harsh with such Christians in my conversation, but, I just can't bring myself to do so, yet that may very well reveal I am sinning.

I also wonder if I can do much more given my strengths such as host a town hall with me as the Christian Apologist fielding questions. Answering hard questions is my stock and trade it seems, and I want to the useful to as many people as possible using my talents the best I can.

However, your question shows I am being hypocritical in some way and should seemingly go back to street evangelism to those I sit next to for long periods of time.

 

I applaud your zeal, evangelist, though I can't say I like those $1m tracts.
You're doing something, and that is good. But don't stand in judgement upon others who may think it better to try and sow in more promising soil that a 'pride' festival.

 

My opinion only.

I think that the Gospel deserves to be presented honestly and clearly as intended. I think that, rather than the bold presentation of the Gospel, Bait-and-Switch type tracts ($1m) use deception to get people to take notice. That seems wrong to me.

 

If I said to you, "Evan, someone just gave you a new car!" that would also be an icebreaker. It would not be honest though.

 

Do not mistake opposition to the type of tract with opposition to spreading the Gospel.

Why must open-air preaching be the only other alternative?

 

I asked in the other thread, but never received a response; so let me ask this in a different way: Evan, how are you measuring "popular"?

Are you measuring it by how many people took one? Or by how many people took one and, once they realized it wasn't a $1or $1,000,000 bill, didn't throw it away? And/or read it? Or how many people actually talked to you about it?

You see, if you're going to use a unit of measurement, like "most popular," the metric should be meaningful. We had IT contractors who used to tell us they maintained a network reliability of 99%; but they were measuring that based on 24/7, or 168 hours a week. Since the network was only being primarily used 40 hours a week, we asked them to report on their reliability only during those 40 hours. The number dropped to about 78%.

So--I would really like to know if you're simply measuring based on how many people took the tract, or if you're using a meaningful measurement like how many people actually read and/or discussed the tract?

Or is it possible that the advertisement for the tract identified it as the "most popular," and you're not sure what they're basing that statement on?

 

Lies are often effective ice breakers, but they undermine everything else that follows.

Christians are not on this earth to "break the ice" or have unsuccessful conversations. Christians are here to spread the message and influence of the kingdom of God through actions and words. Telling lies and deceptions undermines that basic goal.

NOTE: If you critique what I have written, make it about what I have written - not yourself and not about whether or not people like whatever tract/method you happen to be using.

 

Exactly my point, and better said.

I do not believe that Our Lord calls us to spread the Truth through deceit.