Watch this video, amazing! These men attend Calvary Chapel, Hemet
We currently attend a Calvary Chapel in the Pacific Northwest.
Athanasian Reformed
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The policeman should have evaluated the situation and known that no law was being broken. He could have told the pastor to be sure not to block the door or harass anyone or impede the business. Instead he arrests first out of obedience to some request and ignorance of the law and constitution. Similar things happened during election campaigns and evangelism efforts.
This is silence through intimidation.
Jon,
Absolutely! There is no “captive audience” present, whatsoever (every single person in that line is free to leave). Beyond that, and on the logic of the Chip, every person who is talking in a way that others around them can hear them is arrestable. It’s the content that’s offensive, what’s new?
I’ve been involved in many evangelism scenarios, very similar to this one; what an amazing thing to think that you or I could be arrested for merely reading the Bible in a public place with the intent of exposing people to Jesus.
Thanks for posting Bobby! It is unfortunate and crazy that these men were arrested for absolutely nothing! But in saying that, where is the gospel? Where is the God who so condescended to us in the Son and in perfect love laid down His life for us? Where is the message of reconciliation that Paul said we have been entrusted with as Ambassadors of Christ? Where is the message that God was in Christ reconciling the world not counting our sins against us? It was the perfect love of God revealed through the Condescending Christ that came to me in my darkness and that brought me to the place of calling upon His name. As a young minister I used to try and control people with fear and guilt, (in ignorance) through my preaching and teaching and it only produced more and more rebellion and very little fruit. Through growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, I have found that I don’t need to try and control people through fear and guilt. In preaching and teaching Christ crucified and nothing else I have seen more fruit than I could have ever produced in 30 lifetimes of using the word of God to control people with fear and guilt. We are not responsible for people’s response to this amazing gospel of Christ! Just some thoughts that I have been pondering ever since I watched the video….
Forever Secure in the embrace of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Chris Singer
I agree Chris. Reading from Rom. 1 on the wrath of God does not sound like a welcoming message that will draw people to the goodness of God. Looking at several street preachers youtube videos it seems like a common approach, but I never see the crowds responding positively. Mostly they respond with derision.
I wonder if they would get a different response if they explained the goodness of God first.
@Chris,
Great to hear from you! I think it’s important to bear in mind that this video is edited, you can tell as you watch the video that we are getting soundbyted pieces; so I’m not sure he actually starts with Rom. 1, but then you also hear him reading directly from the Gospels and the crucifixion account — which is straight up stuff to me. I agree with you in principle, but in fact, conversations about the Gospel in evangelistic situations run all over the place and the gamut of questions. I do think we can take a principlied intentional approach to evangelism that always brings the discussion back to the love of God in Christ, grounding the Gospel in the Gospel (weird π ). I also think that everyone is at different spots in their walks, and that where they’re at shouldn’t hinder them from sharing today (i.e. until they’ve got the right method or approach all figured out — to me, that’s what maturing and discipleship is for, and we need plenty of that in our churches). So point well taken, brother! Hope all is well.
@Jon,
See my response to Chris, we agree in principle.
Thanks for your response Bobby! Of course these are thoughts of mine that are open for more discussion ;-). I agree that discussions do end up in different places and there are always differing circumstances. Indeed we are all at different places in our walk, but that still doesn’t mean that I was right in my preaching and teaching (always will be growing as I mature in the knowledge of God in Christ ;-)) although my motives may have been pure. I do believe that what we are preaching, for the most part in the Western Church, is what God will do for you if you do such and such instead of preaching what God has done in Christ.. In reality we (I’m generalizing) are only preaching a potential gospel. Shouldn’t we begin with the reconciliation of God in Christ in evangelism instead of working our way to it? To go along with that, I believe that our understanding of the atonement really does affect how we understand God, live out of relationship with Him in Christ by the Holy Spirit, and how we then relate to people, both Christians and non-Christians.
Forever Secure in the embrace of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Chris Singer
Hopefully I am clear with these thoughts…. π Thanks for your thoughts again!
@Chris,
No, you’re totally clear! And I hope that what came through from me was that I agree with you. All I was trying to say was that I don’t think the video gives us the whole picture, that we can never go wrong with just reading Scripture, and that the “way” we proclaim the Gospel isn’t the key anyway π . That’s not to say we shouldn’t try to be as clear as possible, work out the theology for ourselves as we grow into Jesus, etc. I think we could have it as clear as possible, and still offend (in fact the Gospel will always no matter what); or we could be muddled in our presentation, and multitudes could get saved.
But, I also think about the Apostles in the book of Acts or Jesus himself. As I think about their approach, they would probably sound much more like the guy in the video yelling “repent” vs. our postmodern approaches of trying to be relevant (I’m not saying that’s what you’re getting at either). I think it’s okay to simply challenge people with a jolting message (I think of John the Baptist too). You know what I mean? And audience is always a concern too (as well as time) . . . so its situational, and our presentations often must conform to that. But, I agree, we always need to be clear about the whole story, not beat people over the head, unnecessarily with a mallot; but we don’t need to be timid either π ! I think we all have a lot of growing up to do. I also think that most Christians don’t evangelize at all, which is a bigger problem!
Thanks for your thoughts Bobby! I richly enjoy dialoguing here! Unfortunately Christians are dug in against each other and are unwilling to dialogue about anything!!! π I have been listening to interviews of GCI-Grace Communion International…..Alan Torrance, David Torrance, Robert Walker, Steve McVey, Elmer Colyer….I absolutely love to read (Book Worm to the max ;-)) but my learning style is aural so it is easier for me to learn by listening…..:-) What little I have really delved into of the Torrances, of those along side of them, and those who follow closely behind them (Bobby Grows ;-)), I must say am eternally grateful for them..I am in holy awe of who He is for us, with us, and in us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! π
Amen, Chris. I like when you comment, I continue to appreciate your zeal for Jesus; you’re an encouraging brother π ! I’m glad you’ve been benefiting from GCI interviews, I like those too! I am thankful that the Lord has given us good teachers for edification, like the Torrances. Stay the course, my brother! I pray that you and your family are doing okay still. Blessings in Christ!