Open Air Preaching

A Question For an Elder

"Would you choose to associate with individuals who practice open air preaching in evangelism?"

I found it to be a rather odd question, but since it was important enough to ask, if I value the asker, then it deserves an answer.

  At Grace, we aren't a military type establishment, so yes.  Yes I would allow our members to preach on the streets.  I'm not a control freak kind of guy.  No I likely wouldn't join them.  I've given street evangelism my best shot, and God has clearly shown me that He has better uses for my time and talents.  If the question has to do with providing funds, I don't think I would make it a budget item.  If they wanted to go on stage for the church to pat them on the back and tell them what a good job they are doing, that would be kind of weird.

Yet I think the question is asking something different in what it refers to as, "association".  Would I formally associate with an open air preacher or ministry?  Would I promote it as being a core ministry of the church?  Maybe.

I look at it as I would any other form of ministry.  Ministry isn't about the stuff.  It is about people.  If the question were about something other than open air preaching, I'd give the same response.  If it was about people going door to door handing out tracts, I'd say maybe.  If it was about compassionate care, I'd say maybe.  If it was about Christian authors, I'd still say maybe.

Any decision whether or not to formally associate with an open air preaching person would have little to do with the form of evangelism, but everything to do with the individual(s) involved.  

Paul tells Timothy in 1Tim 5:22, "Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader.  Do not share in the sins of others".

    Paul has much more in mind than associating with street preacher types, but here lies a vital principle for ministry.  We don't associate with a person in ministry without taking time to test them.  There are more important things to evaluate than the style of evangelism.  Before I would formally associate with a street preacher, Christian author, or music leader, here are the things I want to see.

Is There Fruit?

I'll be short on this one, because it's simple.   Is there fruit from their ministry?  Are they actually leading people to Christ, and are those people being baptized and added to the church?   I need to see fruit.  I need to see the evidence that God's in it.  After all the public evangelism I've done, and maybe I just was t very good at it, I've made more disciples through reaching into people's lives.  In truth, I don't think I've led anyone to Christ on the streets.  I've had, some cool conversations, but that's as far as it went.  As lame as it sounds, inviting people to church has done more to make disciples in my ministry than all my efforts in public as a Gideon.

If they aren't leading people to Christ, then what are they doing?  And if they are leading people to Christ, but they aren't finding their way into the church, then again, what are they doing?  Is it some personal glory seeking mission, or are they really working as part of the church?

Are They On Our Team?

This one is tougher to measure.  I'm not asking about whether or not they are saved, although, that is imperative.  What I'm asking is, are they really part of the church?  Do they really have a heart for the people of Grace Community?  Do they even like the church, or are they grumblers?  Do they truly see themselves as an extension; the hands and feet of Christ here at Grace?

During the summer in our small town, I coach my kid's house league soccer team.  Last year, there was a boy on the team, who really wasn't on the team.  He wore the jersey.  He showed up to almost every game.  He put a smile on his face and was even one of the most talented people on the team and among the top goal scorers.

Whenever I see him now, I can tell he doesn't really even want to acknowledge me.  I do my best to say hi to him and make conversation, but I can tell he doesn't want much to do with me.  He wasn't really on my team.

The same thing happens in church world.  People teach Sunday School, come out every week and lead prayer groups and Bible studies, but in their hearts, they really don't like their church.  In their minds, they are better than the rest.  They do their ministry, feeling like they have it all together, and that the church just doesn't deserve them.  If they were to be completely honest, they look down on their church.  They wear the jersey, but just aren't "on the team".

I'm rather attentive to this kind of thing, because I've been that kind of person.  If Grace really knew what was in my heart, they wouldn't have asked me to be an elder.  I was smart enough however to appear much less arrogant than I actually was.  Over time as I have served, God has given me an authentic love for His people, and I pray it shows.  Sure, I guess it worked out okay, but I would never intentionally associate myself with a person who has not demonstrated a committed, humble, servant attitude towards Grace Church.

So if a street preacher just waltzes into town and wants to partner with Grace in some official capacity, then no.  Not until they have demonstrated a true commitment to the ministry here at Grace.  Even if it's a longstanding member who has served as an usher week in and week out, it might still be a no, if I sense that they really don't much like the church in general.  (And yes, there are boatloads of people who really don't like their church)

I want to see fruit, but more importantly, I want to see Christ.  I want to see His attitude towards the church.  He laid down his life.  He gave it His all. All.  Do they love the church?  Do they lay down their lives for her people?   If they don't have love, I don't care how good they can preach, they're not on my team.  If they do, then we'll talk.