Sidewalk preaching

[billofrights]

I wasn't sure how best to title this so as not to seem hostile. My question is about whenever you see someone yelling through a megaphone about "BELIVE IN JAYSIS!" or a crazy lady on the bus/ subway, it's never a Buddhist or a Jew. What is it about Christianity that some adherents have to yell at you for not believing? I understand that there's some mandate for evangelism in the Bible and maybe that's it?

Similarly, I see (for example) outside the Red Line subway station in NoHo, often times there'll be pairs of folks handing out flyers. They're all clearly together, and there will be 20 or 30 of them. I just don't get it. The Bible isn't a secret, what's the motive? Just "doing good works" for themselves, or do they actually expect to get a "Jesus WHO? Sounds interesting, I'll definitely check out your church!"

Again my intention is not an attack, I'm just curious why it's ALWAYS Christians. Jews and Buddhists could not care less if you believe what they do.

[WASR10]

"And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." - Mark 16:15

The Great Commission, as its called. Jesus spoke it, and His followers follow it. Most are doing so with the best of intentions. They may be a little misguided or zealous. Those that bully are not following a Biblical example. Jesus never spoke to any person who did not want to listen. I think you would be hard pressed to find someone who is not "aware" of the Bible or Christ. But few, even among practitioners, know them.

I have been approached by people of faiths other than Christian a few times, but not nearly as often.

[Barang]

If they are yelling at you then I don't agree with that because that is not how Jesus and the apostles spread the Gospel.

The motive is to save people from going to hell. That's how much God loved the people that He sent them to tell you that "you don't have to go there if you accept the gift of Salvation Through Jesus."

[bigmike82]

Walk along in Hollywood and the scientologists do the same thing. Except they have a cool machine instead of flyers.

[Lineman101]

A pastor once told me something that I have remembered for many years, "don't be a spiritual wingnut!" Reasoning sure goes a lot further than cramming the scripture down someone's throat, but of course, all with gentleness and respect!

God bless!
Lineman101

[44fred]

A very small percentage of Christians have the "gift" of evangelism. Some get caught up in themselves and feed off the attention (good or bad) they create. We Christians can fall into things of this world just like anybody else, it's a daily struggle.
I spent the first 50 years of my life confused about religion. When I was taught about the sin of man and the grace our Lord was offering everyone of us, I finally got it. Looking at man will never free your mind to accept Christ. Mankind is flawed in so many ways, that's why Jesus was sent as the perfect sacrifice.
What an incredible experience it is to here people speak the same language I did for years. It's all about Jesus, not us.

[Badmusic]

I wasn't sure how best to title this so as not to seem hostile. My question is about whenever you see someone yelling through a megaphone about "BELIVE IN JAYSIS!" or a crazy lady on the bus/ subway, it's never a Buddhist or a Jew. What is it about Christianity that some adherents have to yell at you for not believing? I understand that there's some mandate for evangelism in the Bible and maybe that's it?

Similarly, I see (for example) outside the Red Line subway station in NoHo, often times there'll be pairs of folks handing out flyers. They're all clearly together, and there will be 20 or 30 of them. I just don't get it. The Bible isn't a secret, what's the motive? Just "doing good works" for themselves, or do they actually expect to get a "Jesus WHO? Sounds interesting, I'll definitely check out your church!"

Again my intention is not an attack, I'm just curious why it's ALWAYS Christians. Jews and Buddhists could not care less if you believe what they do.

I'm going to assume you mean it when you say you are not intending to be hostile, so, I am going to point out a few problems with your line of questioning before giving you a simple answer. Please assume I am not being hostile in return.

Where you said "...megaphone about "BELIEVE IN JAYSIS!"... you immediately compared them to "...a crazy lady...". This exposes your inherant bias. You then proceed to point out that it is never a Buddhist or a Jew. This demonstrates an assumption on your part that anyone street preaching must be "Christian". I'd like to ask you how you know they are "Christian"? There are many many cults professing Christian belief, and who also take the name, but are not anywhere close to theologically Christian in their belief or practice. Are you an expert on religious doctrine? Also, it's hard for me to believe you have never seen a Hare Krishna, Jehovah's witness, or a Mormon engaged in street preaching. (Just to name a few prominent street preaching non-christian religions)

Next, you make the statement about your belief that there is some sort of "mandate" for evangelism. Some denominations of Christianity do believe this, and some don't. Among those who do, the "mandate", (to use your terms) can take many different forms. To get specifics on "why" they do it, I suppose you'd have to interview the specific individuals involved, and see what they say.

Other than this, I'm not sure how else to answer your "questions".

[Bill Carson]

Walk along in Hollywood and the scientologists do the same thing. Except they have a cool machine instead of flyers.

I used to pass out christian tracts on hollywood blvd during the summer of 81 on saturday nights.

[RobinGoodfellow]

Whenever you see ...

I wasn't sure how best to title this so as not to seem hostile. My question is about whenever you see someone yelling through a megaphone about "BELIVE IN JAYSIS!" or a crazy lady on the bus/ subway, it's never a Buddhist or a Jew. What is it about Christianity that some adherents have to yell at you for not believing? I understand that there's some mandate for evangelism in the Bible and maybe that's it?

Similarly, I see (for example) outside the Red Line subway station in NoHo, often times there'll be pairs of folks handing out flyers. They're all clearly together, and there will be 20 or 30 of them. I just don't get it. The Bible isn't a secret, what's the motive? Just "doing good works" for themselves, or do they actually expect to get a "Jesus WHO? Sounds interesting, I'll definitely check out your church!"

Again my intention is not an attack, I'm just curious why it's ALWAYS Christians. Jews and Buddhists could not care less if you believe what they do.

someone beheading an apostate, it's always a muslim. What is it about islam that some adherents have to behead you for not believing?

[billofrights]

I'm going to assume you mean it when you say you are not intending to be hostile, so, I am going to point out a few problems with your line of questioning before giving you a simple answer. Please assume I am not being hostile in return.

Where you said "...megaphone about "BELIEVE IN JAYSIS!"... you immediately compared them to "...a crazy lady...". This exposes your inherant bias. You then proceed to point out that it is never a Buddhist or a Jew. This demonstrates an assumption on your part that anyone street preaching must be "Christian". I'd like to ask you how you know they are "Christian"? There are many many cults professing Christian belief, and who also take the name, but are not anywhere close to theologically Christian in their belief or practice. Are you an expert on religious doctrine? Also, it's hard for me to believe you have never seen a Hare Krishna, Jehovah's witness, or a Mormon engaged in street preaching. (Just to name a few prominent street preaching non-christian religions)

Next, you make the statement about your belief that there is some sort of "mandate" for evangelism. Some denominations of Christianity do believe this, and some don't. Among those who do, the "mandate", (to use your terms) can take many different forms. To get specifics on "why" they do it, I suppose you'd have to interview the specific individuals involved, and see what they say.

Other than this, I'm not sure how else to answer your "questions".

Apologies if I implied a causal relationship. Said crazy lady *happens* to be yelling about Jesus, rather than "the government" or "THEM."

As for how I know they're Christian, because to a man they're yelling about Jesus. That said, I have seen a handful of rational, pleasant folks advertising their faith with a megaphone. But it's the minority.

Yes, I've seen Mormons and Hare Krishnas before. I suppose I'm just puzzled by what makes the Christian evangelists so belligerently aggressive about it.

[Just Dave]

I find it interesting that God will use different methods of street preaching to get a persons attention.

[Badmusic]

Apologies if I implied a causal relationship. Said crazy lady *happens* to be yelling about Jesus, rather than "the government" or "THEM."

As for how I know they're Christian, because to a man they're yelling about Jesus. That said, I have seen a handful of rational, pleasant folks advertising their faith with a megaphone. But it's the minority.

Yes, I've seen Mormons and Hare Krishnas before. I suppose I'm just puzzled by what makes the Christian evangelists so belligerently aggressive about it.

Ok, but my point was that just because they are yelling about Jesus, does not make them Christians. The claim you make about them being "belligerently aggressive" would rule them out, according to many verses on behavior in the new testament, so it is presumptuous on your part to make the assumption they are.