Street Preaching Must be Redefined by the Local Churches

The Superbowl, the U.S. Open, the World Series, the Daytona 500, Mardi Gras, Gasparilla, Movie Openings,  Spring Break events, 4th of July events, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, you name it; Seems all the street preachers are actually going to these sort of scheduled attractions, parades and festivals. To go out of our way with God’s money to go to a large group of sinners that have no interest in our Savior and are purposefully meeting for sinful reasons may fall under the category of laboring in vain. Don't cast me out yet. Here is my reasoning.

The Laodicean Church Age is agreed upon by most prominent scholars to have began in the late 1800’s or early part of the 1900’s.  This coincides with the first per-version of the word of God in the Revised Version 1881.  Soon after, you start seeing a strain of apostasy.  The shift no longer is consecrated devotion to the Lord, and edifying the church.  It starts to transform to “evangelistic”, Kingdom building, techniques that emphasizes reaching the masses, planned revivals, and inventing a whole new way of doing missions.

Righteousness is not accepted collectively as a nation as it was in the Philadelphian church age.  Holiness is no longer practiced in the government and education systems as it was in the “old days”.  This is the age of apostasy.  It’s a different age.  As much as I or others would love to live in the 1800’s,  or the 1920’2 or the glorious 1950’s, we can’t and we don’t. 

Many outreach minded pastors consider it a full tilt fight, no matter how the world changes, the old time ways continue.  These big events where we tract bomb and street rant, how can sinners decipher his drawing or calling among 50,000 people. 

We think because we live in America and have our rights (Laodicea) that this is our beloved, Puritan Christian nation of old.  It is not any longer.  America is a after thought to God at this point.  Politics, corruption, corporate greed, our school systems, abortions, vanity, materialism, debt, kids killing kids, love of money, crime, extortion, the poor, the fatherless, the degenerate, the proliferate, divorce rates, theft, atheism, sodomy, lawlessness, lasciviousness.  Who are we kidding.  We are another nation that turned on God, like Israel.

What if?

Recently a family member whom I respect and love deeply approached me with a barrage of questions as to why I believed a certain way.  They were informed I was way off the tracks by someone else. 

I can usually handle myself in situations like that but these were delicate matters, family was involved and I didn’t have all the answers.  I also didn’t want to have the appearance as someone who could thrash them with scriptures.  They just seemed so shocked and genuinely hurt with my change of core beliefs.  They even asked about my finances in regards to my giving during this discussion.

I pretty much summed it up by saying to him that after examining things for many years, I just can’t blindly give to men I don’t know, respect, align with or understand. I can’t just go, “Well, God just told me to give to the work so here you go”.  I’m against that mindset. It’s foolishness to me.  It lines up more with the OT philosophies of physical blessings because of offerings. We don’t give to receive any blessings! We give today selflessly, to recieve nothing in return. 

Now, months later, in retrospect, I guess I would say to them, “I just view the church drastically different than you.  I don’t buy in to the nonsense in it.” It's formulas and modern day programs, gimmicks and contemporary styles. It’s not about being disillusioned either!  It’s about waking up to the blatant reproaches! Many fail to acknowledge or examine the symptoms of these reproaches because of the work of the ministry. 

It is so much more than the giving principles and following commissions! How long can we listen to pragmatic teachings and traditions over and over and over? I see so much of “the machine” in our doings, in all of it now that I fear that the best of the independent local churches are now average traditionalist churches, whether they realize it or not!  Just an observation.  Just an onlooker.

"Hi, can I give you something to read please?"

Here I go with another flip side observation.  “Oh you are just picking all the things that used to believe in and do and preaching against them now?” Well, thats not really the case but if you want to believe that what do I care. Sorry!  

I can’t help it.  It’s just my makeup I guess.  It is my knack to teach doctrine through disproving traditions and many human elements that have slipped in under the radar into our ways of service and worship.

Now, lets all get together and go pass out some tracts.  Have you ever heard or participated in such events with your church? There is a danger with such things as gospel tracts, tract blitzes and track bombings.  

I’m not opposed to tracts, but there is the danger of people handing out a million papers to a million people and never opening their mouth to actually witness.  I have seen tracts evolve from a form of opening conversation to more of a “just read this and God bless” and many go on there merry way with their conscience appease that they did something for God. It’s all very Catholic of us isn’t it.  The same as a confessional crutch.  I know people who feel miserable about themselves unless they fulfill some daily or weekly quota. 

In large groups, public outreach operations, especially amongst youth groups there is  this tendency to “one-up” the other that leads more to one becoming a nuisance more than a testimony.  I have seen this hundreds of times in several different places.  Gospel tracts used in such manners turn in to gospel trash.   

Genocidal Maniacs or God Called Men

Much of our talk of callings here and there is nothing more then men using God and his Book as their authority and justifications for whatever kind of orthodoxy they invent in their own minds! But sufficed to say, and without going into a full blown expose on Fundamentalism in the 19th and 20th centuries, a lot of our talk and terms are just that, talk, and terms! 

We have mixed some mysticism with all the talk of a “call of God” and have made ministries out of the blue, by distorting passages.  There is a constant barrage of pressure among Fundamentalist and Baptist circles to “be called” to something!  It’s why we create all these diverse ministries, people have to have a calling or a position to fulfill.  And they have to be fully supported as well in their endeavors, to funnel and propagate the working systems. So men just keep inventing new tactics and ways to get that support.  Hence, things like faith promise and other gimmicks.

Who needs faith anyways?  We have Bible Colleges, Bible Institutes, and Bible schools pumping out 1000 young 20-somethings every year, running everything like a business, or a corporate engine, perpetuating the machine as their teachers taught them.

Let me ask you this; concerning our calls of God that we claim, how are we different from some North African Jungle warlord who claims he had directive from God to commit his genocide?  How are we different from some Cameroon warlord who thinks God told him to perform ethnic cleansings?

Free will, Seed Planting and Fruit Bearing

I Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ~ No on is predestinated.  One has to choose.  Free will has always been the kicker.  Men choose NOT to believe in God of their own free will.  You know why multitudes of grown men and women aren’t coming to Christ like they were in the Reformation and Great Awakenings?  They don’t want Him!  That was then, and this is now. 

You know why they are not coming to God on the street corners, in bus ministries, huge evangelistic meetings, Gospel Blitzes, at the football games, gay pride parades?  They don’t want Him! They want lucre.  They want sin.  They want pleasure.  They want gratification.  They want drunkenness.  They want drug binges.  They want carnal desires

The religious don’t want him either.  They want buildings and temples.  They want salaries.  They want their own lives.  They want education. They want man made ministries.   They want systems.  They want status.  They want position.  They want religion.  They want a form of godliness.  But they don’t want Him!  I heard a wise man say once, Men are seeking fulfillment at every source but the direct source.

Our Lord said, Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:14 Many times in our ways of doing the public ministry all we really do, if truth were told, is find a sinner who is at his wits in, tired of drugs alcohol, and the affairs of this life. All these names and phrase we have for things we do! I.e. soul winning, gospel blitzes, passing out tracts, street preaching, door to door visitation.  We are all reforming!

God didn’t draw them, nor did they seek him, they repented after worldly sorrow.  Maybe they wanted to simply change their ways.  Maybe they had a horrible day at work and took it as a sign! Maybe they wanted a change of luck.  I have witnessed some that just wanted the preacher to shut up and leave!

Skilled Swordsman or Drunken Lumberjack?

The WHOLE Armour of God.  All the items in Ephesians 6 are for our complete armour, not just selective armour.  Not just the sword of the spirit alone, no matter how much some preachers love to draw blood with it, but ask your self a real question sir!  Are you combat proficient or a blood-letting psychotic killer?

We are told to take the whole armour.  Not just a sword.  The spirit is associated with the sword, “salvation” is associated with the helmet.  Our minds and our heads must be protected.  It takes our minds to win the hearts of a lost destitute soul.  Without a sound mind one cannot have sound doctrine.  If a man does not understand salvation he cannot be saved, nor lead others to salvation.

We often forget about the shield.  Funny how we are told to take this above all isn’t!  Our faith, surely, will be tested in this life as a Christian. The world and the devil have been at it for a long time.  Long before any of us showed up.  We are in the most corrupted age, well beyond Genesis 6 in my view!  The only reason we aren’t drowned again is because God promised he wouldn’t do it!  Fiery darts of the wicked stick into things.  We need that shield.

Arrows go into our shields, mingle with our reason, cloud our faith.  Our faith is our protection.  What we can’t see with our eyes is our power.  Our shield of faith is to quench not to deflect.  We are to stand, having done all to stand. It needs to be mentioned here as well, that the sword of the spirit is the only offensive element.  One offensive item listed in six.  Loins girt about with truth; the Breastplate of Righteousness; our Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; the Shield of Faith; the Helmet of Salvation; and the Sword of the spirit.

Our feet need to be preaching the gospel of peace.  How can we give peace to others, by going for the execution stroke at first contact?  The fatal blow to the neck with our big 66lbs broadsword.  Our authority and our training in the book can be our downfall through pride and arrogance.  With all this in mind, let me talk to you bold Bible Believing preachers out there.

We are to use the word of God carefully.  Not “handling the word deceitfully”.  Approaching sinners with the truth and not pride.  This should be our manner. We are ambassadors to the world.  We should be well versed in how we conduct ourselves in every facet of life. The servant of the Lord must not strive.  It carries with all men.   Especially so; if one is going to attempt to “suit up”, play the part, and preach the gospel to the masses at the town square.

The Dumb Ass Speaking

Every time I see a news story like the one I saw the other day, “Street Preacher Arrested”, I think to myself, “Another “dumb ass” was arrested!”  Another street preacher gets arrested so he can proclaim how bad America is.  Another man that felt called to tell some their sins got arrested.  

And many of you care now more about the fact that I said the words dumb ass then you care about the emulations, frowardness and great reproach coming from these lunatic, fringe street preachers!  Do we preach to incite?  Do we peddle conflict?

Men are not being arrested for preaching Christ, but for being a undiscerning, forceful, intrusive, delusional martyr-complex-holding mad men!  Another preacher denied rights to others while exercising his right to preach!  Another glory hound sought an occasion of the flesh, to fulfill his fleshly desires of notoriety and fame.  

Another idiot saw a group of people and made them his God called congregation!  Another dolt ambushes a captive audience.  Another street preaching jackboot thug bushwhacks the public!   

I really wish, I mean I really wish my conscience would allow me to place 2 Peter 2 at your feet street preachers when it comes to this topic.  I mean, you guys place crazy verses at the feet of common people all the time stripped of their context, so you can take a little of what you dish out!  You men are in BAD company if you are finding your actions in line with 2 Peter 2, but you seem to fit the bill to the “nth” degree. 

Protesting the World or Proclaiming the Savior?

The image selected is that of a young Bob Grey.  Like many Fundamentalist then and now, they have people in the world they attack and preach against.  For him it was Elvis.  For many preachers today, it is all sorts of nonsense that tends to nothing but laboring in vain and wasteful ministries.  Yeah I said it!  What? 

In the sense of public ministry, us servants of the Lord, are we (watch as I wax homiletical) Protesting Sin, Provoking Sinners, Promoting Wrath or Proclaiming the Savior?  There seems to have been this recent rash of confrontational sensationalism among our ranks.  Whether it is in the pulpits, pushing for decision by any means necessary, or it is on the streets, ranting and raving about all sorts of sins and unrighteousness.  We are out of the way, thinking we are promoting the way.  Who's world do you think this is?  

Some years ago I remember quite distinctly, Christians, Protestants, Catholics, and even a state power, the Vatican, all came together as one protesting "Brokeback Mountain" at the theaters worldwide. Many across the nation in protest of this film could be seen holding up signs with negative “sodomite sayings” and the typical, verses of scriptures to lay at the feet of any unrighteous believer.  We have our ammo ready all the time.

As I watched it play out, I observed many men attempting to inaudibly speak through a megaphone over the noise of 100 cars driving by with their windows up.  In my view, this would only attract more attention to the spectacle!  But what do I know right?

Judging a Unrighteous Judgment

You may have seen some street preaching men with signs that say;

REPENT, Fornicators, Homosexuals, Liars, Thieves, Masturbators, Obama Voters, Buddhist, Dirty Dancers, Hindus, Gangster Rappers, Muslims, Drunkards, Feminists, Immodest Women, Democrats, Liberals, Evolutionists, Atheist, Potheads, Sodomites,

HELL AWAITS YOU!

I think they about covered everyone! Needless to say, it is evident our public ministries are not bringing in the public! Now, in regards to the above sign, Hell only awaits those who have rejected Jesus Christ and his blood atonement!  

People read these few “lists” in the Bible of groups of people that aren’t allowed in the Kingdom of Heaven without realizing that NO sin will pass over that eternal veil.  It’s why we must be born again.  That’s what this and other passages are simply saying.  Heaven is a Holy place with a Holy God.  Sin will not enter in because we will have glorified bodies, like Christ, when we reside in glory.  Dolts!

The Intended Effects of the Fruits of the Spirit

What is the purpose of passing out a tract?  What is the purpose of witnessing or testifying for Christ?  Why do preachers preach?  Why do believers tell others of their salvation?  

I hear preachers commonly say “Contend with them!” referencing sinners for salvation.  Contend with the unbelievers int he streets, they say! Contending was never a reference to any saved person dealing with the lost!   

Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 

Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Titus 1:4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

This is a striking verse.  The term, “the faith” is only found in the New Testament beginning in Acts 3. “The faith” was no longer being preached.  It was delivered to “the saints” which is a OT and NT reference.  God’s collective bodies, the saints and the body  of Christ, are all considered saints now.

Jude said the “common salvation”.  “The faith was reference many times to mean the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The faith IN Christ! To contend for the faith is to contend for the common salvation!  

Men were making it uncommon.  Men were apostatizing already.  Men were getting into unorthodoxy. Men were making things religious.  Preaching other gospels (Galatians 1)  Men were going back in to the Temple, men were keeping the law and the oblations.  Men were rejecting any gospel of grace.  Men were keeping to the old paths so to speak.  To do this was rejecting Jesus Christ.  To hold to the Law was to reject his payment for sins!  It was denying the Lord that bought them!

The “Abominable” Sodomite versus the “Froward” Preacher

We don’t believe this as a whole in the Bible believing society, or the Fundamental society for that matter, but a person can be saved, and never see much growth.  Their works will most likely go the reprobate route.  Disobedient and abominable.  A sinner can get saved and still do any wicked imagination of the heart.  This foundation must be understood, or you might as well not continue reading.

A saved, washed in the blood sinner, has a standing with God and a state in this world, and they are two different positions.

Does salvation bring good works?  No!  Salvation brings a new man.  There is MUCH scriptural support for this.  Salvation does not spiritually cut away our sins from our flesh.  We are still in our sins until our death or resurrection.   After salvation, yielding to God’s word and his spirit is what gives good works?  If a man or woman does not submit themselves to the spirit and the book,  they will never grow in grace.  

If sinners after salvation do not grow, it usually consist of lack of discipleship, lack of seeking God’s truth in the book, and other Christians making the mark of service so far attainable to the new Christian’s tender mind.  Some sinners don’t give up certain sins for years.  Some do.  Much like Jesus showed us in the parable of the sower.  As us Fundamentalist are wholeheartedly focused on fruit bearing, why do we not remember such a illustration from our Lord on seed bearing.

Matthew 13:18-23~Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 

19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.  

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;  

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.  

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 

Reproving and Rebuking as it Relates to our Conduct in Ministry

This may shock some, but here goes, I believe not everyone you come in contact with must hear the word preached!  You gasp at this! Chalk it up how you like.  

I also believe in answering questions instead of parading biblical superiority.  I believe in “a door of utterance”, not knocking on 500 doors.  

I believe in the holy Spirit’s guidance and leading.  You just can’t understand how someone could say such a thing.  Many public ministries are simply effective only in doing something offending people.  

And they know it, and brag about it even and purposefully attempt to do it.  They think they are doing God a great service!  Our public ministry should be our examples in public, not something we do on Saturdays in front of the Gay bar!  

Public ministry is about planting and watering.  But today, it is loud angry men with bullhorns and enough scripture banners and signs to cause traffic impediment at busy intersections.

This is not effective fishing of men, or being ambassadors of Christ nor does it typify what we see from the practice of seed planting and bearing.  

We don’t preach at our plants, and fruits for not blossoming.  “Grow stupid plant”.  “Repent of your  stubbornness you filthy weed!”  We give them “nourishment”, water, sun light, time, care, patience, longsuffering, and tender care.

Don’t be ignorant of Satan’s devices. We preach against “time saving” technology but we use their same core production valued principles we preach against in public ministry. Our “Over Efficiency” in our evangelism has given way to irresponsible behavior with the word of God. 

The Dangers of Having Youth in Public Ministries

So I guess I will play the bad guy again, and point out more then just "Oh look at our little fireball preach, isn't he precious!" Yeah, look at the expectations we put on them before they are 7!

I have seen young people as young as 6 and 7 preach behind pulpits, and on the street corners.  Using God's word, without even understanding it.  Talking about sin, as if they know anything about it!  Arrogant prideful parents who think their children are anointed for service because of some baby dedication service!  Your kid is special to you but he is not special enough to be ministering to adults and hardened sinners, he is a kid like my kids. 

You say "he can handle it", he has been in the ministry!  You tell a young christian in the pew to abstain from such events, then you take your kids there to behold  all the rioting?  I thought we are supposed to abstain from all appearance of evil.  Oh, that only applies to the compromiser who buys bread at the corner store that sells liquor.  It somehow all of the sudden doesn’t apply to you, the street preachers and public out reach operators who mingles yearly, monthly, and weekly with the sodomites, drunkards, and revelers at their gatherings.  Because someone has to tell them right?  Your going to preach to them,... I know.  

Street Preaching Boldness or Pride Puffing Flesh?

You sap headed thug street preachers out there, and people who have come in contact with them, this just has to be said! So listen up and suck it up, and go on for God! 

As thoroughly stated in previous sections on this blog, I do not disagree with street preaching, and I do not mind anyone doing so as long as it is true preaching of the gospel for the express purpose to win men and women to Christ and not vain showmanship and civil disobedience masquerading as boldness. 

If I do proclaim the word publicly, I do it out of a desire and a preference.  I don’t publicly preach to be in line with any NT mandate or the scriptures.  I don’t do it to fulfill some dead commission. I don’t stand publicly with the word of God in my hand quoting scripture for any other reason other than the preaching of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and things pertaining to that and that alone.  No pet peeves, no pet sins that are just easy targets for preachers to have there fulfilling moment of fleshly battles with the world, beating the devils horde back to the gates of hell. 

If I quote the word of the Lord, I don’t do it to prove anything to any man or to align myself with these men in practice.  I don’t do it because I have some mystical call or command from the holy spirit. I do it at  an opportune moment, like what we see in Acts, but not as a doctrinal command that I see in the word of God to follow.  

As a preacher of the word of God, I may be compelled or constrained from time to time to publicly proclaim the word of God concerning the Lord Jesus Christ for the intended affect of opening dialogue to lead men to the saving knowledge of his gospel of grace and the power of his blood and resurrection.  This is expected of any preacher, to have the discernment to know when the holy spirit is working, other wise, it’s just “loud noises.”

My Long Overdue Response to the Street Preachers

Let me say that this is less about what street preaching was and more about what it has now become.  Preachers,  like any other group of Christian people, you can have those that are true and honest in their heart.  Then you have those that are deceived or willingly rejecting truth. The men we have been discussing usually hold to some twisted form of theology over emphasizing the repentance aspect and the reforming of the world and all of it’s wicked sinners through in your face, shock and awe style street preaching.    

They truly view themselves as prophets!  Street preaching prophets of doom and gloom, mixed with a little angry Jesus and Paul.  It’s deplorable, and ungodly if you ask me and makes a mockery of what believers are!

If their final authority for public ministry in the 21st century is Methodist from the 1700’s and 1800’s, the minor or major  prophets, or even the Lord Jesus Christ, their actions are full of half-truths and heresy.  They use these same passages to enforce borderline legalism  in their churches, while preaching against this said legalism.  They will protect themselves with this and would say now that the fact that I mention legalism, is only brought about by my conviction through witnessing their holy walk of life.  

These men have an answer for everything that deflects the questions off of them and onto others.  They attempt to bring everyone into their “yoke” of living, and they have the King James to back everything up.  

Ambassadors of Christ or Fishers of Men?

In 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, the apostle Paul says;

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Who would disagree with this passage.  A ministry of reconciliation was given to us?  We pray for people to be saved.  We pray for people to be reconciled to God. All Christians can have a ministry of reconciliation.  Now then we are ambassadors! We represent Christ as ambassadors, teaching that men SHOULD repent, not MAKING them, or forcing their hand.  We are not to call a man’s bluff so to speak, and get them to show their cards, to give ourselves an occasion of the flesh to show our lofty knowledge of the scriptures.

Does it matter that the Lord’s disciples were told to be fishers of men, but Paul was given a ministry of reconciliation, and treated it like ambassadorship.  Commercial fishermen, and ambassadors for nations are 2 entirely different trade crafts.  We should be mindful of the distinctions. We can learn some things from them.

The Lord told the disciples these things  about being fishers of men in Matthew 4:19. Mark 1:17.  However, we within the body of Christ, far removed from any apostolic age,   completely dissolved of any miraculous gifts, commissions, calls, or powers, we are to be more like ambassadors, who represent a King in a foreign world that is not our home.  

Evangelistic, Confrontational Madmen who Refuse to Work

You must understand the mindset among many street evangelist or street preachers.  It’s not that they can’t work a job, it’s that their demeanor and conversation of life as prophets and gallant soldiers for God will not allow them to work a job. 

A secular job for these men?  It would never happen unless they learned to submit to others, and in this day, it may be a woman.  “I can’t have that bless God.”  They can only be  “keepers at home” and so forth.  Submitting to a woman goes against their belief system.  

It would be like trying to enclose a rhino in a cardboard box.  Everyone around them would be compromisers, harlots, drunkards, fornicators, adulterers, pagans, sodomites, hypocrites, heathen, philistines, bastards, faggots, queers, homo’s, etc. Forty hours a week around people who hate God, who are perverted, who are blasphemous, who are wicked, who are pagan or so the street preacher views them.  

The legally binding policies of their employers and superiors (or Masters, in the Bible) who are over them will not permit them to preach or pass out tracts.    They, according to their own professions and testimony have already shown that they will go to jail before anyone, including police, tells them to stop preaching.  

They cannot adapt and learn to speak peaceably.  They cannot engage society and wickedness civilly. It’s as if they have never learned self control as children or something.  They are quite like children in their actions, lashing out, deflecting, casting off, ignoring, dominating conversations, screaming, etc...