In my previous article, I answered someone’s question regarding family members who are unbelievers. But that same person asked me a follow-up question about street preaching because he has heard people say, “Preaching from a street corner does nothing. Without building up a relationship with people, they will never hear your words.”
But is that true? Is preaching on the streets an ineffective method of sharing the Gospel? Is it a complete waste of time? This is a difficult question to answer because the scenario requires the discipline of discernment and the ability to hear what the Holy Spirit is leading you personally to do. Common sense tells us that this statement is true. Strangers are not in the same category as family members because you may never see these people again. It has been said by many influential people that no one will ever care about what you know until they first know that you care. In my experience, this is often true. Genuine authentic relationships matter. Without relationship, people don’t typically care about you or what you have to say — especially in the last of the last days in which we live when people have become lovers of themselves and the love of many has turned cold. People in this current time won’t even accept essential truths such as there only exists male and female; there is no in-between or third or beyond gender. If they can’t even accept such basic truths regarding what is clearly evident, how will they be able to accept spiritual truths that requires spiritual eyes and ears to receive? It is for this reason Jesus said in John 3:12, “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” And remember: Jesus had been speaking to a devout Pharisee named Nicodemus. And so how much more does this apply to wicked people who have hardened hearts and depraved minds?
However, we must keep in mind that it’s not our duty to convict people of their sins. Our duty is to simply share the Truth out from love (Ephesians 4:15) while being able to defend the faith with gentleness and reverence (1Peter 3:15-16). And this is why apologetics is important, but it should not be our focus. The Holy Spirit is the One who will convict people of their sins (John 16:8-11). So, never underestimate what the Holy Spirit can do for a person whom we perceive to be hopeless and unsavable. Again, like 1Corinthians 3:7 says, we might sow seeds that seem to be rejected, but then someone else waters those dormant seeds later on in life, and then GOD causes the growth. A great example of this is James, the brother of Jesus, who in the beginning, rejected Jesus as the Messiah and disbelieved His words (Mark 3:21; John 1:11; 7:5). But then later on, those seeds received the Living Water, his faith grew, and then he authored a book in the Bible because he had been inspired by the Holy Spirit to do so. GOD’s Words do not return void nor do they go to waste (Isaiah 45:23; 46:10; 55:10-11). Even if a person ultimately rejects GOD’s Word for his/her entire lifespan up until judgment day, all those words will be used against that person at the time of judgment (John 15:22).
Now, the book of Acts showcases how public preaching can bring people to salvation. Acts 2:41 says 3,000 people got saved at one time. Acts 10:44-48 informs us that gentiles got filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 17:16-34 informs us that Paul essentially became a street preacher in Athens. In verse 32, it says that some rejected Paul and sneered at him whereas some others received his words and desired to hear more about what he was saying. But what did verse 16 say? It says “his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols.” Therefore, Paul only preached publicly in that specific area at that specific time to those specific people because the Spirit prompted him to do so. But also take notice of how he presented his message. In verse 22, Paul highlighted their good desire to be religious. In verse 23, Paul pointed out that they worshiped an unknown god. From there, he highlighted that the unknown god they worshiped in ignorance was actually the GOD of all creation and the only GOD in existence and then he presented the Gospel message. However, in verses 30-31, Paul said, “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
Now, contrast the difference between that ancient time period and the current time period in which we live. GOD overlooked the times of ignorance in the past; however, for all people who are not ignorant of the Gospel, GOD has demanded repentance. But how many people here in America are ignorant of the Gospel message? How many people are truly ignorant of what Christianity is and what the Bible says? Over 2,000 years later, we would expect the general population to no longer be in ignorance. However, in my nearly 20 years of ministry, the vast majority of all people I’ve ever encountered are completely ignorant to what the Bible actually says and to what Christianity truly is. Therefore, we cannot assume that everyone already knows what the Truth of the Gospel is. In fact, I believe most people are ignorant to the true Gospel message because Christians have been deliberately disobedient to the great commission that the Lord has commanded us to do: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Romans 10:14-15 says, “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”
So, should we go preach? Yes. But where? When? How? Well, you need to be led by the Holy Spirit. I’m personally not led (at this time) to be a street-preacher. It’s not my assignment right now. However, some people are being called to do that. A good example of someone I believe has been called to do this is Cliffe Knechtle. Cliffe goes out to college campuses and interacts with students. Does he stand on a street corner while holding a sign and shouting at strangers? No. But he is preaching in public. Does everyone receive him well? No. But is he doing what he is called to do? I believe so. And I believe that’s what’s important — preachers must do exactly as GOD guides them to do — even if no one listens or cares. Do you realize how many prophets GOD sent to people over the years? How many were received well? How many were hated and not received? Jeremiah was thrown into a cistern and he sank in the mud (Jeremiah 38:6). However, all of Nineveh repented when Jonah reluctantly preached (Jonah 3). Our success is not based off the response of the people; rather, our success is based on our obedience to what GOD tells us to do.
Now, examine the following two examples of how street preaching can either be effective (because GOD truly called the person to do it) or how the devil uses street preaching as a tool for pride, hatred, and divisiveness (because GOD never truly called the person to do it).
EFFECTIVE:
INEFFECTIVE:
This is why motive and relationship matters. This is also why every tree will be known by its fruit (Matthew 12:33-35). But it is for this reason Jesus said in Matthew 12:36-37, “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
In conclusion, street preaching is good and it most certainly can lead people to the Lord, but street preaching should only be done by those whom the Holy Spirit is leading to do it. We must be able to discern a “good thing” versus a “GOD thing.” We’re not called to do every thing even if that thing is good. We’re only called to do what GOD tells us to do. And this is why I’m not currently preaching on the streets — the Holy Spirit has not led me to do that. Instead, the Spirit is currently leading me to answer questions for people online and to focus on recording and producing my podcast.
Understand this: every preacher who goes out onto the streets is representing the Kingdom of GOD. But those who do not represent the Kingdom of GOD and instead represent the evil pride, hatred, and divisiveness of the devil will be denied access into the Kingdom for their acts of lawlessness (Matthew 7:21-23). For an in-depth explanation regarding this, see my other article, “I Never Knew You”.
Quest For Truth 