Street Preacher

[annie17on12]

Today I had an encounter with a street preacher lady. She wasn’t preaching to a crowd but she got my attention as I was walking by. I thought she was lost but then she started talking about Jesus and Mother God (not the mother of God but rather a female God). I was so confused and said “what?” so many times she asked me if I spoke english. She kept talking and talking and then I told her I was busy and that I believe the Catholic Church is the true church and then she asked me why. At this point I feel like a failure. I started to say something and then stopped and told her Im busy and I wished her a good day. (I probably sounded a bit flustered too.) What could have I said? Was it okay to just walk away? I feel guilty about it. Maybe I could have shown her the truth if I was more patient. I had shopping to do and was tired. I feel like a hypocrite because I just posted about evangelization on Facebook last night. Am I over thinking it?

 

[upant]

i would take it as a wake up call to study up and be prepared for the next time it happens.

 

[jlhargus]

Today I had an encounter with a street preacher lady. She wasn’t preaching to a crowd but she got my attention as I was walking by. I thought she was lost but then she started talking about Jesus and Mother God (not the mother of God but rather a female God). I was so confused and said “what?” so many times she asked me if I spoke english. She kept talking and talking and then I told her I was busy and that I believe the Catholic Church is the true church and then she asked me why. At this point I feel like a failure. I started to say something and then stopped and told her Im busy and I wished her a good day. (I probably sounded a bit flustered too.) What could have I said? Was it okay to just walk away? I feel guilty about it. Maybe I could have shown her the truth if I was more patient. I had shopping to do and was tired. I feel like a hypocrite because I just posted about evangelization on Facebook last night. Am I over thinking it?

More than likely she will be in that area again so be prepared to answer why the Catholic Church is the true church. Also give her a book such as Born Fundamentalist Born again Catholic.

 

[joeybaggz]

Today I had an encounter with a street preacher lady. She wasn’t preaching to a crowd but she got my attention as I was walking by. I thought she was lost but then she started talking about Jesus and Mother God (not the mother of God but rather a female God). I was so confused and said “what?” so many times she asked me if I spoke english. She kept talking and talking and then I told her I was busy and that I believe the Catholic Church is the true church and then she asked me why. At this point I feel like a failure. I started to say something and then stopped and told her Im busy and I wished her a good day. (I probably sounded a bit flustered too.) What could have I said? Was it okay to just walk away? I feel guilty about it. Maybe I could have shown her the truth if I was more patient. I had shopping to do and was tired. I feel like a hypocrite because I just posted about evangelization on Facebook last night. Am I over thinking it?

I have seen much quoting of Scripture on this forum, much debating how to handle problem situations, refute non-believers and those who attack the Church and your faith. I have never seen anyone, though, quote the following words of Jesus: “And if any place doesn’t receive you, shake the dust from your feet. I assure you Sodom and Gomorrah will fair better than that place on the day of judgment.” I don’t cite this as a position of arrogance or mean spiritedness. But when I say I am Catholic and someone attacks my faith, I will refute their accusations. If they persist, I walk away. I think Jesus is saying to his followers, ‘try, be faithful, but you don’t have to succeed and you don’t have to take abuse. Just leave.’ Do it as pleasantly as possible, but just leave.
You shouldn’t feel guilty about walking away. It is your right.

Shalom

 

[Padres1969]

You just reminded me that one of my favorite people watching things is going on in downtown San Diego this weekend. Comic-Con… and the attendant Street Preachers and their vile signs trying to convert the “heathen nerds” and “superhero worshipers” it attracts. And the attendant counter preachers and their hilarious counter protesting signs.

 

[Crusaderbear]

You can never be sure what their true mental state is, some can become violent at the wrong word. It is best to simply disengage and move away as quickly as possible. If you feel the need to speak, smile and say Bless you. Then beat feet.

 

[Catholic1954]

Today I had an encounter with a street preacher lady. She wasn’t preaching to a crowd but she got my attention as I was walking by. I thought she was lost but then she started talking about Jesus and Mother God (not the mother of God but rather a female God). I was so confused and said “what?” so many times she asked me if I spoke english. She kept talking and talking and then I told her I was busy and that I believe the Catholic Church is the true church and then she asked me why. At this point I feel like a failure. I started to say something and then stopped and told her Im busy and I wished her a good day. (I probably sounded a bit flustered too.) What could have I said? Was it okay to just walk away? I feel guilty about it. Maybe I could have shown her the truth if I was more patient. I had shopping to do and was tired. I feel like a hypocrite because I just posted about evangelization on Facebook last night. Am I over thinking it?

I doubt if you could have entered into a meaningful, two way discussion with her. People with such strange notions are not really interested in an exchange of ideas; their intentions are to convince the other guy that they are right and everyone else is wrong. She did not really want to know why the Catholic Church is the one, true Church; she wanted to know why you think so and argue with your convictions. If was better to walk away.

 

[Padres1969]

I doubt if you could have entered into a meaningful, two way discussion with her. People with such strange notions are not really interested in an exchange of ideas; their intentions are to convince the other guy that they are right and everyone else is wrong. She did not really want to know why the Catholic Church is the one, true Church; she wanted to know why you think so and argue with your convictions. If was better to walk away.

It’s funny you should say that. The San Diego Comic Con street preachers this year (at least one of the groups), actually set up a debating arena or sorts and were having Comic Con attendees debate them on points of contention between secular nerds and bible thumping Evangelicals. Filming it all no doubt to then twist into one of their Youtube videos later.

Worst part though, is how people like this engender some really vile counter protests against Christ as for many such attendees these fringe street preachers are their most direct interaction with so called Christians. Painting all Christians in a bad light as a result.