Share the Gospel with the Future

[jandl]

Well that's good news, but I'd bet solid cash that there were significant inroads into those persons lives before the track got there. Of every track pusher I've ever seen, the message is clear "Take this paper and GO AWAY". I've been approached by dozens of them.
"Here take this, Jesus loves you".
"I know, and I'm thankfull for him"
"Take this so you can know him"
"I allready know him"
"TAKE THIS TRACK"

See, they practically never care about who I am and where I'm at. The primary focus is the track and "whatever happens after I take it". Impersonal and ineffective.

Why do you feel the need to BET hard earned cash? You hate tracts that much? Perhaps you are forgetting that the Lord says that the feet of those who PUBLISH (not preach, or minister) the gospel are blessed. I have personally been involved in State Fairs and various other events where a church had a booth and the intent was to PERSONALLY EVANGELIZE the people who pass by. Now, some people don't of course, SO, first we would give them a tract and ask them to talk with us. IF they refused, they at least had the gospel in their hands PUBLISHED, by the way, for them to read, and if they are to be saved, then the Lord can do it, of course. Your experiences of tract pushers has tainted your attitude towards them. Not all are that way, and if that is indeed the way it has been for you, then I am truly sorry. Those people should be pursuing a more personal avenue to evangelize.

I'm not forgetting that fact at all. In fact, in all my dialog in this thread you'll be hard pressed to find anything I say comes even remotely close to "people save people". I said "MINISTER" to and being where the action is. People like Moody were always where the action was, and always ministering to people. Their presence had direct, measurable, palpable impact on lives that everyone could appreciate... especially those being ministered to. Throwing a track into someone's hands and walking away is not even close to that kind of courage.

I never said or promote that they should walk away all the time. Personal evangelism IS best, but God uses TRACTS TOO.

You think I'm using Chick as a crutch for the "gospel being too impersonal"? Go blow hot air up someone else's skirt. I don't need to discredit Chick any more than the man discredits himself. Having suffered both physical violence and social disdain for the sake of the gospel, I need no "crutch". I know exactly how offensive it can be to the sinner, and more importantly I know why. As for tracks, if I'm going to offend, I'd rather offend with the gospel, rather then offend them with how little I know or care about their lives when I shove a piece of paper into their hands then walk away with a clear conscience.

Your hatred for tract evangelism is exactly that- hot air. People will be in heaven who got saved through reading a tract. There will be. As far as personal evangelism goes, there are possiblities for problems there too. There is no fool proof way to evanglize where someone is no way capable of being offended. OUR job is to just get the word OUT. Tracts work when there is NO time for personal evangelism or preaching.

[HisLeast]

Why do you feel the need to BET hard earned cash? You hate tracts that much? Perhaps you are forgetting that the Lord says that the feet of those who PUBLISH (not preach, or minister) the gospel are blessed. I have personally been involved in State Fairs and various other events where a church had a booth and the intent was to PERSONALLY EVANGELIZE the people who pass by. Now, some people don't of course, SO, first we would give them a tract and ask them to talk with us. IF they refused, they at least had the gospel in their hands PUBLISHED, by the way, for them to read, and if they are to be saved, then the Lord can do it, of course. Your experiences of tract pushers has tainted your attitude towards them. Not all are that way, and if that is indeed the way it has been for you, then I am truly sorry. Those people should be pursuing a more personal avenue to evangelize.
I never said or promote that they should walk away all the time. Personal evangelism IS best, but God uses TRACTS TOO.

Your last point is what I've tried to say from the get-go: Personal evangelism is best.

[IsItLove?]

I use tracts sometimes and I write my own.

When I offer them to someone I say "this is for you"
or
"would you like some of my home made propaganda"

If they start reading I stand and wait and ask there thoughts

I guess it depends how you use them.

I have in the past used tracts in passing out of fear of my own lack, but wanting to do something.
So you might say there was a lack of love, because there was fear, and a lack of faith in not trusting in God.
But we all have to first step out in faith somehow even if it is only on the smallest level.
Our faith will grow if we do step out and we should be encouraging one another to do so in what ever capacity they can
while continuing to call each other to go farther in our faith in God through Jesus our Lord.

[Firefighter]

Personal evangelism IS best, but God uses TRACTS TOO.

Question... If personal evangelism is best, then why on earth would you want to use second best (not that tracts are even second, but you get my point)??? God gave us His very best. If we are to show others the God we serve, shouldn't we give our very best too???

[Gilligan]

One advantage of using tracts, signs, time capsules, or walkie-talkies to evangelize is that people don't get close and see our faults, failures, or sins. They can't call us hypocrites for things they can't see in us. Friendship evangelism is great if you've already known the person for a while and are above reproach.

[HisLeast]

One advantage of using tracts, signs, time capsules, or walkie-talkies to evangelize is that people don't get close and see our faults, failures, or sins. They can't call us hypocrites for things they can't see in us. Friendship evangelism is great if you've already known the person for a while and are above reproach.

Why would we want to hide anything about who we are as people? They're going to find out about the faults, failures, and sins eventually.

[Gilligan]

Why would we want to hide anything about who we are as people? They're going to find out about the faults, failures, and sins eventually.

Even if we use a CB base station talking skip to people thousands of miles away?

[HisLeast]

Even if we use a CB base station talking skip to people thousands of miles away?

What do you think is going to happen IF they accept Christ and start assembling with other Christians? They're going to find out we're as human as the rest of humanity. We should not be selling an illusion.

[Gilligan]

After accepting Christ they will be more accepting of our humanity.

[Athanasius]

One advantage of using tracts, signs, time capsules, or walkie-talkies to evangelize is that people don't get close and see our faults, failures, or sins. They can't call us hypocrites for things they can't see in us. Friendship evangelism is great if you've already known the person for a while and are above reproach.

Coming back to the point UM was making to jandl; this is a 'post modern society' (or at least it consider itself to be). One of the major defining factors of such a society is a desire for authenticity and transparancy. Selling a misrepresented message is about the worst thing you or anyone else can do, at least in the West. Jesus said it himself, people who aren't sick don't need a physician. Consider the image you're (or if not you, then others) are advancing. We as Christians aren't sick, don't have faults, don't sin and rarely if ever fail... And we're friends with blonde-haired, blue-eyed, never sinned in his life meek and gentle (and by this I mean weak) Jesus. People reject Christians (and Christ) not because we're hypocrites in that we sin, have faults and fail. They reject us because we deny that we sin, have faults and fail.

Addressing some of the previous conversation in this thread I will say that for all the good Jack Chick has been used for, there seems to be something missing from his tracts -- teaching on grace.

[HisLeast]

After accepting Christ they will be more accepting of our humanity.

If they don't leave it permanently when they realized what was sold doesn't match what was offered.

[Firefighter]

One advantage of using tracts, signs, time capsules, or walkie-talkies to evangelize is that people don't get close and see our faults, failures, or sins. They can't call us hypocrites for things they can't see in us. Friendship evangelism is great if you've already known the person for a while and are above reproach.

Do you realize how many people I have won to Christ because I DIDN'T hide my imperfections??? I am damaged goods because I live in a fallen world, that is the very reason I need Christ every day of my life. People think we are hypocrites because we ACT perfect (contrary to scripture) and can plainly see that not a single Christian IS perfect.

[Gilligan]

Do you realize how many people I have won to Christ because I DIDN'T hide my imperfections??? I am damaged goods because I live in a fallen world, that is the very reason I need Christ every day of my life. People think we are hypocrites because we ACT perfect (contrary to scripture) and can plainly see that not a single Christian IS perfect.

True, but aren't sinners looking for imperfections in us so they can call us hypocrites? After Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, and Ted Haggard got caught and exposed, out came the finger pointing by unbelievers. To them we look like Elmer Gantry's.

[HisLeast]

True, but aren't sinners looking for imperfections in us so they can call us hypocrites? After Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, and Ted Haggard got caught and exposed, out came the finger pointing by unbelievers.

Yeah, they probably will point at those people, but that should promote two kinds of action.
1) A great lesson to us all about how our sin affects other people's lives. Maybe knowing this will help us resist our own sins when the time comes.
2) Compel us to show the unsaved how sin is a pandemic amongst mankind. That really and truly ALL of us fall short.

Especially in regards to (2), many unbelievers think we believe we're better than everyone. If we're selling them an illusion, who could blame them?

[Firefighter]

True, but aren't sinners looking for imperfections in us so they can call us hypocrites?

Yes. We give them ammunition by acting perfect. If we cut them off at the pass and outwardly admit our faults (and hence our need for Christ), where then can they go?