Context: I have mixed feelings about The Way of the Master (I agree with what Mikey blogged on it today) evangelism technique. My concern is theological (using the 10 commandments as a yardstick with 21st Gentiles) and pragmatic (not sure if it puts more people off considering Jesus because of the manner). On Saturday night there were a couple of cowboys doing some open air preaching on the corner of George St and Park St (diagonally opposite Town Hall) in Sydney City.
I spent some time listening to the preachers, and thought I could try to get into a conversation nearby. An 18(ish) year old dude yelled out some terribly obscene comments about Jesus. I was offended. I begun thinking about how an extreme Muslim might respond in a similar situation. So I walked after this young fella and sized him up. As I followed, I couldn’t help but reflect on Jesus’ words from the cross, “Father forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” So instead of punching him, I prayed for him and then prayed God would forgive me for being a crackpot.
pic from here
I often try to think about how an extreme Muslim would react, and then move forward on that basis.
Glad you didn’t clock the guy.
Glad you didn’t thump him too ;) Nice work, doing as Jesus did!
Awesome that Jesus remained your example during testing times.
Was just listening again to Tim Keller talk about his 3 ways to live evangelism method where he places the ‘evil’ people and the ‘good’ people in the same basket and then shows how the gospel can save both peoples.
The Gospel Coalition – Tim Keller, John Piper, Don Carson 4/6:
http://www.new.facebook.com/video/?id=31365402722#/video/video.php?v=34366581575
Nice work, doing as Jesus did!
Awesome that Jesus remained your example during testing times.
don’t get me wrong… i’m glad i didn’t smack him…
but don’t speak of me too highly!!! seriously. i really was being a crackpot.
i love open air preachers need more ov them.
If john piper is still doing it not just in his age but as busy as he is writing a thousand books a day, all his ministry works with Desiring God, as well as pastoring a church he still finds time to do it. More christians need to do it without excuse
the open air preachers i normally hear often cause offence with something other than the gospel.
ie – if someone is offended by the truth of Christ’s death for sin – that is showing their hardness of heart.
but quite often people are offended by open air preachers saying stupid things just to get attention.
ah that sucks, what sort of stupid things are they saying??
cuz i kno when i studied abit of open air preaching some of the language is different so u can draw an audience but thats only really used when u have hecklers and stuff.
the main thing people hate about open air preaching is the yelling, which your not yelling for the sake of it, its so ur voice is projected so many can hear the gospel even if the person ur talkin to is only a feet away you yell because there could be a person on the other side of the street who had stopped and listened and could get saved.
i dont do open air because i dont have the throat to yell for ages haha, so thats i do one on ones in the street but hav problems with open preachers the only problem i have as i said b4 there isnt enough
At uni this year the Christian group that i’m involved in did some open air preaching during there mission week. In the context of our location and the way the message was being spoken i thought it was really effective. It gave people the opportunity to sit and listen without being threaten. As Christian what we desire is for the message to offend our listener not the person who is preaching the message.
Dave i can understand why you wanted to clock the guy. In the context of a busy city street corner i feel people will just walk away having a stigma towards Christianity.
I really feel that Paul’s example of evangerlism is much more effective then what the “way of the master” prescribes.
1 Thessalonians 2:7-8: But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of god but also our own selves, because you had became very dear to us.
At uni this year the Christian group that i’m involved in did some open air preaching during there mission week. In the context of our location and the way the message was being spoken i thought it was really effective. It gave people the opportunity to sit and listen without being threaten. As Christians what we desire is for the message to offend our listener not the person who is preaching the message.
Dave i can understand why you wanted to clock the guy. In the context of a busy city street corner i feel people will just walk away having a stigma towards Christianity.
I really feel that Paul’s example of evangelism is much more effective then what the “way of the master” prescribes.
1 Thessalonians 2:7-8: But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of god but also our own selves, because you had became very dear to us.
Nathan…
stupid things:
-using their opposition to evolution as an evangelistic tool
-telling people off for their language
-having a go at people for sex outside of marriage
-using the 10 commandments as a yard stick for 21st century gentiles.
Ben…
thanks for dropping by.
Dave i can understand why you wanted to clock the guy. In the context of a busy city street corner i feel people will just walk away having a stigma towards Christianity.
just to make it clear – the dude i wanted to clock wasn’t the preacher but was a young guy listening to the preacher. (someone made a comment on facebook as well and was confused who i was angry with)
i’ve heard of some good open air stuff at sydney uni this year. i think that paul’s model might well be more effective…
even though i don’t like everything the WOTM dudes say – they still talk clearly about what Jesus has done for us in his death and resurrection. and so like philippians 1 – i’m glad that Jesus is preached!
Robert Coleman’s book The Master plan of Evangelism is a good read. It looks at how Jesus Evangelised, which was basically around how to disciple and reproduce disciples (according to Coleman). It’s pretty ‘Navigators’ in its approach, but handles the bible better methinks.
“”stupid things:
-using their opposition to evolution as an evangelistic tool
-telling people off for their language
-having a go at people for sex outside of marriage
-using the 10 commandments as a yard stick for 21st century gentiles.””
Im Confused as to why some of this is stupid things… though I am far from an expert on OAP and I have seen some of these things done very badly.
1)Opposing Evolution: Most people who oppose evolution do it badly – very badly. But we must oppose evolution, I try and mention it in every witness as I am an ex atheist and it is gods desire that I open up the eyes of the world to this lie – But again it isn’t always useful in the context of what you are trying to preach.
2)I haven’t had an encounter where I have been sworn at and I’m unsure of what you mean by telling them off for their language – I would use cussing and swearing as an example of the degradation and sin of the world.
3)Isnt Sex outside of marriage and homosexuality the most picked on sins in the NT??? again I am confused as what you mean if the overall purpose is to convict of sin and lead to repentance in the name of jesus.
4) I agree on this point though – I am grieved when I see people droning on about the ten commandments, beating people to death with them… but this is only if used incorrectly Because Ray Comfort tends to use the BIG10 quite effectively.
Please I hope I am not offensive in this – Congrats on the guy for not beating up the dude – I am generally curious to see what people think with open air preaching – I generally try to be merciful in my attitudes to people because even though I am good enough to teach others, I am still learning.
Oh also when do people do open air preaching and witnessing in Town Hall area as I am interested in helping out and in praying.
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