“I apologize for the delayed response…….I have had a passion for evangelism since the Lord saved me. I have done evangelism in different countries using various methods. ”

What are these various methods? Apologetics is a type of evangelism as well. Schaeffer said it was pre-evangelism while Van-Til said it was evangelism (this ticked off Van-Til about Shaeffer).

Thus Schaeffer was reason before faith while Van-TIl was faith before reason.

So I’m curious. What are these methods? Is this simply a means of illustartion or are actual methods differing?

Jean Cauvin

A Song of comfort when wicked people attack you

O God, hear my voice when I groan!

Hide my soul from the terrorism of the enemy.

Hide me from the schemes of the wicked,

from the mob of evildoers,

who sharpen their tongues like swords

and aim bitter words like arrows,

shooting from concealed places at the innocent.

They shoot at him suddenly and are not afraid.

They encourage each other in an evil plan;

They talk about hiding traps and say, “Who will see
them?”

They devise crimes and say, “We have perfected a
secret plan.”

While the inner motives and thoughts of the wicked are

mysterious to us, God will shoot them with arrows;

suddenly, they will be wounded.

They will be made to stumble;

their own tongues will work against them.

All who see them will shake their heads.

Then everyone will fear and will tell about God’s work,

for they will understand what He has done.

The righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him;

all the upright in heart offer praise.

Sorry to side track the topic of this blog on a small point. You ladies and gents keep it up.
RP

You said: “Though I did not want to hear them, I see in Gpd’s Providence how he exposed me to the gospel through many ways! For that I am thankful. I have to say as Paul does in Philippians. What matters is that Christ is preached!”

RP: I have seen Ray and others using the dollar bill method and it seemed to work well. You said in the above quote that whatever method is used, you were thankful as long as Christ was preached. You see when I used to watch Ray in Santa Monica he would draw large crowds, have them laughing and they would listen–for the most part. But the other preachers I have seen who stand and shout at people, no one listens to them. The Open Air Campaigners would also have to be considered a sort of scheming trick also because they have people watch them paint for so long before people have any idea what they are doing.

Also I believe that what Paul is refering to in 1 Cor. 1-2 about not using clever speach and all refers more to him saying he did not mix his gospel with humanistic reason and philosophy, more so than having to do with various methods of delivery.

So if the dollar bill method is “offensive” to you it would seem that if you are consistent, the painting method would be also, or even handing out any of Comfort’s tracks that all start out in “the natural realm” before getting to the gospel. I am at work also, but what do you think? Have you ever seen Ray or one of his disciples use that dollar bill method and the good test that you are speaking of or have you just heard about it?

thanks brother
RP

I apologize for the delayed response…….I have had a passion for evangelism since the Lord saved me. I have done evangelism in different countries using various methods.

I would agree that there are ways to draw crowds which are acceptable. For example, the covered dead body approach…..tracts are good ice breakers to be able to spark up a conversation.

But what I have come to understand is that if God is not working in the heart of the people, they will not come to faith in Christ. You can give them every argument in the book, but until the Spirit gives them life, they will not want to hear the message.

In considering evangelism, I love to remember the book 1 Corinthians chapters 1 and 2. Paul did not come with clever schemes, but with the power that comes from God. He goes on to say in chapter 2, so that the faith of the people would not rest in man but on the power of God.

It is offensive to me, that people offer money to attract people and then “sucker” them by preaching the gospel. The money is gone and they take off anyway. There are many ways we can draw people. I have seen that ministry that goes around with a black light and paint, I thinks they are Open Air Campaigners. They use the paintings as illustrations. I acknowledge that there is much to be learned about evangelism from a brother like Ray Comfort.

As for those who preach it out loud. I would have to say that is bold. As I look back through my life, I remember those bold evangelists who preached it to my face. Though I did not want to hear them, I see in Gpd’s Providence how he exposed me to the gospel through many ways! For that I am thankful. I have to say as Paul does in Philippians. What matters is that Christ is preached! He alone gets the glory anyway for He alone is worthy! My prayer is that He would make me a more effective evangelist! I’d love to see an effective ministry that disciples men that have come to repentance and faith in Christ…….I have more to say, but am a work……..

I haven’t heard a reply from you on some of those questions I asked a few days ago. I’m still curious.

thanks