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.

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 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

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.

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.

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.

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…

“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.

This may – or may not- help. The Great Commission: “As You Are Going”

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.

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.