nortex97 said:
I've never heard of them, and I'm sure he meant well, but that kind of divisive/judgmental open-air proselytizing has always struck me as, at best, counterproductive and at worst it drives young people away from seeking God.
Forgive me for disagreeing, but this is insane to me. Jesus came preaching in a style that would look exactly like open air proselytizing at times.
Quote:
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
His disciples preached the exact same thing. He would start talking, and crowds would form. He didn't invite them to a bible study or church. He would approach someone, and then crowds would form. He sent is disciples out to preach.
I get that telling people they are headed for hell is off putting to some, and its not my personal opener, but the gospel is divisive by nature.
I bet he converted more people than most who hold the opinion that he was divisive and counterproductive.
Paul went to a public place and just started preaching:
Quote:
Ac 17:22-34 22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD
Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' 29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."
32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, "We will hear you again on this matter." 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
So Paul came on to their turf, and openly told them that even though they were religious, their religion was wrong, and told them they were ignorant about the true God, and that they needed to repent.
Yes, some are always turned off by the true gospel, because that's what the gospel does, it either hardens or softens the heart.
Quote:
Heb 4:11-13 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Nobody is perfect, but I respect imperfect people, imperfectly presenting the gospel. At least they are trying. I find the most judgmental are always crying judgmental. Isn't it a judgment to accuse someone of being judgmental. Ironic really.
