How to Help Sex workers??
Sun, 02/15/2009 - 01:50
Ok, here is a question for you guys. What do you all think of open air preaching outside of these S&M and assorted adult entertainment gatherings?
Any advice?
Comments
Sex workers already know that Christians hate them, so standing outside a club or preaching at us isn't the best way to reach us. Most of us think God hates us, and we are really defensive and hard to someone coming against us like that. Christians picket sex clubs but they don't bother to know us....
Building a relationship and being kind to us is the way to reach us.. For example take lunch to the gals, and gift bags and love them, befriend them and let Jesus reach them through that love....we are told in the bible that "the kindness of the Lord leads you to repentance." These gals are damaged and need kindness. We share the gospel, but more one on one, not confrontational.
Carolemarie
Moderator
Pink Cross Team Member
Well thank you both for your comments carolemaria and AMK. I can see how you both may see a stigma associated with the public preaching of God's Word.
The preaching model that I use is the way of the master method. Where the law of God is used to show people that they have broken God's law and are in need of a Savior. Remember also that God's Word says, save some with fear. I agree with you God loves us, but He also gets mad at us. His has a hatred for our sin and a strong distain for those who continue on in rebellion to Him. Simply put it is in the Bible. Even if a person may not believe that, we reep wht we soe. We can't experence the love of God or be in a loving relationship with Him unless we turn from our sin. By His grace of course.
However, I do understand that most women trapped in the porn and adult industry are like the woman at the well. God always gives grace to the broken harted and the law to the proud. So I understand the pain assocuated with women who feel worthless. I would be interested on what you may think would be effective words in reching them as they may pass by us? As we go out in the world and these events, we do get to know people. So there can be and there is sometimes a genial Godly relationship that builds.
Please remember also that God Word never returns void. There are other people in attendance at these events other than the broken hearted who may need to hear about God's jusdement against sin.
For instance, especially pride events. Many people in attendance at these things will say they are saved. They believe in a Gospel that is void of repentance. Thus they are still in sin and open rebellion to God. Often times I will simply say that they are sinners beyond homosexuality because they broke the 10 commandments. Thet they need to turn in their minds eye to God, make Him the Lord of their lives and trust Him. I would certinely never tell anyone that God hates them.
I can see your passion and sinsearity and I hope that I can learn something from you.
Peace,
Steve
Learning to use Jesus' way of sharing His gospel through "the way of the master" studies in regards to "law to the proud and grace to the humble" certainly has made an impact of sharing my Lord with people (I don't like to call it sharing "my" faith because I can't even stake claim to that). It's God's faith imparted to me. "I" have nothing to do with it.
With that said, there is one thing in common that all sex workers, porn actor/actresses, etc. have- they come from brokenness. Broken hearts, broken families, broken spirits- all wanting acceptance. I'm sure they are very aware of hell, which is eternal separation from God, because they have TASTED it here on earth to whatever degree.
They need to SEE what true Love of God is. It has been far too easy for me, in times past, to just throw the "repent or go to hell" truth out there (and yes, that is a truth) in order not to really CARE about them as people. Broken people in desperate need to see what LOVE is since they live under the cloak of "I love sex", "I love men" or "I love women" and that is why I do what I do.
Yes, there is eternal separation waiting for those who refuse the point of the gospel... We are sinners in need of a Saviour and Jesus IS that One. So often, the gospel is rejected not because of the message of it but because WE are obnoxious with it and present an arrogance with it. (Almost like the childish, "Nah, nah... I have the truth and you don't.)
My prayer for all of us as we share the Lord is that we can Love them with the heart of Jesus to the point there is no denying if they walk away, "That man or woman displayed the Love of God."
Jesus Loved people as He spoke to them. He shared the truth with compassion and gave them dignity while in the sharing. Sometimes they walked away but He never followed or ran after them or said, "Well, hey pal, someday your knee is going to bow to Me" even though that is a truth.
We cross the line when we say, "Well, what are you going to do about the message of the gospel I just gave you? Are you going to repent or not?"
I was not saved by any coersion, manipulation, belittling or any other form of a "human factor" in the mix. I doubt you were either. I was saved because I came to the realization that I was a sinner, in need of this Savior Who was and still is the embodiment of the Love and acceptance I was desperately needing and seeking and was my heart's greatest longing. His words of Love were like honey to my soul. The not going to hell part is just a BENEFIT of knowing this precious Savior!!! HE is the motivation to be saved and it is His Love that holds me to this truth to this very day. ("He drew me with the cords of Love"... as Hosea shares.)
Sex workers, and all of those involved in the sex industry in one form or another, may appear to be "proud" of what they do but it is all a facade (as is their whole life) because their conscience- placed there by God Almighty the Creator- has already condemned them before anyone with the gospel would come along.
Any Christian can stand with a bullhorn and remind people of the the need for repentance but the one with the bullhorn who can give what it costs them in regards to truly CARING for them as individuals AND teaching the reality of a place of eternal separation from this God with Whom you share is the one who will be heard and effective with the precious message of Jesus.
Thank you for "going into all the world" to share the message of God to brokenhearted people. God will bless you for having a heart for lost souls.
God's blessings!
Well thank you so much for your reply. I will meditate on what you said regarding the needs of the sex workers.
Like I said on my profile, I am involved in public ministry. Where we go out "way of the master" style and preach all over, at many venues.
In the years to come I would like to further develope this ministry to do other things as well, such as helping single mothers. Where ever the spiritual gifts are of the persons who God places in or ministry, thats where we'll go.
It adds to and completes the public spoken Word aspect.
God bless,
Steve
Steve,
In reading your post I am sorry to say but I am OUTRAGED. I am a "homosexual" and I also was a former transsexual prostitute amongst other types of work in the adult industry. I hjave been attending "gay pride" parades and rally's for 15 years. I came out at 15 , I grew up in a Missionary Baptist Church with an uncle who was not only a preacher but the President of the Missionary Baptist Association and guess what look how I turned out. Gay! Transsexual! and a sex worker! All things I never would have thought I would have become r had the nerve to admit. Well guess what , when dealing with God's word and Christianity you have to handle it in a delicate way when you are trying to witness to people. I was preached at and told I was doomed to HELL for my actions especially being a gay teen ( i came out at 15). So what did I do? I said "well if I am going to hell regardless might as well have fun" . This is the mindset of ALOT of homosexuals because we never have people come to us in a sensitive way , its always very radical and quite frankly we think you people are psychos . When we see people standing outside our clubs yelling how we are going to burn in hell quite frankly its a free comedy show, we are drunk already then to have some weirdo JUDGEING US! That method just does not work!Who are you to Judge? Ugh no one in my eyes you people who judge us are no more important then the dirt on the bottom of my shoe! I have seen people like you at the gay pride rallies and guess wjat we laugh at you. You guys never did intimidate me , infact it was fun to be all dressed up ( as a girl , I was a transsexual) and walk right down the middle of your group, with one thing in mind " im going to show these psycho's were not scared of them". Nowadays, in Dallas here where I live the cops have started arresting groups such as yours, because you are instigating a hate crime and it is not tolerated. In Dallas we have a gay community a whole section of the city specifically known as the "gay area" so if you don't approve of gay people its simple, STAY OUT! NOW ON THE OTHER HAND!! I do know that being gay is wrong, I do know being a prostitute is wrong, I do know being a transsexual is wrong and most recently I am in the process of trying to change my life. It is no easy ,it is very difficult to go from living a homosexual life for 15 years to suddenly turning your life around . Doing this means I have no friends, my family is ok with me changing my life around but they are use to me being gay so its weird for them. I definately did not make this decision based on psychotic bible bangers screaming harsh words to me on the street I still think thats funny. My very own Uncle has told me that these people who do this are NOT of God and they are very radical and judgemental and God does not approve. For example, Rev. Phelps from topeka , KS they r plain and simple " nut jobs". Instead of you stabding on a street corner judging people why don't you put down your ridiculos sign that screams YOUR GOING TO HELL, and try to get to know someone? Try to be their friend, this is how you get through to a person , as weird and disgusting as you may think we are? Try to be our friends God would! Not everyone has a life like yours , everyone is different thank God or we would live in a boring place. To be honest, I could never listen to someone preaching to me who has never lived a day in my shoes or doesn't know where I am coming from . Thats why I come here , the girks here know where I am coming from because they are former sex workers as well , alot of them have been forced into same sex sex as well due to porn. So they can understand me and I can understand them and they know its a difficult battle. But I could never listen to a man who is str8 and lead a leave it to beaver life. So thats something for you to think about , maybe you should stop judging , stop using your "scare tactics" and start try using your HEART that God gave you. Try to get to know us deviantes lol . Carole marie I believe is her name she said it perfectly.
With all my love:)
ex-tsescort,
We certinely do love you. It really is a shame that you compare all Christian open air preaching or preachers to "Fred Phelps" and the Westboro Church. You know Jesus was a street preacher. I condem fred phelps.
Also, it says in the Bible that a rightous man judges everything and that we are to know them by their fruits. Meaning that we have to make judgements regarding a persons spritual need. Have you not judged me? People that attend gay pride events have the need to hear the whole and un edited version of Word of god.
A very long time ago I lived in very deep sin while I was in the miliary. There were preachers who stood at the front gate to our base and I had to walk past them everyday. It was painful....there are different components to the Gosple. Someone had to tell me of my need....those who are caled in that way must tell you and the others of theirs. Maybe on this side of heaven, you will never understand and quite possibly you will only accept the ultra loving Christians. But the repentance component is necassary freind.
Sorry you don't understand, but go we must and go we will. We have former homosexuals who preach with us and share their testimonies.
The first video is me preaching...I'm wearing the yellow hoodie and the second link is of a former homosexual man who preaches with us.
Don't rule it out friend...you never know how God will use you...save you repent and believe. -Peace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdpHkTRx9Po&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/user/preachingjesus777
Being a true teacher is one who can adjust to each person's needs rather than a "one size fits all" kind of thinking.
You are to be commended for your desire for souls to spend eternity with the Lord in heaven as that is His desire.
Ex-tsescort is admitting his need to repent so that is a "non-issue".
I love the way of the master teaching but one thing we have to be careful of is that it does not become "canned". Or we have some sort of "fill a quota for the day" mentality. We are not E. F. Hutton and no one HAS to listen to us just because "we" have spoken.
If they don't SEE, FEEL or HEAR Love, as defined Jesus' character and heart, to back up the words spoken- they CAN'T respond because the Holy Spirit can only convict hearts that are hearing HIS representation. Not ours.
Yes, it is possible to get in the way of our own message of His truth.
God bless us all as we seek to KNOW Him for ourselves.
Steve,
I watched your video's and I am still not convinced. I guess I am just to nice of a person , to humane! But I would rather befriend a person and LOVE a person rather then SCREAM AT THEM ! Thats no way to get ones attention because like I said before, even watching your video;s ( im not judging you) but the average person would think you were a "nut job". I mean its just not right I know I for one even at this point in my life when I am trying to change my life around would NOT listen to your group if I saw you on the corner preaching in fact it would turn me away from Christianity. Just like your "group" is trying to get a point across that people need to change their life so are the "gay" people trying to get their point across that their should be treated "equally and fairly" and stop the HATE!God doesn't HATE he LOVES! So in the video as I hear the preacher screaming to the gay people that they are an abomination , I hear the gay people screaming back "what do we want? equality" AND SCREAMING stop the hate! So if I would have been at that place even at this point in my life I have to say I still would have been screaming to your group " stop the hate , and give us equality" We are not animals we are humans and deserve to be treated as such whether YOU or your "preaching Bible thumping group" afree with our sins or not. You can scream al you want to be until you show LOVE no one will listen. We "gay people" have been screamed at our whole life by Christian people and have been ridiculed, treated unfairly, been discriminated against and until you have walked in our shows YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW THAT FEELS!sO my message to you is STOP JUDGING , SCREAMING, DISCRIMINATING AND START LOVING!
OH AND BTW your "scare tactics" they wont work with esx industry workers especialy if they are still in that industry, because most likely they will be drunk or on drugs and worrying about making money. I guess for all of us who have lived in such drastically sinful ways , most of us were sexually ,physically, and mentally abused as children and throughtout our life and all we really ever wanted was to be LOVED, cared for, and accepted by SOMEONE , ! Anyone that would listen to us. Keep that in mind , we are sensitive souls, with a hard facade for an exterior! We just need love and a friend with a shoulder to cry on.
Oh I forget to say AMK you are right on the money! Steve listen to her , the lady knows what shes talking about. Amk you seem so sweet!!
And to Steve , You all SCREAM how people need to repent or go to hell. But as far as I am concerned , people need to be saved for a deeper meaning then not going to hell. It should be because they Love God and want to know God and want to LIVE their life FOR GOD. You guys make it seem like ," come 1 come all, step right up prepare to DIE save your soul" WOW! REally is that the ONLY REASON you are a Christian because your SCARED that you will go to hell when you die if your not??? If thats the only reason I feel sorry for you. Its a way deeper thing for me , for me its about knowing I have someone to talk to, someone to listen to me , knowing some one will always love me , someone that won't judge me or say I am crazy for doing the things I do or have done in my life, Its about having that UNCONDITIONAL love for God and him for me. After all he is my father! Thats what we should preach to people , people should change their life around so they can LIVE THEIR LIFE , have a life , a good life. The message should not be about "dieing". Gee how depressing is that?\ How depressing is that , living your life preparing to die! Stop preparing to DIE and prepare to LIVE. After all there are lots of lost souls out there myself included that need to be saved , when you become Christian you are then working for God so you got alot of work to do.
Ok, well you both sure sdid give me a lot to respond to. AMK said in a pm that she hopes that this has provoked thought....or something to that effect. And it sure has...this is a good topic to talk about.
One interesting thing to note is, ex-tsesorrt you said that you need to be saved. I will pray for you.
I have gottend saved for all the right reasons and I did not get saved due to fear of hell. However, I do fear God as we all should. The fear of the Lord is the begining of knoweledge.
We all should fear a holy and just God. I certinely will continue on in preaching the way that I do.....it is love to warn our neighbors of the judgement to come. As Jesus spoke about hell more than he did heaven.
We gave the Gospel...the disease of sin and the cure. We are the ones who will look you in the eye and tell you the truth. It is a seed planting ministry.......I pray that someone like "pink cross" may come along some day and harvest the fruit of our labor.
To that end....preach on we will!! :)
Perhaps only those who have been truly saved out of homosexuality should be the ones to share their salvation stories with other homosexuals. Even though it is an abomination to God, so is adultery between married people and religious superiority and arrogance. Let's get real, the latter crowd was Jesus' biggest obstacles to sharing His gospel while here on earth. Doesn't seem that much has changed today.
I personally have had more effectiveness of sharing my sweet Lord by including myself in the need for others to be saved because their sins are no greater, nor no less than mine. And last I heard, it was ALL sin that put Jesus on the cross.
Preach on Steve. But let's not forget about including ourselves in the sins of others when we speak or preach about it. That is the "level ground" of which we can all relate and are in "connection" with each other as humans and ones born with a "sin problem."
The fear of God is something we can't fabricate. The Lord puts that in us the moment we are born again when He implanted His sinless spirit within our being. Through time and circumstances of life, He makes us more keen to it and at some point in our lives, we ALL have to ask ourselves, "Why did I get saved?"
I've never met a person yet that didn't say like Paul, "It is the Love of Christ that constrains me." Not fear. Not religious tradition or traditional thinking. Not superiority or religious pride. Just plain old Love, as defined by God.
Ok sister I will put myself into my preaching.....I do that already but I will make sure I do more of that.
to the public in general, like Ray Comfort does it. But he just goes where there are people, he doesn't go to sex clubs!
I do have a problem with targeting sexual sin for this type of thing.
First, sexual sin is intensely private, and things like prostitution and sex shows, we already know this is behavior way way outside the mainstream. We know what "religion" thinks of our lifestyles....
What we need is kindness and love and respect.
Look on XXX churches website for ideas, and here on Shelley's site.
We build a relationship so we can speak into other peoples lives. It takes time to earn the right to be heard....
We do share the gospel with those still in the game, but we do it much gentler, beause we are dealing with wounded and broken people who are in pain, and it takes a gentle touch on those wounds.
I think it is great you want to reach people for God, but this method isn't the way to reach sex workers. Loving them is the only thing that will reach them, because it is the one thing most of us have very little experience with.
Carolemarie
Moderator
Pink Cross Team Member
Hi Carolemarie.
I do hear what you are saying. Respectfuly, I don't agree with the last part of what you said.
The concept of open air preaching is to go into the public square and declare the law of God pubically. Rat Comfort style :)
I have tried to speak to the regulars at these events by using their first names and speaking nicely to them, hoping that a trust developes.
We don't go to clubs...except maybe to put tracts on windshields. We do however go to pride events. And I find that more and more college girls are involved in the industry as we speak on collage campuses.
A few times some of our people have spoke to girls entering clubs...but this was one on one and no preaching. I do think we should preach outside of "conventions".....like S&M conventions.
I think as our ministry grows that if the Lord allows we may have different people for different things.
Peace,
Steve
We did have some preachers come and have a big rally outside Showworld and preach at us. It didn't convert anyone. It just made us hardhearted toward the message and reinforced what Satan wanted us to believe - that God couldn't love someone like us... and that His people were mean and hateful.
I became a Christian after I left the business. It wasn't the law, or preaching that did it. It was simply someone loving me and sharing the truth, but mainly it was the love. I never felt judged, or looked down on, and I was accepted for who I was. That was a new experiene. They were different than anyone I ever had known. I wanted to know what made them that way and I wanted what they had.
I understand that you like to preach. But this is about what works in reaching people in the sex business. It needs to be one on one, not just preaching at them. They need to know they matter enough to talk to like a human being.
May God bless you in your street preaching and please consider that this method you like, isnt necessarily the best one in every situtation.
Blessings,
Carolemarie
Moderator
Pink Cross Team Member
We are automatically more effective and can be heard because that is fulfilling a biblical principle of God! Amen! There was never a prophet sent on behalf of God that He didn't require them to apply His message to themselves first and include themselves in it, so that they, in turn, could "relate" to the people's sins.
Steve,
It is sad to see that you are closed minded and not willing to listen to others viewpoints. You say " Im still going to continue preaching the way I do"? LOL Well keep it up brother, Preach on , But the homosexuals and the sex workers. ARE NOT LISTENING TO YOUR SCREAMING Hatefilled messages! Of course if its fun to you to waste your breat and energu then have fun , I guess it could help for venting . Lol
We've had people saved in the middle of Southeran decadence. I think its great that you want to turn your life around. Please understand that turning your life around and giving your life to Jesus are two completely different things.
However, I went through the process of sortng this all out in my mind long ago. It took as much grace to save me as it will to save you.
YOU HAD PEOPLE SAVED AT SOUTHERN DECADENCE??? You first said "A" HOMOSEXUAL , THEN WENT ON TO SAY "people". Which is it??? Miscunstruing your story to sound better? More helpful? Turns out that 1 homosexual you saved at Southern Decadence was probably already going through things in his life and was probably already a person that grew up in church. So you SCARED him to feeling guilty, doesn't mean he was TRUELY saved. However it is possible he was and if he was thats great ! But you were at southern decadence a HUGE gay pride rally and you "saved" 1 individual?? lol Wow you are really doing it there , yes 1 is better then none but just imagine if you used a different tactic in your preaching. Then you would see you would reach alot more people. I don't like it to even be called "preaching" that word just doesn't sit right with mec , when I think of "preachers" I think of radical people such as your self that SCREAM hate towards people. However I prefer the "teachings" of Joel OIsteen , Rev. Young, etc. They just talk , have a conversation , let you know how to live your life righteously, that sends a better message.
Then you come here asking "us" how to reach out to sex workers. Well just about all of us have been sex workers so we would know how to reach out to sex workers. However we give you our opinion and you don't like our opinion because its not what you want to do or how you go about it. You tell carolmarie you don't agree with what she says , ok SO WHY ASK? Unless we tell you , "yes its ok to go scream hatefull messages to people" you are not going to listen to us anyways. You then say your going to go read different testimonies , yes please do that you will see the terrible things we have all been through. Things you can in no way relate to , what are you going to do wjhen you "preach" tell people you "heard" about some girl that was delivered that was a prostitute? SO WHAT! You werent one , therefore you can make up any story! You want a testimony lol I have a testimony one that would make you cringe I am sure. But no my life wasn't easy I had to work in the sex industry for 5.5 years . ( I just typed this very long message spilling my guts , then deleted it because it was to detailed.)
YOU HAD PEOPLE SAVED AT SOUTHERN DECADENCE??? You first said "A" HOMOSEXUAL , THEN WENT ON TO SAY "people". Which is it??? Miscunstruing your story to sound better? More helpful? Turns out that 1 homosexual you saved at Southern Decadence was probably already going through things in his life and was probably already a person that grew up in church. So you SCARED him to feeling guilty, doesn't mean he was TRUELY saved. However it is possible he was and if he was thats great ! But you were at southern decadence a HUGE gay pride rally and you "saved" 1 individual?? lol Wow you are really doing it there , yes 1 is better then none but just imagine if you used a different tactic in your preaching. Then you would see you would reach alot more people. I don't like it to even be called "preaching" that word just doesn't sit right with mec , when I think of "preachers" I think of radical people such as your self that SCREAM hate towards people. However I prefer the "teachings" of Joel OIsteen , Rev. Young, etc. They just talk , have a conversation , let you know how to live your life righteously, that sends a better message.
Then you come here asking "us" how to reach out to sex workers. Well just about all of us have been sex workers so we would know how to reach out to sex workers. However we give you our opinion and you don't like our opinion because its not what you want to do or how you go about it. You tell carolmarie you don't agree with what she says , ok SO WHY ASK? Unless we tell you , "yes its ok to go scream hatefull messages to people" you are not going to listen to us anyways. You then say your going to go read different testimonies , yes please do that you will see the terrible things we have all been through. Things you can in no way relate to , what are you going to do wjhen you "preach" tell people you "heard" about some girl that was delivered that was a prostitute? SO WHAT! You werent one , therefore you can make up any story! You want a testimony lol I have a testimony one that would make you cringe I am sure. But no my life wasn't easy I had to work in the sex industry for 5.5 years . ( I just typed this very long message spilling my guts , then deleted it because it was to detailed.)
I kind of get the feeling that we're beating a dead horse here. I don't even consider Joel Ostein a Christian...let alone would I preach like him.
The massage that people need to hear is to repent and believe the Gospel.
Carolemarie, I respect even though we have a few disagreements. I know you and the others feel hurt inside. It all boils down to turning in your minds eye from self to God....for starters anyway. No matter how bad a person feels or depressed they are.....this is right in the eyes of the Lord. But excuses are all the same. You know...the preacher stepped on my toes or something?
On a closing note....I never knew that the women in the industry felt so bad and worthless. I certinely do not condemn them...I want them to be saved and set free from that. Along with the homosexuals. Not because I can relate but because I strive to obey the Lord and love my neighbor as myself.
and care enough to try and reach them.
Many blessings,
Carolemarie
Moderator
Pink Cross Team Member
I just wanted to say something about open air preaching the assorted different kinds of people that are out there.
First, you have hyper-Calvinists. These are people who believe that everything is predestined and their message is not of grace. I consider it a false gospel.
Second, you have people that believe in a doctrine of "sinless prefection". They believe that one must be saved. However, they mince their words and they say that you can lose your salvation and also it is at least implied that works are necessary for salvation. Some of these people are more than likely saved, but once again this is a false and often times very harmful doctrine. As it gets in the way of people getting saved.
Lastly, you have the "way of the master" kind of preachers and I am in this class. However, we do not limit our preaching to general public areas....we go everywhere.
I hope this can help some of you understand that we all don't preach the same message or have the same tactics.
If people don't see, feel, taste, hear Love in our/my preaching and teaching- it is ineffective to whatever crowd.
Love is what ultimately draws us/me to the Lord and KEEPS us/me there. Our "job" is to Abide in The Vine, continue to grow into branches so that He can produce and grow the fruit!
Yes, praise God- His Love, (not our "human" love), is what woos people to Him by learning the truth of WHY He came, WHY He died and WHY He rose from the dead. Amen! It is so good for me to be reminded of this.
Thank you for this post Steve! And thank you for caring for our lost and dying world.
So if you want to "set them free" Then take our suggestions and do it in a loving , caring way. But you won't do that because why" You believe its your way or the highway to Hell. Well who gave you that authority?? And you don't believe Joel Osteen is a Christian? Really? Why because he doesnt condemn people to Hell and scream and rant and rave like a lunatic. Well you know what the God that I know is a loving caring gentle soul, gee I would never want to be any part of "your God" that is full of hate. This is the impression you "open air" preachers give , you exude HATE! dO YOU THINK THAT WILL GET YOU ANYWHERE?? From what you have shown me you are just like Rev. Phelp. I bet that psycho is your best friend huh? He calls himself a "Christian" really?? Wow, he might get a big surprise on judgement day. He protest gay peoples funerals who were murdered due to hate crimes , saying they deserved it!!! Yeah thats Christian , he has a website ( www. GOD HATES FAGS .com) REALLY??? WOW! Yes this open air preaching is the way to go! Beating a dead horse yes I guess we are , but I will NEVER SHUT UP expressing my beliefs and standing up for my rights. I have had you bible thumping psychos SCREAMING HATEFUL messages at me my entire life! Do you know that when you go to these gay rallies and parades and protest (preach) what this does??? This INITIATES hate crimes , they initiates gay bashings, you know alot of gay bashings turn to MURDER! When you people go screaming into a bullhorn how terrible it is to be gay , and other str8 people hear that it igniates anger in them and they ill go looking for a gay person to beat the hell out of , just for fun. Thats fun to these people , you know the same things happen with sex workers , my clients use to call me a "F***ing Whore " and spit on me , do you know these men stalk us , follow us , sometimes we have to move in order to not get out A** beat by tricks or worse. So yeah go stand outside a strip club screaming into a bull horn how these girls are going to hell , you might accomplish her getting beat that night by her pimp , after all shes nothing but a dollar sign to the pimp and a piece of meat to the trick . So go ahead have fun igniate Anger towards sex workers into these men that already think of us as garbage. I am not an angry person but you truely bring out the anger in me , so Your open air preaching does NOTHING but stir up Sh*t!!! So taKE YOUR SIGNS AND BULL HORN AND IF YOU ALL HAVE THE NEED TO RELIEVE SOME PENT UP ANGER , JUST SCREAM AT EACH OTHER THROUGH A BULLHORN ALL DAY! Till your little heart is content . But once again to answer your question of is open air preaching a good tactic HELL NO! Sorry for my language im just trying to get my point across after all im a sinner not a such a SAINT!
Steve,
Thank you for sharing your Love of God with others.
We are all called to do that. In fact, it is as natural as breathing and it truly is hard to keep this precious Lord to ourselves. The Lord couldn't "include" Himself in the sins of mankind of course, but we can. That truly does put us ALL on "level ground."
I saw Kirk Cameron talk WITH (not "talk to") some gang members once and I thought it was beautiful the way he included himself. He never once said, "You are a sinner..." but instead, "We are sinners..." (Duh. Like the lost doesn't know that already! LOL) But the beauty of that is that he then had the right to say, "But Jesus saved ME from MY sins" and make it personal. Before they walked away, they THANKED him for sharing his heart.
That is all that is required of us in any format. Until people see that we can include ourselves as sinners just like they are at the present, they just simply can't hear.
Preach on. Our Lord is too beautiful to keep to ones' self and I know you know this to be true.
Peace.
Isn't it great that we can come together from two different backgrounds and be equal members of the body of Christ. And share a common passion. Only Jesus can do that!
Steve, yes it is! I really am not knocking you, I don't agree with your tactics but thats on you :) We are all different and have different life experiences. I just wish you could Preach in a loving warm manner , I am sure you could help me alot. I also don't believe in fire and brimstone preaching either. Like the "independant " Baptist are very that way , "Missionary" Baptist are more understanding it seems.
AMK you have some very good Godly advice here. I'm glad we spoke. I don't agree with you on everything. But I do agree that we need to apply the message to ourselves first and include ourselves in the message.
The including myself in the message is what I need help with. Yes, I speak of my testimony a little. However, I was not in the adult industry and I am a straight person. It looks like our conversation has gone full circle. My question is still basically the same...what testimonies would prick the heart?
I guess I'll just read the testimonies here and use what God lays on my heart.
I do have one story to tell you though. Last year a fellow brother of mine...led a homosexual man to the Lord in the middle of Southeran decadence. It doesn't happen often but it does happen.
I used to invite my little niece overnight to stay with me so we could just have fun and hang out. One night, we were talking about the Lord and salvation. She told me she had been born again a few years earlier.
I asked, "B, why did you get saved?" She looked at me kind of funny and said, "Because I wanted to be with Jesus in heaven." I said, "That's a benefit of being saved. Why did you get saved?" She looked at me even more perplexed and said, "Because I didn't want to go to hell." I said, "That's a benefit of being saved. Why did you get saved?" She said, "Aunt Marchel, you are confusing me." I said, "No. I'm asking you an important question. Think about it... why did you get saved?" All of the sudden, I could see the cogs turning in her young mind and with a sober look on her face she said, "Because I am a sinner and I needed a Saviour." I said, "YES, B!! Now do you see that going to heaven and not going to hell is a BENEFIT of knowing Jesus and that is the only way we can be saved?" She said, "Yes! I see it!"
The reason I shared this with her is because sometimes we get so caught up in the idea of wanting to scare people into hell by instilling fear into them that way rather than allowing the Lord to instill His fear Himself. In other words, the motive to be saved is because we are all sinners. Burning in hell is a reality but just as Love is the motivation behind Jesus' gospel, it should be our motivation as well. Yes, people need to know of a literal place of eternal separation from God but why do we insist on trying to "motivate" people in any other way than letting them SEE the LOVE He has so graciously shown to us? The fear of God comes as a natural result when we realize that we are sinners and He is a Holy God Who has predetermined all things to be a certain way before the universe was even created and has THE RIGHT to judge us based on that. (In our earthly courts, I can't be a "witness" on the stand unless I have actually SEEN something to give witness about. How can I truly share the Love of God unless I have witnessed it for myself?)
If I am wanting to "be saved" just to keep from burning in hell, I've truly "missed the mark". Love and gratefulness for a Saviour Who came to redeem mankind by "going into the depths of filth" and even to the point of being forsaken by His Father in order to do it is the reason we can be even saved. God's Love for us and our Love for God is "the marriage" He is looking for- and the one that lasts. (Let's face it, here on earth- a marriage out of fear is NOT a beautiful thing.)
I'm glad for this post because so often we are ineffective in our "sharing" because we are more about "you need to take" rather than offering. And there is always the possibility of "being rejected" with the message. But so what? Jesus was rejected but I can't help but believe that anyone's eyes who met His didn't walk away with the thought, "Wow... I just encountered compassion and Love."
God used people who truly exhibited the Love of God from my memory years before I ever came back to Him. Why is that? Because their message coupled with His Love was the tool that He eventually used to draw me to Himself. I never forget the Love they spoke of and showed.
Inwards, Onwards and Upwards... There is Love from a beautiful Saviour waiting for "whomever will" and even in spite of ones who are yelling a "Love-less" message on the street corners. The reality of hell without Love as the "vehicle it's delivered in"- can't be heard anyway.
Oh I forget to say AMK you are right on the money! Steve listen to her , the lady knows what shes talking about. Amk you seem so sweet!!
And to Steve , You all SCREAM how people need to repent or go to hell. But as far as I am concerned , people need to be saved for a deeper meaning then not going to hell. It should be because they Love God and want to know God and want to LIVE their life FOR GOD. You guys make it seem like ," come 1 come all, step right up prepare to DIE save your soul" WOW! REally is that the ONLY REASON you are a Christian because your SCARED that you will go to hell when you die if your not??? If thats the only reason I feel sorry for you. Its a way deeper thing for me , for me its about knowing I have someone to talk to, someone to listen to me , knowing some one will always love me , someone that won't judge me or say I am crazy for doing the things I do or have done in my life, Its about having that UNCONDITIONAL love for God and him for me. After all he is my father! Thats what we should preach to people , people should change their life around so they can LIVE THEIR LIFE , have a life , a good life. The message should not be about "dieing". Gee how depressing is that?\ How depressing is that , living your life preparing to die! Stop preparing to DIE and prepare to LIVE. After all there are lots of lost souls out there myself included that need to be saved , when you become Christian you are then working for God so you got alot of work to do.
Any time one has the opportunity to share the Lord, whether with a certain individual or a crowd, is great. But... if the Love of the Lord for these precious souls for whom He came to save is not taught and shared as a representative of His Love, character and nature- it will be ineffective. And rightfully so.
God offers all sinners dignity and one of the wonderful examples we have of that is Jesus' personal encounter with a woman who was in the middle of sexual sins. (The precious woman at the well.) He did not belittle her in any way and even wanted to have fellowship with her through conversation- (which was "forbidden" for Him to speak to "her kind" and a woman of all things...)
But He did anyway because He Loved her, not the sin she was in "at the moment".
No wonder she responded in such a profound way- the Love the Lord showed her was profound.
Sometimes, our "witnessing" can have a motive of "self" thrown in the mix in whatever degree and for whatever reason- (I'm ashamed to say I have handled God's word that way before He showed me that was sin even though I was sharing His truths of the gospel.)
People caught up in sexual sins oftentimes seem to be "the forgotten ones" in regards to ministry. After finding out my husbands' incest past and several previous affairs (AFTER we were married, of course), God gave me a heart of compassion for him as one who needed to be HEALED- mind, body and spirit- as God longs for him to know it, while other Christians were saying, "Let him go. He's 'damaged goods'.
So, to answer your question- without God's Love for mankind as the motive- it is best that I be quiet. God is "offended" at sin, not the sinner. If He did not see "worth" in us, He wouldn't have bothered. That is why none of us should ever treat others without dignity and in the same dignity we have been so graciously shown by a most precious God Who chose to "dwell in the sinful human heart" of those who will accept Him and as His "birthplace" so that we can KNOW what it means to be born again. Hallelujah! What a magnificient Saviour!