Would It Be OK To Leave Tracts on the Side of the Road?

[evangelist6589]

Those laws only force sin underground, where it's roots spread just as readily.

I disagree.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Those laws only force sin underground, where it's roots spread just as readily.

And they create a lovely peaceful facade that makes everyone feel comfy cozy.

 

[InTheLight]

I started this thread because I was inspired by a post made by saturneptune where he said, "I don't tape tracts onto my bottle rockets when I shoot them off on the fourth of July." This got me to thinking about how people distribute tracts and what would be some alternate ways of doing it.

For the record, I don't think it would be a good idea to scatter tracts along the side of the road. However, how is anonymously leaving a tract someplace else much different? For example, aren't people that leave tracts with their tip at restaurants in effect "littering"? Ninety-nine times out of a hundred the wait staff throws the tract in the trash. If you leave a tract at the dentist's (doctor's, auto mechanic, etc.) office, doesn't that border on littering as well?

 

[InTheLight]

Really? No.

Want to witness? Go out and pick up trash with them.

BINGO! We have a winner.

 

[Mexdeaf]

I disagree.

You may. I grew up with "Blue Laws". Enforced morality gives only an appearance of righteousness, and in fact increases sin and disobedience.

This is a Biblical principle- read Romans 7.

 

[Revmitchell]

Here in Minnesota we have "Adopt A Road" program where volunteers will clean up the trash and garbage that accumulates along the side of busy streets and highways. There are signs stating, for example, "Next 4 Miles Adopted by Minneapolis Gay Men's Chorus".

Would it be a good idea to put say, 50 tracts inside 50 zip-loc bags and scatter them alongside roads that will be cleaned up by volunteers that are known unbelievers?

I do not think that is a very wise or pragmatic way to do that.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

If you leave a tract at the dentist's (doctor's, auto mechanic, etc.) office, doesn't that border on littering as well?

At least there, it has a decent chance of being read. Leaving it alongside the road? Not likely.

You do not like money gospel tracts? Howcome? Way of the Master tracts are one of my best tracts.

Leaving that without leaving a tip is a sure way to turn off your intended "target" of the tract. All they're going to say is, "Cheap so-and-so" and toss the tract. That's exceptionally counter-productive.

 

[Revmitchell]

Leaving that without leaving a tip is a sure way to turn off your intended "target" of the tract. All they're going to say is, "Cheap so-and-so" and toss the tract. That's exceptionally counter-productive.

That is exactly right. I leave a "Thank You" tract with a very good tip inside it. Usually 20%

 

[evangelist6589]

That is exactly right. I leave a "Thank You" tract with a very good tip inside it. Usually 20%

There may be a case to your story and why its wise to use many different types of tracts. I was driving and a homeless person was on the bridge on saturday. I got out a Way of the Master gospel tract and gave it to him. After he got the tract he said a swear word at me and my wife said I should have said it was a gospel tract and not money as he had thought. Perhaps I should have given him another type of gospel tract as perhaps I offended him with the Way of the Master tract.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

There may be a case to your story and why its wise to use many different types of tracts. I was driving and a homeless person was on the bridge on saturday. I got out a Way of the Master gospel tract and gave it to him. After he got the tract he said a swear word at me and my wife said I should have said it was a gospel tract and not money as he had thought. Perhaps I should have given him another type of gospel tract as perhaps I offended him with the Way of the Master tract.

Surely this is satire?

 

[saturneptune]

That is exactly right. I leave a "Thank You" tract with a very good tip inside it. Usually 20%

Bravo, and three cheers, if cheap creeps cannot afford to tip, they cannot afford to go out. The worst offenders of this are the after church Sunday morning crowd. What a witness. My daughter used to work at a restaurant, and the waitress crew fought tooth and nail each week about who had to cover the shift starting at noon on Sunday. I have personally seen some of the rudest and most embarrassing behavior by groups that had obviously been to church based on their dress. What a bunch of hypocrites.

 

[padredurand]

There may be a case to your story and why its wise to use many different types of tracts. I was driving and a homeless person was on the bridge on saturday. I got out a Way of the Master gospel tract and gave it to him. After he got the tract he said a swear word at me and my wife said I should have said it was a gospel tract and not money as he had thought. Perhaps I should have given him another type of gospel tract as perhaps I offended him with the Way of the Master tract.

Or he was hungry and cold and needed a meal and shelter.

If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
James 2:15-17 NAS77

 

[Revmitchell]

Bravo, and three cheers, if cheap creeps cannot afford to tip, they cannot afford to go out. The worst offenders of this are the after church Sunday morning crowd. What a witness. My daughter used to work at a restaurant, and the waitress crew fought tooth and nail each week about who had to cover the shift starting at noon on Sunday. I have personally seen some of the rudest and most embarrassing behavior by groups that had obviously been to church based on their dress. What a bunch of hypocrites.

http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/mini-movies/7871/Faith-Without-Love

 

[annsni]

I'm with Saggy - Go out there and help them, bringing hot coffee in cold weather or cold drinks in hot. Minister to them and bring them the Gospel.

 

[saturneptune]

http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/mini-movies/7871/Faith-Without-Love

A great clip and very typical. That is exactly why I could not work with the public. The man would have been wearing the ice tea and the woman the chopped pecan salad. Holding hands and praying in public, then that display. You are right, this is a great example of what is destroying Christianity. Me first, pride, and arrogance.

 

[Benjamin]

Here in Minnesota we have "Adopt A Road" program where volunteers will clean up the trash and garbage that accumulates along the side of busy streets and highways. There are signs stating, for example, "Next 4 Miles Adopted by Minneapolis Gay Men's Chorus".

Would it be a good idea to put say, 50 tracts inside 50 zip-loc bags and scatter them alongside roads that will be cleaned up by volunteers that are known unbelievers?

It’s a well-motivated legitimate thought IMO…

If a cop saw you do it, you might get a ticket for littering and have to pay the hefty fine it carries. If you have a few spare hundred dollar bills laying around, it might be worth the chance - you may or may not get caught.

If one carefully prepared the messages while wearing gloves and distributed them under cover at night there would be little chance of getting caught and charged for this grey area concerning the intent to liter or not. Plus, if even one soul was saved as a result what is a couple hundred bucks in comparison.

NO!!!! Give them to people.

Ah, that's the point! They would be giving them to people.

No way, now how, never. You would be littering their stretch of road, adding to their work, and expecting them to respect you or your message?

Possibly, there are ways. For instance, you could put them out the day before the cleanup, maybe with a note inside explaining it is not your intention to liter but to deliver a special message and that you will be checking back to make sure none of these messages are left behind as trash. Yes, the workers could, because of the lack of respect they already possess for the Gospel, make a case of these distributions adding to their work, although, such would merely amount to splitting hairs over a miniscule difference in the amount of work.

Good point. :thumbsup:

It was thoughtful but neglects other issues and comes to a false conclusion.

No. Leaving tracts littered around as...well, litter, is called "evandalism" and is not acceptable.

Leaving tracts not as liter is…well, not liter. It is called “evangelism” and could be acceptable as such.

Hits 'like' button.

Hits “dogma” button.

Unbelievable OP that has been answered wisely by a few (c4k, others).

*cough* *cough*

It reminds me of people who leave this at the restaurant, and say it is more important than leaving a tip while said leave a lousy tip or no tip whatsoever.

This reminds me of a strawman.

Next comes:

I wouldn't put them on the side of the road. Not a fan of passive "evangelism."

Kinda figured that might be the sentiment behind most of the negative replies.
Please excuse me for being a bit off-topic, but this conversation leads me to wondering, and I’m really curious:

Question, what do Calvinist call themselves if not “Evangelists”?

For instance, we have those who call themselves “Evangelical Arminians”, so what would be a parallel title (IOWs - the politically correct title) for describing the work of telling the Good News concerning Calvinist? “Predestinational Duties???”
:tonofbricks:

 

[Salty]

Litter is litter - period

How about this - at the end of the police call (thats what we call it in the Army) -

- set up a coffee and donut stand for the crew! Be there and have the opportunity to talk to the folks.

Sgt Salty

ps - and be sure not to leave any litter after the coffee and donuts :laugh: