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air, george, john, ministers, ministries, open, preaching, street, wesley, whitefield
“And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day. For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.” Ezekiel 2:3-7
This plaque is on Hannam Mount, Bristol England, where George Whitefield and John Wesley “preached their earnest open-air sermons” in 1739
Command
There can be little doubt to any serious student of the Bible that we, even in the twentieth century, are under a command to proclaim the gospel “publickly” and “from house to house.” When you consider that virtually every Bible preacher from Noah to John was a Street preacher, and that more than 90 percent of all sermons preached in both Old and New Testaments were preached in a public forum, you wonder why anyone would discourage public evangelism, and why preachers, pastors, and others do not attempt to employ this undoubtedly Biblical method of gospel evangelism.
The clear command of the public communication of the Lord’s message was given to Jeremiah (Jer. 11:6), to Ezekiel (Ezek. 2:1-7; chapters 3 and 33), to Isaiah (Isa. 58), to Jonah, to Noah, to Peter and the other disciples (Mark 16:15), to Paul (Acts 9:15; 23:11), and finally passed to Timothy (2 Tim. 4:2) as an example for the New Testament ministry. Add to this the examples of Ezra (Ezra 10:9-11; Neh. 8:1-5), Stephen, and of Jesus Himself, who was first and foremost a street preacher, and you have received more than sufficient mandate from the Lord to motivate any “God-called” preacher to “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet” — publicly.
Conditions
The objection often arises that probably more people are repulsed or turned off, rather than attracted to the gospel through the medium of street preaching. The truth of this objection must be evaluated along with the fact that history states that every ministry that is true to the gospel of Jesus Christ, has the same ratio of acceptance. Even in our computerized, visual, satellite-television era, the truth of the gospel is still rejected by the masses and received by the few — regardless of how you paint or clothe it.
America’s current day is reflected in the conditions under which Jeremiah was commanded to preach the message of God’s word. The nation was steeped in apostasy and false national pride. They had long ago turned a deaf ear to any sound which vibrated of the Lord’s code of morality or His method of salvation and purification. They could not, and did not, heed the advice of the preacher — even after they promised to do so (Jer. 42:5-6). After hearing the clear answer to their request for guidance from the Lord, they said to Jeremiah, “Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there” (Jer. 43:2). “As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee” (Jer. 44:16).
Noah had a similar problem, but was faithful to preach. Jonah was unwilling at first. Although it appeared to be a futile effort on the surface, his preaching bore much fruit.
Zechariah gave out the message of the Lord, but the reply was: “But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear” (Zech. 7:11).
In my judgment, Ezekiel wins the trophy of “Faithful Public Proclaimer,” for the Lord plainly told him that they would not hear, that they would rebel, that they would hate him, his message, and his God, and yet he stood in the gap and shouted, “Thus saith the Lord GOD,” and they knew there was a prophet among them (Ezek. 2:4-5).
Should it cease to be done because few will respond? Should we find some modern method and replace street preaching? Some dressier, more polished, or accepted procedure by which to “preach the gospel to every creature”?
It has been my experience that street preaching balances any minister or ministry. Paul was able to accomplish his incredible feat of getting the gospel to every person living in Ephesus (approximately 300,000 souls) within three years! This was not through radio and television, nor through newspaper and bus ministries, nor through tapes and singles ministries but “publickly” and from “house to house.”
Public gospel evangelism has a profound effect upon those churches and persons who do it. To put it in the words of a well-known forty-year veteran of street preaching, “It will give you the correct opinion of yourself.”
Preachers and pastors who do not continually involve themselves in street work are not only off balance, but they become stuffy, political, egotistical, and fat (Deut. 32:15). They actually feel as though the general population has come to appreciate them, and — God forbid — they may have; but this assumption comes from preaching only to folk who have voluntarily come to hear them. These preachers cannot get the correct perspective of their ministry of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. The LORD said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also” (John 15:18-20).
It does not matter if you pastor many thousands, or if you are an evangelist in great demand, or even a foreign missionary doing deputation: if you preach on the street and do personal work publicly, you have a balanced ministry. If not, you cannot help but be somewhat out of balance. I have pastored with and without a public ministry, and I can testify to the truth of these statements.
Not only has this ministry fallen on times of rare usage, but most ministers and ministries have developed a general distaste for those who are street preachers. In presenting this work as a missionary effort in churches, I have had many preachers come and tell me, with joyful remembrance, of a time much in the past when they participated in a street meeting. They seem to be proud that they used to do that. But, they demonstrate the attitude that this type of ministry is of use only at a certain point in a preacher’s spiritual growth when zeal is more prominent than wisdom. With great patronization, they observe our ministry. If it worked for those in the Bible, as well as for Savonarola, Luther, Calvin, Whitefield, Wesley, Booth, Sunday, and J. Frank Norris, then maybe you need to seriously consider the merits of street preaching and public gospel evangelism!
- Gerald Sutek, The Street Preacher’s Handbook
Note: You may also be interested in reading “Objections To Street-Preaching Considered” by William Taylor (1867).
Related Posts:
The Great Commission: “As You Are Going”
Spurgeon: “Christ’s Ambassadors”
“God & Country” Or Christ’s Kingdom?
Great article! We do not have many real praechers from God today. We have a bunch of charlatans. Preaching is verbal and it’s public. That’s it. The rest is secondary in effect. The reason people are repulsed by street preaching is they are probably being convicted by it. Why else would someone be opposed to a person stating the truth in public?
Laymen also have the responsibility to preach in the way we live our lives. Living a godly life opens doors to giving a testimony and witness to others.
Thanks for posting this great piece.
I am an unprofitable servant in this regard. This is something I am considering – am I to do street preaching?
truthinator – I respectfully disagree with the presupposition that “laymen” need to earn the respect of of folks by the way we live before we can proclaim the Gospel to them. I do not find this in Scripture and wonder how a man’s lifestyle could cause a spiritually dead person to take notice and – as a result – be opened to the Gospel because you keep your yard free of weeds, or whatever. In truth, our works/deeds must align with the Gospel so that, as we proclaim Christ crucified, we do not profane His name by our deeds.
Manfred,
This may – or may not- help.
The Great Commission: “As You Are Going”
Amen! I agree with that universal mandate for ALL saints of the living God to be about proclaiming the Gospel to dead creatures everywhere! Since I’ve been in a reformed SBC church, I have been and continue to be equipped and motivated to have the Gospel on my lips. But I am not standing on the street corners preaching.
“Go, Stand, Preach” that you linked to is something I am looking into. May the Lord be gracious and allow this wretch to proclaim His Truth.
Manfred,
I wasn’t saying what you thought I was saying. I meant that most laymen cannot stand up at work and begin preaching, however, the life we live opens doors for others to hear from us at a more opportune time. This has happened for me many times. It has nothing to do with earning respect but obtaining an opportunity. What I meant was to live the way we should so when we do speak we do not nullify our speech with our deeds.
As far as whether layment should street preach… go for it if you feel you are able to preach. I am more of a teacher than a preacher. I guess that is why my comments about laymen made sense to me and not to you. Since I work in the world, I must have a audience to teach/witness to and this audience must be cultivated. Hopefully that makes sense. I think we are in agreement but words are a little clunky sometimes…
truthinator,
Based on many posts from you, I dare say we are very close on most things. I apologize if I put words in your mouth.
I work in a big company and I do not walk around the corridors preaching
I do have “Christian stuff” in my cube and cite Romans 8:1 in my corporate email signature block.
But your statement, “Living a godly life opens doors to giving a testimony and witness to others. ” leaves me wondering how that works and where is it based in Scripture? It appears to me to be lifestyle evangelism.
As Voddie Baucham put it when he was “disrespecting” lifestyle evangelism – “Do you expect your neighbor to say, “I was noticing how you mow your lawn and feel compelled to ask you about Christ!”? Help you if that’s what you think.”
Here’s a redeemed Jew’s take on that subject: http://jewsforjesus.org/publications/newsletter/2000_11/moishesmusings
I would like to know what you are really trying to say – thinking I am simply not getting it.
Manfred,
You are trying to find a problem where one does not exist. The ‘lifesyle gospel’ is crap. Just because I am cool does not mean someone will want the gospel. What I was referring to is making sure one’s life does not cut the legs out from under their ability to testify about Christ. With workplace rules and other PC stuff dictating the way we can behave one thing is for sure, if someone asks you why you are different you can tell them without any fear of recourse. If you preach to them spontaneously you can be fired.
I do not live a certain way to get people to notice, they just notice as a natural response to my being different from the prevailing culture. There is a big difference in the two. I have known people who lived a contrived life trying to get people to notice their ‘holiness’. That is not what I meant.
Truthinator,
I wasn’t trying to find a problem – I was trying to understand what you meant. I am with you, as your latest reply explains it such that I can grasp what you meant.
Press on – we do need to do things that provoke folks to ask us, “What does that mean?” – which is why Romans 8:1 is in my email
Press on, my brother.
I followed this from Twitter. Occasionally something good comes across Twitter…
I wonder about this topic often, why no one is out among the crowd proclaiming the gospel. Mostly I muse this when I am doing it by myself and think of the brothers and sisters I know who give me the ole ‘atta boy’ pat on the back or condescending smile when they know I proclaim the gospel among strangers. Its as if they have paid some silly dues to the Lord or somehow escape the great commission because they do something in a church or church tradition. Is there some sort of ‘great commission trump card’ I haven’t heard about? Not interested, thanks anyway.
Do you think people are fooling themselves? Perhaps they think there is no need for them to preach, or perhaps, they love themselves more than they love the message of Christ crucified, enough to hold it back from the public? If so then that message doesn’t apply to them. They may or may not be saved from God’s wrath. I can hear Washer yelling, “Know them by their fruits”
I ask myself what kind of man would I be if I had the cure to cancer but did not tell a soul? The answer is simple. In this vile society I would be a monster! Well if the vile wretches of the non-believing world can see the need for a cure, then we who possess the cure for eternal death, and I mean every believer, should get out and preach the gospel.
Great post. Keep it up brother.
From the narrow path,
Len Qualls
One Over 99 Ministry
Luke 15:7
OneOver99.org
Len,
I appreciate your post and I agree with it. My question is about the actual event of preaching on the street. I am in hearty approval for those who have the gift of preaching sermons. I do not have this. I have teaching gifts but not preaching (yes, I believe there is a difference). I am much more effective talking to folks one on one. I would stop, listen, and support a street preacher however. I would also offer to help counsel anyone with questions resulting from hearing a street preacher.
Public proclaimation? Definitely. Can/should everyone do the preaching? Probably not. Can/should everyone be involved in making street preaching happen? Yes
I hope I am on the right track with this. Thoughts? Len, Manfred, JT?
I think the bulk of that article is geared towards those called to preach, which clearly, not everyone is. All believers have been called to evangelism ‘as we are going’, but no, I don’t think every believer is called to be a street ‘preacher’ as such.
Truthinator,
I am coming in way late, but I agree with you. Not everyone is called to be an evangelist. There are many with different gifts & to try to force every part of the body of Christ to be an evangelist is silly, counterproductive and puts burdens on people where they should not exist.
Living a holy life, in and of itself, has nothing to do with “mowing your yard”, although that is part of proper dominion. This is a strawman, Manfred, at BEST! Being gentle, patient, loving, no gossiping, slandering, drunkenness, etc., does speak to your neighbors. Of course they should all know that we follow Christ, but that doesn’t mean we have to put Bible verses in a our corporate emails to really prove that we do. Where in the Bible does it tell us to put Bible verses in our corporate email? You know what, just show up to work, put your time in and work as unto the Lord. WORKING is just as important as evangelism and is part of the imago dei & equally spiritual, even if you never get the opportunity to “witness”. Working as unto the Lord is the workers responsibility (PERIOD)! (Or exclamation)
The problem with “street evangelism” & “street evangelists” is how legalistic and self-righteous most are. They have little perspective on the rest of the body. I went to the Indy 500 on Sunday and the street “evangelists” were ridiculous. Their message was ridiculous. Their method was ridiculous. And they looked gluttonous as all get out to boot! Put down the obnoxious bull horn, add a little gentleness & respect, put down the stupid signs, etc. These men are no Wesley & no Whitefield.
Honestly, I have only seen two street preachers that were marked with the Holy Spirit. The rest are self-righteous and seem like they have few gifts, little ability to maintain a steady job and steady relationships, especially with non-believers & a small circle of believers. Unfortunately, they are fundamentalists enough to proof-text why they are in the condition they are in, so it becomes an exercise in futility.
O’well.