People who preach loudly in public spaces are they causing more harm than good?

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englands123

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I know they mean well.

I’ve been taught showing our faith through love and peace to others is the way forward ? Not preaching.
 
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I guess it depends on what they’re saying, how people are reacting amd how they are reacting back.

If they are being hostile then thats bad, but if they are opening a ath to Jesus then that’s beyond goos.
 
The question is, Do they achieve results? Are there people who have turned to Christ because of something they heard a street-corner preacher say? I imagine there probably are such people, which would mean that the preachers are doing the right thing.
 
what do you mean by preach loudly? are they preaching the gospel of Jesus or an alternate gospel?

is it possible this may be the only word some people will hear?
 
I think it depends on the person. Someone with a bullhorn yelling that you’re going to Hell, isn’t going to have much luck. I was in Downtown Augusta, and there was a woman from the Legion of Mary, and she asked me if I knew about the Catholic Church, and I told her that not only am I Catholic, but I’m a member of the Legion of Mary. She would ask people that same question, some people would talk to her, other people politely refused, I think that’s the best way to do it. I fully support street preaching, but I think you have to be careful about how you do it.
 
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I think it’s great, you see many of them in Dublin, real spirit of John the Baptist stuff. It’s a pity Catholics don’t do this. My only issue is that they seem to be very anti-catholic.
 
I can only give you a non Christian view. The key word in your OP is loudly. I find them obnoxious and am less willing to listen to anything they have to say because of this approach. No one likes getting yelled at, I certainly don’t. A calm discussion is one thing. Inviting me to discuss your faith, same. But shouting from a street corner about Jesus just turns me off to any message about Jesus that they may have. They do much more harm than good. YMMV.
 
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adamhovey1988 said:
I think it depends on the person. Someone with a bullhorn yelling that you’re going to Hell, isn’t going to have much luck. I was in Downtown Augusta, and there was a woman from the Legion of Mary, and she asked me if I knew about the Catholic Church, and I told her that not only am I Catholic, but I’m a member of the Legion of Mary. She would ask people that same question, some people would talk to her, other people politely refused, I think that’s the best way to do it. I fully support street preaching, but I think you have to be careful about how you do it.
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Sounds like this lady has a good plan. Moreover, if she is from the Legion of Mary, I would assume that she is affiliated with (but does not necessarily represent) a parish, and that she has a pastor who approves of this. Downtown Augusta is a small, placid place, and likely she will meet many people who are not in a hurry and will take the time to listen to her. It’s a win-win all the way around.
 
I agree that obnoxious public preachers do no good. But the Church must bring the gospel to the Public Square. Christianity has been almost totally removed from most Mass media.

The problem of the rare obnoxious street preacher is, by far, outweighed by the silent vast majority of us. Lots of people quote the alleged saying of St Francis: “preach constantly. When necessary, use words”, invented centuries after his death. I think the real St Francis would have encouraged both good actions and public preachers today.
 
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BartholomewB said:
The question is, Do they achieve results? Are there people who have turned to Christ because of something they heard a street-corner preacher say? I imagine there probably are such people, which would mean that the preachers are doing the right thing.
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You know, I’ve often wondered how much they do achieve. Has anyone ever managed to try to do any kind of research on that?
 
I tried to find non religious research on the effectiveness of street preaching and haven’t had much luck. Various religions have claimed it really doesn’t produce much fruit but then go on in defense of it anyway so…I’m not sure. Personally, I don’t think it accomplishes much, especially for the amount of time and effort put in. A few techniques seem to be better than others and a lone preacher on a street corner seems to be the least effective.
 
Yes sorry , the street preaches yelling loudly ( Hell , Heaven and stuff like that ) . They do more harm I reckon.

Thank you Pattylt that’s interesting that you would find it difficult. I am guessing most non Christians would think the same. I’ve heard people walking past whispering things like Bible basher and much worse.
 
Pattylt said:
A few techniques seem to be better than others and a lone preacher on a street corner seems to be the least effective
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https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...Vaw1WKFjK9smbLCUBfVt_n1BL&cshid=1571009553604

Just because a ministry tries street preaching as one of their tools doesn’t techniques doesn’t mean they can’t do other things too. They do not need to work alone.
Beginning a century ago Frank Sheed’s Catholic Evidence Guild offered intelligent Evangelism and apologetics on the street corner.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...Vaw2julJFCF8jaF6Qv_dFlURN&cshid=1571010027146
 
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