We are several Christians who get together regularly for evangelism efforts in and around Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. We are committed to sharing, spreading, and preaching a biblical, law-before-gospel, Jesus-centric, five-solas message to those we meet. We also provide training, encouragement, resources, and tracts for Christians to share their faith.
Laurance reports this about a recent witnessing effort. Please pray for us as we look for evangelism opportunities during the winter!
Late in October, I went out with Jeremy. I tried to record some stuff but my recorder was acting up. Had a few encounters that seemed to go well but it was pretty quiet downtown last night. We talked to a Muslim guy who moved here from London. He knows about the cross but he just could not understand, or accept the blood atonement of Jesus. I tried to share with him how Christians have assurance of salvation; Jeremy argued with him about the Bible vs the Koran.
We also had a long discussion with a nice, professional looking, young man from South America, who has lived here for quite some time, I imagine. He was raised Catholic but has since departed from going to church due to hypocrisy and inter-denominational bickering and other complaints. We took him through the law and tried to show him that his opinions about organized religion mean nothing; all that matters is the fact that he has broken God’s laws and will have to answer for them on judgment day. We seemed to make a connection but I had a feeling that the conversation ended with him reverting back to his self-righteous position. I wasn’t sure if we should have pushed him harder.
This is from Jeremy, who went street witnessing last Tuesday. Praise God for their efforts!
How did the witnessing go? We were faithful in planting and watering the seed of the precious Gospel. Now it is up to the Holy Spirit to bring it to growth. As with every time that I go out to witness my faith in Christ, I am reminded again and again that it is not about me, but about God and what He has done for me; even when I did not deserve His love, He lavished me with it. The main verse that I had in mind last Tuesday was 1 Corinthians 2:2, "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling." As my partner pointed out, our experiences that night were humbling, I would like to add that we were edified by being witness to the Holy Spirit at work and the presence of other like minded Christians from ShareYourFaith.org and those bold souls from Piper's congregation (Bethlehem Baptist Church) proclaiming God's truths perched on five-gallon buckets.
My prayer is that God will use our weaknesses and fears to His glory, and that the people we spoke with and those nearby listening in will come to realize their need of the Savior and bask in His love for eternity. Amen.
Strangers quickly admitting their need for a Savior
Last Tuesday, Laurance and I went downtown witnessing to those who would hear. Much to our surprise and encouragement, nearly everyone we spoke with was willing to talk! Praise God for his faithfulness to give us a field white with harvest (John 4:31-38).
One young woman was kind enough to speak to me for nearly a half hour; she professed belief in Christ, but couldn't explain what the significance of the cross was, why God should forgive us, or what I would need to do to be saved. She simply wasn't sure about these answers. She also had a part of her life that she seemed to know was not in line with what God wanted, but that felt and seemed right to her. I went through several of the Ten Commandments with her to ensure she realized she needed a savior--not just for the area in her life she was concerned about, but also for all her other sins. She was very sharp and quick to digest what I was saying; she acknowledged and admitted that breaking God's law even once made Hell a fair punishment (James 2:10). I explained the gospel to her; she thanked me very much and told me that she had much to consider, and that she was looking for a church. I left her with a "Are you good enough to go to heaven" tract and pointed to my e-mail address on the back. I urged her to read her Bible and find a good church, and to get right with God.
I also got in a conversation with a man at a bus stop who, after I went through the law, confessed a firm agreement with the terms of the Gospel but acknowledged without prompting that he often drank to get drunk. Whether or not he was genuinely saved, I don't know--but I witnessed to him about the grace of Christ for either case. He was very willing to listen, so I outlined the importance of repentance (Luke 13:1-5) and the righteousness of Jesus to take his place (2Cor 5:17-21). I left him with a tract and prayer.
God blessed us to get into these and several other good conversations, so give him praise and thanks, and pray for those we have spoken with.
Breakthrough Urban Ministries and street witnessing
Check out this video about panhandlers. We always suspect that some portion of street beggars can make decent money. Surely none of them are rich or even middle class--however, they are often not as poor as they lead you to believe. We also know many beggars seek to buy wasteful things, break the law, or scam strangers--this is no surprise.
However, what makes this interesting is the content about Breakthrough Urban Ministries, who seeks to help panhandlers in a Christian manner.
"Be careful when giving money to someone in need. I've known people who [give out] granola bars and fruit and maybe a little scripture verse or something that can send them to Breakthrough for more complete help."
We've learned that lesson a long time ago. When you give out food, you are helping those who genuinely need help--several times I've known beggars to be very grateful when given an inexpensive sandwich or small food item. More often, though, you ask someone if they are begging because they are hungry; they respond yes, and then refuse the food you give them! These we know are after the easy money and not barely scraping by. Also, providing information to actually improve their cause seems wise, if they choose to take it.
But then the approach takes a decidedly discouraging turn. What is the ultimate solution? Their director claims:
Forming a relationship and caring about someone on the street will make more of a lasting impact than spare change.
Get to know their names. Find out what their stories are. Learn about them personally. Before long, they'll stop asking you for money, because they know that you care about them...[We need to] continue to love and pour out love; to keep our hearts soft we need to know that, if we're going to err, let's err on the side of mercy, because mercy triumphs over judgment.
There's a lot of truth in what she is saying--doing so will help them more than giving them money. And hallelujah for this amazing truth, that God's mercy does triumph over his judgment. It is indeed safest to strive to show more mercy whenever there is doubt.
However, please see the huge flaw in her reasoning; she is not addressing their biggest need. She is hoping to show them Christ's mercy by first being merciful, but she is advocating "friendship" evangelism, not extending the true mercy of the gospel following the law. God will never reveal his mercy to them unless they understand that judgment is possible, that their sin has separated them from God and that they are under imminent threat of torment. Only when this is real is the gospel meaningful; only when people know we regard them as wretched sinners and yet see us still help them will they begin to understand anything about God's mercy.
It seems Paul's words are directed right at this approach, from Romans 10:14-17:
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
The greatest need of a beggar is to have his sins forgiven and his wicked, corrupt heart changed by the Holy Spirit. God has chosen the message of the gospel as his ordained way of doing so. Should we make "friends", get to know people? Of course, but that takes second place to announcing the gospel and helping them understand their wretched condition and God's terms on how to escape that. The biblical examples of Paul, Peter, and Jesus was to preach the gospel first and foremost, making friends and enemies all along, never compromising and never failing to preach on sin, righteousness, judgment, and Christ's mercy.
There is no kinder, more loving thing than to show sinners their need for a Savior and then tell him who that Savior is.
1 Corinthians 9:16:
For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
The Internet Monk has some thoughts on whether to give money to beggars. When street witnessing downtown, we run into this question several times a night; it also applies to those who don't preach on the streets but who have other occasion to be there. (Disclaimer: The Internet Monk has some big doctrinal problems; I think this article is good to get us thinking.)
Quote:
Jesus' words are meant to underline the compassion and freedom of the Christian. Our generosity is an important expression of our discipleship. At times, we need to give with much less than perfect knowledge, and at times we need to obey the Spirit as he gives opportunity. But we are also to know the "streets and highways" where we are, and we are not to volunteer to be robbed as a witness. Aggressive panhandlers like Sundays, and they like Christians. We need to give them a dollar, a coupon and a brochure for the local "Help" office. We need to give to the truly needy a gift that will make a difference in their lives.
