Consistently Wrong

Consistently Wrong

Ministry Update April 2, 2017

No matter what you think about Aaron and myself, I guess you can say at least we are consistent. According to most people that approached us this week, we are consistently wrong. We witness the wrong way at MSU and we witness the wrong way downtown. We constantly witness the wrong way, but at least we are consistently wrong. 

Friday night before Aaron and Serenity came downtown, I handed out around 15 or 20 tracts (yes, the night started off slow but picked up later) when a couple of young girls walked by. I offered them tracts. One took one, but the other refused. The one that took the tract said that she isn’t religious. I suggested that she read the tract anyway. I asked her if she had a Bible at home and she said no. So I said if I give you one, would you read it? She replied yes, so I handed her a Gideon New Testament.

Slammed The Bible Down

She walked 10 steps or so and threw the New Testament down on the ground as hard as she could. I decided I’d leave it there and if it was still there at the end of the night, I’d go pick it up. About as soon as I thought that, a young man carrying a box walked by, set the box down, picked up the New Testament and his box and walked on. All I could think is what Satan intends for evil, God uses for good.

 

Serenity and Aaron showed up after that. We sang several hymns. One passenger yelled before we started wanting to know what we were doing. I said we are getting ready to sing hymns, do you want to sing with us? She said no, but we’ll drive back around to listen. After that I brought a message about The Everlasting Gospel. Had a mocker or two and the usual hail Satan. One woman turned around and recorded a little bit of the message before she walked across the street. There was a decent crowd across the street at the Outland Ballroom.

Jesus Denier And Witnessing The Wrong Way

Aaron preached after me and he was preaching about the Bread of Life. One guy stopped his car in the street to cuss Aaron out. Again, he was merely preaching about the Bread of Life and how we need this Bread more than we need physical bread. One couple stopped  briefly, but walked on. I think they wanted to argue, but didn’t say anything. After that a guy comes up wearing a t-shirt that says science is true and he started yelling at Aaron to save him right now. He kept mocking like that and then he started saying Jesus wasn’t real. Oh, he believed Caesar was real, but not Jesus. It didn’t take long to figure out that you can’t have a real discussion with a raving fool that says there is no God (Psalm 14:1; Romans 1:18-22).

While the anti-Christ (Jesus denier) was still mocking a couple walked up and the woman kept touching Aaron saying “Hey”. She kept doing this and trying to tell him that he’s not supposed to judge and that he’s witnessing the wrong way. After a few minutes I started a conversation with her husband and guess what? That’s right, he also wanted to tell us how we are witnessing the wrong way. This isn’t how you reach people. We are pushing people away instead of drawing them in.

Do You Believe What Jesus Said?

So I asked him if he believes Jesus said unless you repent, you will all likewise perish? He said yes, he believes that. I said do you think that was a feel good message when Jesus said it? He agreed, not it wasn’t, but that we are still witnessing the wrong way. I then asked him if he thought people liked the message when Jesus said if your offends you, pluck it out and cast it from you because it is better to enter into Heaven with one eye than having two eyes to be cast into Hellfire? No, he said that wasn’t a feel good message either. But we still are witnessing the wrong way. All I can say is at least we are consistently wrong. The night ended with a young man asking Aaron to read Matthew 5:48 – be perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect. That was a good way to end the night.

Is This The Most Effective Way To Reach People?

Yes, we were consistently wrong earlier in the week when we witnessed at MSU on Wednesday. (Aaron, Allen Kemper and others also witnessed at MSU Friday afternoon. I wasn’t there, but I suspect they were also consistently wrong in their approach that afternoon). We both brought messages. While Aaron was preaching, I handed out tracts.

 

Ben who says he’s a Christian, stopped after he took the tract and he wanted to know if this is the most effective way to reach people? He continued that there are 15,000 students at MSU (actually I think it’s closer to 25,000 or 26,000) and he said what do you think, there’s maybe a thousand that walk by while you guys preach? I said, yes there could be that many. He said so you really aren’t reaching that many people. (Which makes me wonder, how many people does your pastor reach on Sunday morning?)

Can You Become Friends With 15,000 Students?

I said, ok, you don’t like our method, so how do you reach people? He said I believe in friendship evangelism. I become friends with them, first and then I share the Gospel with them. So I said you are going to become friends with 15,000 students and share the Gospel with each one? He laughed and said not by myself. I am saved, but I’m not sanctified yet, so I have to admit I get a kick out of it when someone tells us that we are witnessing the wrong way, yet they can see that their method doesn’t accomplish what they think our method should accomplish.

Then I pointed out to Ben that it’s not about numbers with God, it’s about obedience. I said God compels us to come over and share the Gospel – open-air on the campus. I continued that if someone is truly sharing the Gospel, I never knock their method. If the Gospel is going forth, we shouldn’t hinder it, lest we find ourselves fighting against God. Then I nodded to a student behind Ben that was sitting on a bench. I said do you see that guy? He’s been sitting there and listening to most of the message.

Maybe we’re here for that one student. Ben had to go on to class. After Aaron finished his message, he walked over to the student on the bench and handed him a tract with information about his church. They talked for a little bit and the student told him that he might come to Aaron’s church. So, yes, we will continue “witnessing the wrong way.” In fact, we will continue being consistently wrong for the glory of God.

(These updates are given to encourage Christians to share their faith in Jesus. The apostle Paul says that he is made all things to all men, that he might by all means save some 1 Corinthians 9:22. Paul also said that he taught publicly and house to house – Acts 20:20-21. You may never open-air preach, but share the Gospel with someone.)