The IFB/fundamentalist Baptist Style of Evangelism

[evangelist6589]

I do not agree with the traveling IFB style of evangelism. Their style is to go to IFB churches, sing songs, and preach sermons. But this is not how Jesus, nor the apostles, nor the puritans did evangelism. For they hit the streets and hit the places where the sinners resided. If one lives in an area without any large cities then they may have to do evangelism differently, however most live in areas with cities nearby where one can go hit the streets and witness to the lost people there. I am not saying that all IFB do evangelism this way, but it seems to be common in IFB circles. There are plenty of IFB that also hit the streets and engage the lost there, but too many do not.

Why do MANY IFB do evangelism this way and why do they not look at the Bible and change their ways? Is God happy with this style of evangelism that preaches to the quire?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I do not agree with the traveling IFB style of evangelism. Their style is to go to IFB churches, sing songs, and preach sermons. But this is not how Jesus, nor the apostles, nor the puritans did evangelism. For they hit the streets and hit the places where the sinners resided. If one lives in an area without any large cities then they may have to do evangelism differently, however most live in areas with cities nearby where one can go hit the streets and witness to the lost people there. I am not saying that all IFB do evangelism this way, but it seems to be common in IFB circles. There are plenty of IFB that also hit the streets and engage the lost there, but too many do not.

Why do MANY IFB do evangelism this way and why do they not look at the Bible and change their ways? Is God happy with this style of evangelism that preaches to the quire?

How do you know how many people in those pews are truly saved?

See I would perfer seeing a different preacher in rotation vs one guy (on a week by week).

But who is going to criticize anyone for taking out the bible & thumping the streets. I do it, but I dont do preechin on the street corner per se. Rather I talk to people. I kinda do it like the way the military approaches tribes & chieftains ......IE strong interpersonal & communications & interaction skills.

1. Pay courtesy calls- Do not talk shop on the 1st meeting. "just make friends"

2. Initially the weapon of choice is TALK. It must be interesting, arousing & intelligent. Your the master salesman & what your doing is persuading them. dont be arrogant, sarcastic or belittling. you will find (as you see on BB) that most people are hypersensitive & proud, and you will come to a dead stop if they dislike you.

And then we go from there.....thats my approach anyway.

 

[Salty]

Lets see - Jesus as well as Paul preached in the Jewish temples, -

 

[InTheLight]

Lets see - Jesus as well as Paul preached in the Jewish temples, -

Yes, and this has been pointed out time and time again. The first place Paul went to preach when going to a new city was the Jewish temple. The instances when Paul preached open air in the streets was a decidedly minority of the time.

 

[Salty]

Revival meetings used to be very effective - many ran for weeks. Nowdays - a revival may be no longer than a weekend.

Street preaching used to be very effective. Nowdays, people are "aware" of "personal space" they are suspicious of street preachers - they are cautious of door knockers (think JW's and Mormons). Many areas are "closed communities" and do not allow solicators of any kind. This includes senior housing projects - ect.

As EWF stated - Friendship witnessing seems to be the current way to spread the Gospel.

If the Lord called you to street preaching - then do it - but do not be discouragaed by results or lack thereof.

In fact, I was wondering -
A) How long have you been involved in Street preaching
B) How many decisions have you seen made
C) How many have joined local churches
D) Does your wife go street preaching with you
E) Other comment

Our church has just signed up for a new program. We recieve a list of individuals who move into our town every month. The organization sends a letter to the new family. We can take the list and visit them. We just recieved the first list the other day
- so we have not any past experience yet.
There is a monthly charge for this. If someone wants more info - email me and I will get it. (dont have it at the moment)

Salty

 

[Jacob_Elliott]

I do not agree with the traveling IFB style of evangelism. Their style is to go to IFB churches, sing songs, and preach sermons. But this is not how Jesus, nor the apostles, nor the puritans did evangelism. For they hit the streets and hit the places where the sinners resided. If one lives in an area without any large cities then they may have to do evangelism differently, however most live in areas with cities nearby where one can go hit the streets and witness to the lost people there. I am not saying that all IFB do evangelism this way, but it seems to be common in IFB circles. There are plenty of IFB that also hit the streets and engage the lost there, but too many do not.

Why do MANY IFB do evangelism this way and why do they not look at the Bible and change their ways? Is God happy with this style of evangelism that preaches to the quire?

I love street witnessing and door to door evangelism, but where we fail in my opinion is not making these people we meet into disciples. We meet them once and may never see them again, we need to keep in contact with these people get them to bible studies and church.

 

[DHK]

Why do MANY IFB do evangelism this way and why do they not look at the Bible and change their ways? Is God happy with this style of evangelism that preaches to the quire?

This is your experience but not mine. I started attending an IFB church in 1973 and have never been involved or seen IFB churches operate in the way that you describe them. It grieves me to see people white-wash an entire movement based on their limited experience.
IFB
Independent. We are not a homogenous group. We are independent from each other and each of us do things according to our own congregational government, not according to the dictates of the SBC government. (or any other such organization)

Fundamental. We not only believe in the fundamentals of the faith we practice them. That includes all the Bible. The Bible is fundamentally our rule of faith and practice.

Baptist. We adhere to the Baptist distinctives, those distinctives that make us distinctively different from others.

 

[Don]

I've had enough of this guy. If he's not bad-mouthing non-calvinists, he's bad-mouthing IFBers. He seems happiest when he's bad-mouthing non-calvinist IFBers.

There's a reason God gave us 1 Cor 12 and 1 Peter 4:11. I pray some day this young man matures enough to figure it out. Till then, he's no better than the IFBers he loves to trash.

 

[Dr. Bob]

Ignorance is not always bliss, especially when shooting off the mouth on a forum like the BB. Sadly.

We all have hobbies. Some people feel higher and holier by knocking others and standing on their bones.

 

[InTheLight]

I do not agree with the traveling IFB style of evangelism. Their style is to go to IFB churches, sing songs, and preach sermons. But this is not how Jesus, nor the apostles, nor the puritans did evangelism. For they hit the streets and hit the places where the sinners resided.

Puritans did evangelism via open air and street preaching? Jonathan Edwards was a street preacher? "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" was delivered on street corners? You're going to need to provide a citation for me to believe this. Got a link?

 

[Rippon]

Puritans did evangelism via open air and street preaching? Jonathan Edwards was a street preacher? "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" was delivered on street corners? You're going to need to provide a citation for me to believe this. Got a link?

Yep,evan is unintentionally engaging in historical revisionism.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I love street witnessing and door to door evangelism, but where we fail in my opinion is not making these people we meet into disciples. We meet them once and may never see them again, we need to keep in contact with these people get them to bible studies and church.

How do you do that....by forcing it. That never works. You forget that its the HS that brings about the change.

 

[agedman]

Yep,evan is unintentionally engaging in historical revisionism.

I suppose if one considers his "street preaching" to the native americans, Jonathan Edwards would be more aligned with missionary.

Puritans didn't "street preach" but went from house to house to make sure EVERYONE was at the meeting to too sick to attend.

The Puritan "evangelism" was to hold witch trials and condemn those who were not up to their IFB extremist standards.

The Puritan's were not all bad, but the whole thinking of being able to socially and theologically purify what was unrighteous was not correct thinking.

Rather, they should have been as the Pilgrims, the Separatists, those that were truly independent from the state church - just like the historical Baptists were removed or never a part from the papist influence.

 

[Rippon]

The Puritan "evangelism" was to hold witch trials and condemn those who were not up to their IFB extremist standards.

The above is utter hogwash. How can you say such nonsense?

 

[agedman]

The above is utter hogwash. How can you say such nonsense?

Historically speaking what was the attitude and actions of the Puritans before, during, and after they were the rulers of England?

Here in America, what was the treatment of the "established" Puritan state church toward those who did not associate or were not approved? Churches such as the tiny Baptist church in Williamsburg, VA. When I stood in that little one room church after looking at the grand state church, and realized the great persecution it withstood, I marveled at God's hand of Grace. (see here for more information)

What of the well known "witch trials" that took place under Puritan leading, not just in America, but elsewhere; not to mention those who were imprisoned or in stocks because they violated some Puritan dogma? What of the testimony by those that "ran" from the excesses of the Puritans?

What modern church reflects the background of the Puritan? Baptists or Episcopalian?

I state the truth.

For support I draw on their own - Jonathan Edwards, and Roger Williams - both though "puritan" in background, education, and ordination were not blind to the problems and were troubled because they spoke out against the established church excesses. Both removed because they chose the truth of Scriptures in rejection of the tradition of "elders."

Generally speaking, folks want to puff up the "Puritans" while ignoring that they didn't really want to separate from the papist copied Church of England, but wanted to "purify" it. They, like Lutherans, never completely left the trap of the papist in which they were born.

 

[preachinjesus]

Why do MANY IFB do evangelism this way and why do they not look at the Bible and change their ways? Is God happy with this style of evangelism that preaches to the quire?

We've been through this, again and again and again...but the biblical form of evangelism is this: to tell people about Jesus Christ's glorious Gospel.

That is it.

The method, manner, and other issues are ancillary and not normatively dictated in Scripture. I don't do street evangelism, I never have. I have witnessed to many about faith in Christ, but never have done it via street evangelism. To say that street evangelism is the biblical form is erroneous and a false teaching. Please stop.

 

[Jacob_Elliott]

How do you do that....by forcing it. That never works. You forget that its the HS that brings about the change.

I actually did not forget, however it is my responsibility to deliver the message and make disciples

 

[evangelist6589]

Yes, and this has been pointed out time and time again. The first place Paul went to preach when going to a new city was the Jewish temple. The instances when Paul preached open air in the streets was a decidedly minority of the time.

What of John the Baptist and Philip? Did they not preach in the streets?

 

[evangelist6589]

Revival meetings used to be very effective - many ran for weeks. Nowdays - a revival may be no longer than a weekend.

Street preaching used to be very effective. Nowdays, people are "aware" of "personal space" they are suspicious of street preachers - they are cautious of door knockers (think JW's and Mormons). Many areas are "closed communities" and do not allow solicators of any kind. This includes senior housing projects - ect.

As EWF stated - Friendship witnessing seems to be the current way to spread the Gospel.

If the Lord called you to street preaching - then do it - but do not be discouragaed by results or lack thereof.

In fact, I was wondering -
A) How long have you been involved in Street preaching
B) How many decisions have you seen made
C) How many have joined local churches
D) Does your wife go street preaching with you
E) Other comment

Our church has just signed up for a new program. We recieve a list of individuals who move into our town every month. The organization sends a letter to the new family. We can take the list and visit them. We just recieved the first list the other day
- so we have not any past experience yet.
There is a monthly charge for this. If someone wants more info - email me and I will get it. (dont have it at the moment)

Salty

Yes she goes with me but in all honesty I have a REFORMED view on evangelism and trust in the sovereignty of God in salvation.

Read this story it will encourage you.

http://www.livingwaters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=466

 

[evangelist6589]

I love street witnessing and door to door evangelism, but where we fail in my opinion is not making these people we meet into disciples. We meet them once and may never see them again, we need to keep in contact with these people get them to bible studies and church.

How in the world can one do that with random people met on a street corner?