Tract Tip

So there are these people in the subway that pass out these horrible, horrible tracts that basically say that everyone is going to burn in hell. They have posters up everywhere that have judgment verses written over flames. I have visions of overturning their signs, but of course I never do. How is it these people supposedly believe in the same God that I do? I try not to judge them, thinking maybe God is working through them. After all, at least they are willing to try to convince people of God's all-mighty power while I'm hesitant to ever bring up the subject. How are we supposed to deal with these people who make our God appear scary and evil?

it really isn't worth it- at least most of the time- to try to actively fight what people like that are doing. just show the love of Christ without compromise, but also without turning people away. in a way, God is scary- powerful and sacred and holy, unswerving in His judgment of sin. but He hates sin, not sinners. maybe we're too comfortable with God...but that's another discussion.

My wife has a friend who refuses to have anything to do with church because of this. She was a waitress in college and was "tipped" many times with tracts. She also would recall that the Sunday "After Church" crowd was the rudest of any customers she served.

I visited my mom a few weekends ago. She had this box of sample tracts, and my friends and I seriously laughed for hours about some of them. But now it doesn't seem so funny.

I'm reading "unChristian," a book compiling statistical data about our faith. According to this book, the damage done by certain evangelism is 7-10 times more damaging than good.

We're called to be stewards to the gospel. I think it's time we stood up to those who are misrepresenting the good news.

Thanks for writing this!

I understand being disappointed with the way that you have represented Christ, I seem to have a skill for saying the right thing at the wrong time. But I don't think that sarcasm and disdain for your brothers and sisters is a good representation of Christ either.

There were a few things in the article that I'm hoping you can clarify:
-Is it really the hope to convert someone that Jesus is warning against, or is it the desire to make salvation formulaic? It seems to me the sin is more about trying to find salvation independent of grace. The Pharisee's seem to enjoy following rules because then THEY are in control of their salvation, it's no longer God's grace, but their own legal systems.
-You mentioned that the Pharisee's didn't care about bringing the kingdom to earth now, but as people living under Hebraic covenant, without the knowledge that Jesus was the promised Messiah, could they even understand what that meant? Christ introduced the concept of "kingdom living", so it seems unfair to say they didn't care, when it was such a new promise.
-You also said, "...I realized the sick thing I was communicating..." I understand that the way those people were sharing the message may be sick, but I'm worried if you are calling the actual message of salvation sick. It's hard and sometimes it sucks to say that I believe in judgement and hell and all that, but aren't we doing a dis-service to people seeking truth by being too afraid to share it?

I can appreciate your desire to have Christ represented in a loving and relational way. Maybe God is calling you to start proselytizing again...this time share a cup of coffee with one of the tract-toting Pharisee's and see what their story is.

chris -- i'm reading "unchristian" too. it's very interesting!

melody -- excellent points. i had the same feeling but didn't know how to articulate it.

I grew up in youth group going 1-3 times a year for a weekend and handing out tracts and doing dramas. And honestly, I didn't know why I was doing it but that I knew it was what "Christians were supposed to do". I look back on it now and I think about how much did I really impact people? And what was that impact? Negative or Positive? I appreciated this article because I feel as though a lot of people don't talk about this issue enough and/or at least share their thoughts on it. I also was a waitress once and from that experience I have learned that it shows God's love more if you tip a large amount and then give the tract then no money at all and just leave the tract behind. I would be more willing to read something they left behind if they left an impact with more than the normal amount for a tip. I feel like it shows more of a Christian witness to do the opposite of what a typical person would do if you tip over and beyond whether or not the service was bad. I truly believe in my heart that Jesus would do that. He would be the one who tips 50% on the worst waiter ever. Because he was always doing things the opposite of the culture and ultimately would show unconditional love. The last thing I want to add is that I feel like handing out tracts is not the best way to spread the gospel, is the laziest way actually. Just like Tad was saying, it would do more good if we just went around asking people how they are and listening to their life story then handing them a peice of paper with recommendations on where they should go after they die. The church are the modern day Pharisees in my opinion and I grew up in it. God has completely opened my eyes to it all the last few years. We have everything upside down. It's time we start looking at ourselves instead of how many people we can convert.

I've found that people are much more eager to believe you about Jesus loving them if they first understand that YOU love them.

Best friends are more willing to be introduced to Jesus than strangers to whom you hand a tract.

Trust is a window through which truth shines.

When we trust God, He's able to speak to us. Doesn't it make sense that when others trust us, we are then able to speak to them?

Jesus preached of heaven and hell but he also fed people.

One of my professors just recommended unChristian, so it's sitting on my nightstand. I'm looking forward to reading it after all these great reviews!

I also just wanted to add that I think we have to be careful about how we talk about "the church". Yes, there is hipocracy, bad theology and myriad other sins. But it is also the Bride of Christ, the place where God has chosen to reveal Himself corporately. We shouldn't be turning our backs, but instead we should be embracing it and loving it into what Christ called it to be. As hard as it is to believe sometimes, we "non-franchise Christ followers" don't have it all figured out. There is a lot to learn from a 2000 year history.

I just want you all to know that I am a Christian today because someone gave me a gospel tract.

It was a hellfire and brimstone street preacher who came to my college campus one day. I laughed at him, along with everyone else, and thought he was a total psycho. But later I read his tract and the words penetrated my heart. I got serious about faith and my life has been forever changed. Since then I have handed out hundreds, probably thousands of tracts to people, not because I'm a Pharisee or trying to earn my way into heaven, but because God has given me a desire to see others enter His kingdom. And handing out tracts is one tiny little part of my life that maybe God will use to reveal Himself to another.

I have seen the crazy looking people with signs and banners, and maybe some of them don't have the right heart and act in a self-righteous way. But the point is that we don't know that. We don't know the hearts or motives of why people do what they do, only God does. Just because we don't always see immediate fruit from giving gospel tracts or open air preaching, that doesn't mean that it won't be there someday. God uses all kinds of incidents and circumstances to reveal Himself to us, and even if the presenter's motives are wrong, we can still rejoice in knowing that the Gospel is going forth.

As the Apostle Paul said: "But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice" (Philippians 1:18)