Random Thoughts on Street Preaching/Evangelism:

1.    Be bold in speech, but humble in attitude, action, and motive.  We are commanded to speak truth, and it is sinful to water that down, but we also are to remain humble, compassionate, and loving as we do.  There are several verses to keep in mind in regards to this.

Ephesians 6:19 “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,”

Acts 4:29-31 “ And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, ³⁰ By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.³¹ And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

We are to be bold in our speech.  To never water the message down or to hide certain parts of the Gospel that may be “offensive.”  Humbleness does not negate courageous proclamations of truth.  But, that boldness does not need to include aggression, and it definitely does not include vindictiveness, coldness, vengeance, rudeness, callousness, or meanness.  Love ought to be the root of all our speech.  It ought to be the compelling drive behind and under girding our words.

Ephesians 2:2-9 “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:³ Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)⁶ And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:⁷ That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

1^st Corinthians 6:9-11 “ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,¹⁰ Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.¹¹ And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

You used to be them.  You were once deceived by the prince of the power of the air.  We used to fulfill our desires and walk according to our flesh.  We were once the children of wrath.  And it is only by His grace that we no longer are.  We MUST remember that they are us, minus the GIFT of grace, given not because of anything we’ve done.  We are NOT superior to them.  We are NOT “more righteous” of our own.  We must never look down our noses at the lost masses.

Ephesians 4:15a “But speaking the truth in love,…”

Colossians 4:5-6 “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.⁶ Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

I’m not entirely sure what it means to have our speech seasoned with salt, but we do know what it means to speak with grace and love.  Unmerited, undeserved forgiveness, pity, and compassion.  Just like we received from the Father, so ought we to give to the lost.  Romans 5:8 shows us that it was WHILE we were still in our sins that God gave us this grace.  And so, WHILE they are in their sins, we ought to give them grace.

2.    While we certainly call out sin (in general), and if we see someone sinning in front of us, boldness may call on us to call it out (in gentleness), we shouldn’t assume specifics about people.  In other words, don’t assume that they are “sexually immoral,” or a “drunkard,” or "unsaved."  We do not know hearts.  We can certainly see fruit (bad or good), and may be called upon by the Spirit to point it out, but don’t assume things and call people out on things you have no way of knowing.

3.    If we do bring a bold (yet gentle) rebuke, and a person rejects it, a humble follow-up may be required, but if they persist, or grow aggressive, don’t “stir the pot.”  We know that a wise man receives rebuke, but if they revolt from the rebuke, wisdom is not with them.  Go from the presence of a fool (unwise), when you see that wisdom is not in them.  That person has no intent or desire to learn or to hear.  They only want to “get off their chest” their own thoughts and what they think are “clever” and “witty” arguments. 

Proverbs 9:8-9 “ Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.⁹ Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.”

Proverbs 14:7 “Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.”

Proverbs 18:2 “A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.”

4.    Do NOT return evil for evil.  Don’t gratify your flesh by “arguing back” and trying to “win” the fight.  Those are lustful and sinful desires! (James 4:1)  What a horrible witness that is!  Be silent in the face of opposition.  Turn the other cheek (Matt.5:39).  Why not rather suffer wrong (1stCor. 6:7 – It’s in regards to lawsuits, but the same principle applies)?  Let them be vile and vicious towards you.  Return in kindness.  Love your enemies.  Pray for them that spitefully use you. (Luke6:27-36) 

1^st Peter 3:9a “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing;…”

Romans 12:17a “Recompense to no man evil for evil. …”

James 4:1 “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?”

The bottom line is that evangelism (street ministry…going to the masses and bringing the Word) is vital and ABSOLUTELY Biblical!  It is a beautiful work and is a necessary means of preaching.  And we are to be bold in speech.  Calling sin out for what it is.  But we MUST remain humble in our hearts and compassionate in our pleas.  Understanding that it is merely the grace of God in our lives that separates us from the most vile man.  Without the grace of God upon our lives, we would be just like them!  As a matter of fact, we WERE them!  Nothing separates us from them, except for the grace of God.  And that is nothing you earned.  It was GIVEN to you.  And our hope (and the very reason why we should be going to the streets) is that God would give that same grace to them. 

They are blind and lost, stumbling in the dark.  Don’t hate them.  It is the principalities and powers that we wrestle against, not them.  Of COURSE they will hate the message.  Of COURSE they will hate the messenger.  Darkness hates the Light and rebels against it.  They hated Jesus and crucified Him.  Will they not do the same to us?  But we must endure as He did.  Remaining silent in the face of accusers.  NEVER returning evil for evil.  Loving them when they hate you.  Reminding yourself of their state and your grace.  Always bold in truth, but humble in attitude and heart.  Do not ruin your witness by returning evil with evil!  PLEASE.

I know that it is hard for the street preacher/evangelist to not become hardened and indifferent.  You face vile and nasty remarks every time you are out.  They hate you and ridicule you and call you names and threaten you.  They may even attack you, spite on you, and injure you.  You MUST endure.  Your calling is a high calling.  You represent the King!  You are His spokesperson to the masses.  He is loving and compassionate and not willing that any should perish!  Represent that!  Walk worthy of the vocation you’ve been called into (Eph. 4:1).  Do not grow weary in doing good (Gal. 6:9)!  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21)! 

You MUST faithfully represent your King.  Do not show Him as He is not.  Do not be vicious and vile.  Do not fight back.  Do not make presumptions and accusations.  Speak the truth in love and grace and humility.  Play the man and do it right!

1^st Corinthians 13:2 “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”