So my friend handed me a fake million dollar bill that someone at her work had been handed by a costumer. I turned it over and read this:
The million dollar question: will you go to heaven when you die? Here's a quick test. Have you ever told a lie, stolen anything, or used God's name in vain? Jesus said, "Whoever looks at a women to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Have you looked with lust? Will you be guilty on judgement day? If you have done those things, God sees you as a lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterer at heart. The Bible warns that if you are guilty you will end up in hell. that's not God's will. He sent his son to suffer and die on the cross for you. You broke God's law, but Jesus paid your fine. That means He can legally dismiss your case. He can commute your death sentence. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Then he rose from the dead and defeated death. Please, repent (turn away from sin) today and trust alone in Jesus, and God will grant you the gift of everlasting life, then read your Bible daily and obey it.
The ice cream employee had been handed an infamous tract, most likely by an extremely right-winged Christian who said something witty when he/she had handed it to the girl. Most likely to the affect of "Here's a million dollars to save your life" or maybe "Here, keep the tip. God bless you."
I read yesterday in the New York Times that archeologists found what was believed to be another chapter in the book of Matthew 2 years ago, and finally have been able to translate a few sentences of it:
And Jesus said unto them, "Don't you dare give people little pieces of paper that try to convince them to be saved by me. I mean...seriously. How stupid do you have to be to do that? Trying to explain Christianity in a little booklet is like trying to explain the biological functions of a bear in one sentence, or trying to explain how to make a MACBOOK PRO out of two sticks and a raccoon hat."
People that evangelize wonder why some people get so offended when they go out and tell people that "Jesus loves you and he died on the cross for your sins, did you know that?". I propose that asking someone that is like asking someone if they knew the sky was blue, or if they knew the story of "The 3 Little Pigs".
The I feel that the majority of people (I'm talking about in America) know the story of Christianity. In fact, they know a lot about different religions. A lot of people know that if you're Muslim you get 40 virgins if you go to paradise, if you're a Catholic you believe that the Virgin Mary is really important, if you're Jewish you aren't supposed to eat certain things, that there's Allah and God, and Mohammed and Jesus, etc.etc. The point is: a lot of people know the story of Christianity, just as they do with a lot of other religions. The tough part of religion is not knowing the stories of each one, but believing the concepts, stories, and teachings of them.
Pyschology 101
Question: Can you get someone (you don't even know) to add to/change/rearrange their belief system and their lifestyle based on any sort of paper handout?
Answer: Of course not you idiot, don't you have any sort of common sense?
If you give someone on the street a Harry Potter book, they might like the story, but they definitely won't believe in wizards based off the book.
If you give someone on the street a tract about Christianity, they might like the story, but they definitely won't believe the message based off the tract.
But if someone saw a wizard in action; making things fly, casting spells that make food appear, making potions that make you look like someone else, then they would be much more likely to believe in magic and wizards.
If someone saw a Christian in action; living selflessly, loving everyone without any sort of catch, trying to better themselves as a person before trying to "fix" other people, showing integrity, living concepts of Jesus Christ, being honest about their life--then they would be much more likely to believe that there is a God that loves them, a Christ that died for them, and salvation to be found.
To my brothers and sisters who are not Christian: I deeply and sincerely apologize for all the ignorant Christians that you have and will encounter that try to sell their religion to you as if it's something that can be marketed. These people are very far away from what (I believe) it means to be a Christian. But, they are stuck in their tradition, in their living life with the blinders on--refusing to think of the consequences of their actions by being so narrow minded and stupid.
To my brothers and sisters who are Christian: I deeply and sincerely ask you to stop handing out tracts to people. If you believe that your God, your Christ, your salvation...can be explained in anything short of a life lived, than you have not even begun to grasp your religion. People should know you by your good works, not by your loud and abrasive words and your small print booklets. You can't "win one over for God" (which by the way, is STILL, TOTALLY, and UTTERLY missing the point) through being door to door sales representatives. Be it at your school, your work, your campus, your friends... no one wants to be gently coerced into buying things. But when you actually talk with someone. Actually get to know someone, actually care (and NOT caring because you have intention of sharing your religion, but care because you truly appreciate them as a person), you would be surprised how open people are. But it takes genuinely caring about them first. This means caring about them without hiding the Bible behind your back, like on some sort of secret mission.
We all want to choose for ourselves, not be bullied or persuaded into being this that or the other. The sooner Christians can understand this, the better it will be.
Oh, be joyful.
AGREED! (mostly)
ReplyDeleteI think you're missing the point bro. Will a tract in and of itself lead someone to salvation? Absolutely not, you're right. However, let's say a person receives a tract one day (we'll assume they keep it). They may see "Christians in action" and seek out that tract after hearing those Christians say that Jesus is the reason they're so filled with joy. A changed life does attract people, it makes them wonder what you've got. And honestly, a tract isn't a bad way (not the cheesy ones) to give people a short version of how salvation works just for reference. You can't possibly say that God hasn't used tracts in bringing people back to Him. I would encourage you to drop the harsh attitude I can feel in this blog post. Don't take your own personal bias/bad experiences and turn them into an absolute truth that street evangelism can never work.
ReplyDeleteChris-->The bad taste tracts have left in the mouthes of people all over America speaks absolute volumes. The risk of totally turning someone off to Christianity is never worth it. I would also say, again like I said in the blog, there is NO SHORT WAY to understand salvation, aside from living it out. Why on earth would people want to downplay/simplify one of the most important things that could ever happen to them? It's foolishness.
ReplyDeleteChad, I agree that as Christians we often fail to effort a genuine attempt at evangelism. Tracts can be absolutely cheesy. And I don't know about you, but I hate cheese by itself. can't stand it. But I think the reason it tastes bad is because we often don't couple the cheese with a little wine (or cracker if you prefer a less alcoholic pairing). We just hand them out as if they were self-explanatory tickets to salvation and go home with our chest puffed out in pride of a job well done. Instead we ought to take the time to have a conversation with these people we're trying to attract. "Hey I know this is probably cheesy, but I have this little booklet I'd like to share with you. Do you have a minute that we could talk about it?" When we use tracts properly (as conversation starters, not replacements to conversation) then we can serve a little cracker with that cheese. And I love cheese and crackers.
ReplyDeleteBut cheese and crackers is just a snack, or appetizer to something more. So we have to ready to show people the main course. But we can't bring more to the table if we don't have more in our own lives. So you rightly address the fact that a life lived by faith is what gets the attention of non-Christians. Without exemplifying Christ ourselves, telling others about him becomes a history lesson instead of an invitation, because there's no application for what it means to me today.
Having said all that, if we were willing to just walk up to people and have open honest conversations about life and Jesus, then we wouldn't need tracts would we? So is it the tracts that come off cheesy, or is it the Christians grasping security blankets (tracts) instead of clothing themselves with Christ?
I would like to hear how you then reconcile this blog post with Pauls thoughts in Philippians 1: 17-19ish.....If Christ is being proclaimed no matter the motives (some would argue or tactics) its all good...
ReplyDeleteI get what your saying however, this is a scripture that hit me right between the eyes and caused me to go before the Lord in several ways!
James 1:19 - Jesus Christ is a street evangilist...
ReplyDeleteMy first thought when I see things like this is the famous quote (usually attributed to Augustine) "The church is a whore but she's my mother."
ReplyDeleteShe's able to be critiqued every which way from Sunday (pun-- funny) but she's still the beauty and hope of the world. Only the Christians who love her are qualified to heal her.
Concerning tracks and other such silliness...
The gospel is proclaimed only in so far as it's understood. If we were to live in 1950's America, we would find a vast amount of men and women who knew the facts of the gospel, but were choosing to live as they pleased. Gospel tracks appeared as an appeal to such people to repent. They were actually quite effective. To use Chad's metaphor, they already had the MacBook, but needed encouragement to turn it on.
Sixty years later, we find a world that is so far removed from knowledge of the gospel that such methods do two harms.
1. They give such a weak dose of the gospel that it ends up serving as an antidote to it. "I've heard that crap... it's stupid" is the response.
2. They are turned away from wanting more contact with the believers who actually have the real "disease" and are contagious.
Lastly concerning Craig's thoughts. When you added the words "some would say tactics" you stepped outside the context and scope of what Paul was saying. Motives and tactics are not the same thing.
Thanks for posting, Chad!
I say live your convictions. If you feel like God is pushing you to hand out tracts, do it. If he is telling you to build relationships first, do it. By pointing the finger at Christians who are planting seeds, you are judging them. Only God can judge.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, I do agree with a lot of what you said in your post. It is not for us to say what is right and wrong. Do as you feel lead to do... the important part is that we answer when he calls.
and yet i know of plenty of organizations that push for tracts... and so do you, obviously.
ReplyDeletei completely agree: there is NO SHORT WAY to understand salvation, aside from living it out. i would even take that further actually. because salvation is a mystery of faith, we don't or can't fully understand or know how it "works" and never will until it actually takes place, ie when we literally do meet the Maker. we have to actively have faith (which is a work in and of itself) in the teachings of Christ and His Church!
that was a very ecumenically diplomatic way of explaining the Catholic belief on Mary. i'm thankful that you didn't make it negative. if you'd like to know what we believe specifically about her, feel free to ask me sometime.
Chad, i admire your passion in the search for Truth. it's not my intention to convert you (at leat not in the popular sense), but i think you'd make a great Catholic. i say that as a compliment to you in that you hunger and thirst for Truth!
"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
I agree with "Anonymous". I do think that tracks kind of "dumb down" Christianity as a whole, but I also believe that people CAN understand a lot of truth about God through a track, not just seeing people live it out. That's why a person can discover a track or a page of the Bible in another country where Christianity is not really present, and give their life to Christ, because the Scripture speaks for itself.
ReplyDelete1 Corinthians 15 says: "Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures..." and goes on to say all the people he appeared to. That is the gospel. God loves us and sent his son as a sacrifice, and we need to hold on to that. That is something people can understand without seeing others live it, but in our country if they DON'T see others live it, they probably won't embrace it. It's not that they can't understand it, it's just that it's not believable to them.
But I would also agree that in America people have heard a lot of it, and relationships will probably have a GREATER effect on people than a track. Working at a coffee shop for a year and a half, I had my co-workers tell me about tracks left for them (even some were left for them while I was there with them!) and how they were offended or thought it was dumb or felt judged or whatever, because they just dropped off the track and left. Luckily I was there to tell them the people weren't judging them, but believed whole-heartedly in what they were doing and were trying to help everyone and it was nothing personal. I was able to show Christ through my love and non-condemning attitude towards them, more than the tracks. So I guess I agree with this post for the most part, but think tracks CAN be good if used in the right way.
Campus Crusade has some that are not cheesy. I've seen the cheese ones, CC's are not nearly as bad and convey the message of the cross. For me personally, the track was more of a way to teach me a clear way to convey the message of God's love. I used the track more as a tool for myself to learn how to better convey in natural conversations what the gospel is. (There's a link here if you're interested: http://www.ccci.org/how-to-know-god/would-you-like-to-know-god-personally/index.htm) But if I'm dropping off tracks and not talking to people or living it out, I miss the point and it probably has little or no effect.
One analogy I learned on a summer project I was on was the analogy of a billboard verses a co-journer. Now this is gonna be cheesy but bare with me :o) A person is driving a car and they see a billboard is on the side of the road that says "Jesus died for you," and then within a few seconds they pass the billboard and don't see it anymore. That is like a person going through life and a Christian dropping off a track, in and out of their life within seconds. On the flip side, there's another person driving a car and someone says "Let me get in the car with you and accompany you on your journey." That's like a person going through life and a Christian investing in a relationship with them and coming alongside them in their life. And the question we need to ask as Christians is, am I a billboard for Jesus or a co-journer in the lives of people? Cheesy, I know. But that's not in a track, just something to think about :o)
I believe the art of conversation can be LEARNED and ANYONE can do it. Is it easy? No, but it can be learned. Are some people naturally gifted in it? Yes, but even they, have to continue to practice it and they have to learn constantly to develop that gift. But anyone can learn and apply. That's why there were books written on this topic, such ... See Moreas, "How to Win Friends and Influence People"-Dale Carnegie, "Dynamic People Skills"-Dexter Yager, "Personality Plus"-Florence Litthauer, "Positive Personality Profiles"-Dr. Robert Rohm, "Just a Walk Across the Room-Bill Hybels, and countless others. But people are not taught in school or college to read these books nor are they doing it on their own after their schooling. They are more preoccupied with doing the task of their job, and being entertained after work, and therefore, actually knowing how to start a conversation and engaging people with listening is a lost art. Hence, people don't know how to share the Gospel, because they can't even talk to one another at more than a superficial level. But the tools are available for them to learn. Will they, though? That is the question. They will, if as Christians they are led to understand that the mission of Christ to seek and save the lost is the first, highest, and most glorifying dream that God has for us. And "if the dream is big enough, the facts don't count." Even if they have to step outside of themselves and talk to someone, and overcome the fear of rejection, the fear of people, and the fear of failure. Small price to pay considering the price Christ paid for our salvation. Fear is a tool of Satan, and fear is a mile high, a mile wide, and PAPER THIN!
ReplyDeleteI believe the art of conversation can be LEARNED and ANYONE can do it. Is it easy? No, but it can be learned. Are some people naturally gifted in it? Yes, but even they, have to continue to practice it and they have to learn constantly to develop that gift. But anyone can learn and apply. That's why there were books written on this topic, such as, "How to Win Friends and Influence People"-Dale Carnegie, "Dynamic People Skills"-Dexter Yager, "Personality Plus"-Florence Litthauer, "Positive Personality Profiles"-Dr. Robert Rohm, "Just a Walk Across the Room-Bill Hybels, and countless others. But people are not taught in school or college to read these books nor are they doing it on their own after their schooling. They are more preoccupied with doing the task of their job, and being entertained after work, and therefore, actually knowing how to start a conversation and engaging people with listening is a lost art. Hence, people don't know how to share the Gospel, because they can't even talk to one another at more than a superficial level. But the tools are available for them to learn. Will they, though? That is the question. They will, if as Christians they are led to understand that the mission of Christ to seek and save the lost is the first, highest, and most glorifying dream that God has for us. And "if the dream is big enough, the facts don't count." Even if they have to step outside of themselves and talk to someone, and overcome the fear of rejection, the fear of people, and the fear of failure. Small price to pay considering the price Christ paid for our salvation. Fear is a tool of Satan, and fear is a mile high, a mile wide, and PAPER THIN!
ReplyDeleteDid the tracts leave a bad taste in "the mouths of America" or are we placing the blame in the object when it lies with the user? Tracts, when used properly, are a great tool. It's not about downplaying salvation, it's about getting the idea in people's heads without taking an hour to do so. In our fast paced society most people don't have the time or desire to have a drawn-out conversation about Jesus. But, if you just take a minute or two of their time, get the message of Christ out to them, and send them on their way, what's the harm? You never know how God is working through different methods of evangelism. And just to note you really ought to check out Campus Crusade's pamphlets, I don't think they're cheesy, in fact I'd find them pretty useful to give to people.
ReplyDeletereligion itself is foolish
ReplyDeletenoone know what is correct... no matter how hard they try to convince others or themselves
matthew 6:5 When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.
follow god... which pretty much every religion does.. live your life in the best way possible treating everyone with love and compassion and in the end you will either go to the blessed place.. or you wont
talking about religion only creates more problems lol politics and religion.. better left alone
but anyways good post chad
PAMPHLETS AND TRACTS ARE A WASTE OF GOD'S PRECIOUS TREES LOL
ReplyDeletesave the trees people!
I would say a lot of the ideas you have are right. And as a lot of these comments say as well, tracts are good tools that are used improperly.
ReplyDeleteBut at the same time, I think that saying that those who use them are idiots who don't have common sense isn't right. No, perhaps going up to some food joint and handing the cashier a fake million dollar bill in hopes to save that person's soul won't be effective. But having a tract that outlines the gospel message with scripture equipped inside, where the person can talk through the tract...those can be effective! A question: is it NOT showing love by going through a tract with a person? Because that person is obviously willing to hear it. You can't force someone to have a spiritual conversation (especially one that outlines the gospel).
True, as a Christian I need to live my life with love. That should be evidence of the gospel in itself. But I am also a sinner. I WILL fail, guarantee. Are Christians hypocrites? Yes, if we claim to be perfect (and you and I know some do). But we have to own up to our sins, not just to God, but to others. Hopefully that too will make our lives reflect Christ - apologizing MAN for what we've done to them (or forgiving what someone has done to us).
I think this step is missing in a lot of Christian's lives, myself included.
One final thought/statement: The gospel is offensive. It was in Jesus' time and it is today. We will offend people no matter what, but at least the gospel was shared. Who knows if those words said, even taken negatively, planted a seed in that person's heart for Christ.
Having grown up back in the 60s and 70s when the whole track thing was popular, I have to admitt I was pretty easily impressed by them.
ReplyDeleteThe problem I see now is that most tracts are not teaching the whole truth of the gospel. Even just the salvation part is usually "faith only".
I didn't really understand what God wanted from me until I started reading the Whole Bible. But, the tracts where a good place to start.
Remember the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:31, he said,"How can I understand this unless someone teaches me."
There are lots of different "methods" out there today and of course some are better than others. I think the point might be DO SOMETHING!
It's not my job to "convict" people. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. I'm just the messenger.
By the way, I have to disagree with some of the comments here. One "religion" is not just as good as another. And they don't all lead to Heaven. Only Jesus is God's Son and so only He is the Way. Mohammad may have been a good teacher, like Buddah, Confusius and many others. But when they died ... they stayed dead.
ReplyDeleteAnd, (I'm almost done) if all I do is show people what a nice lady I am and bake cookies for new people in the neighborhood or direct our VBS ... Then they will just know that I'm a nice lady. That isn't going to get them to Heaven either. You have to tell them about Jesus.
ReplyDeleteOK ... now I'm done.
I can see where you can think that using a paper booklet with cookie cutter ideas of the gospel can be a stupid way to approach a non-believer. But it's not about how you do it. Whether you share the gospel with a track, by memorization, read scripture, or whatever else Christian's use to share the Love of Jesus, it is not the method that "saves" people, but the Spirit.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't read this and not fight back with truth. Although I used to have a negative view on using tracks, the truth of the matter is that they are just resources, just like the people sharing the gospel through memorization or knowledge.
Therefore the only thing that would lead someone into following Jesus is the Spirit, and the work of the Lord Himself.
"If you give someone on the street a Harry Potter book, they might like the story, but they definitely won't believe in wizards based off the book."
ReplyDeleteBecause that would be CRAZY! To put all of your faith into something you read, but couldnt actually see... wait isnt that what religion is, beleiving in something you cant see based on books and superstitions youve heard or have been told about.
"If someone saw a Christian in action; living selflessly, loving everyone without any sort of catch, trying to better themselves as a person before trying to "fix" other people, showing integrity, living concepts of Jesus Christ, being honest about their life--then they would be much more likely to believe that there is a God that loves them, a Christ that died for them, and salvation to be found."
Add to that list;
"If any man takes a wife, and goes in on her, and detests her, and charges her with shameful conduct, and brings a bad name on her, and says, 'I took this woman, and when I came to her I found she was not a virgin..." (Deuteronomy 22:13,14)
"But if ... evidences of virginity are not found for the young woman, then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones..." (Deuteronomy 22:20,21)
STONING NON-VIRGINS
"Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ." (Ephesians 6:5)
"Slaves, obey your human masters in everything; don't work only while being watched, in order to please men, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord." (Colossians 3:22)
"Slaves are to be submissive to their masters in everything, and to be well-pleasing, not talking back ." (Titus 2:9)
"Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the cruel. " (1 Peter 2:18)
SLAVERY
"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9,10)
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
(1 John 1:9 New International Version)
CONTRADICTIONS
Lets face it, the Bible is as fictional as Harry Potter, and far less relevant to todays culture. Give it up and live a bit, before you've wasted your whole life preaching, only to die and nothing happens, just like everyone before you.
I would like to point out that all those verses you used were out of context or mis-read.
ReplyDeleteStoning non-virgins, well I can't say I know a lot about that, but I do know that during the "old testament times" there were a lot of rules and clear punishments outlined in the Bible. This is one of them. I'm not totally sure, I'll admit, but I do know that God is Just.
Slavery:
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3:28
We are all created equal. We are all the same to Jesus.
"If I have denied justice to my menservants and maidservants when they had a grievance against me, what will I do when God confronts me? What will I answer when called to account? Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?" - Job 31:13-15
We all have rights, and it is unjust to treat servants or slave without those rights. This is because God created all of us.
"Jesus called them together and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'" - Matthew 20:25-28
Authority is of man. If we want to have power, we must be humble and act as the last. This is how Jesus lived his life.
There are far more than these three verses that state we are equal. It is clear that God has created us in His image and wants us to be equal. Problem? Humans sin, seek attention and power and create hierarchies. The Bible addresses slaves because slaves too heard the gospel.
Please, read the chapters of the verses you quoted and maybe it will make more sense to you. In Ephesians 6 and Colossians 3, slaves aren't the only ones addressed. Children and fathers are addressed in ephesians, and wifes, husbands, fathers and children are address in colossians. 1 Peter 2 has a section about slavery, but it further explains why slaves should submit to their masters: because this is how Christ lived and this is how a slave can reflect Christ in their walk, by being respectful and content in their extremely unjust and unfair situation. I pray that if you do read these chapters, the Lord makes it clear to you that he does not like slavery because he created all his people and loves the all equally. Slavery is addressed in these passages because it is how society functioned at the time-because slaves also accepted salvation, and needed instruction on how to live life in their situations (all times, saying obey your master because it reflects Christ. Never does it say obey your master because you are worth less than him)
As for the contradictions, I would like to point out this next verse that will help explain what looks like a contradiction (1 Corthinthians 6:11)
"And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
We were wicked. NO ONE deserves kingdom of God. Basically, we all sin, we all suck at obeying Him even when we try really hard. We should NOT inherit the kingdom. That is why Jesus is so awesome! He paid for our sins that we may spend eternity with Him!
I pray that you will understand the Bible more. I also ask that as you seek out verses that are supposed to hurt our confidence or convince us otherwise, you might think of the scripture surrounding the verses you pick. The Bible is 100% true, relevant, and perfect. Perhaps through that even unconventional way God will show you who he is, and that he loves you.