Street Preaching

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USMC0311

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What is the stance of the church with regards to street preachers? It upsets me when I see individuals/groups standing on the street telling everyone that walks by that they are going to hell. First off, who are these people to judge who is going to heaven or hell? I feel they are conveying the message of God in the wrong format. To me, they should approach spreading the word in a more friendly approach than flat out telling people they are going to hell for all of their sins. Just wanted to see what the opinions of others are on the subject.
 
I don’t know that the Catholic Church has an official “stance” on street preaching, as I’ve rarely seen any Catholic clergy or religious person doing it in the modern era, and when they did, they weren’t taking the “hellfire and damnation” approach.

My own personal thoughts are as follows:
  1. The USA allows free speech, subject to reasonable time, place and manner restrictions, so street preaching in the type of public places you’d expect to find such a public speaker is generally allowed under the law, and is an important American value even if we don’t agree with the speaker’s rhetoric. However, when the preachers start harassing people (like following them down the street yelling that they’re going to Hell) then it becomes unreasonable to me.
  2. Many of the people who engage in street preaching, including one who I knew slightly personally, are mentally ill, and we should have compassion for them. Some street preachers are also doing it as a way of panhandling for donations to live on; I give them some credit for actually trying to do something rather than just shaking a cup.
  3. Many of the saints and famous Catholic preachers in history have not been shy about telling people they were going to Hell. It’s not the preferred approach in this day and age, but it likely does work to jolt a few people out of their sinful ways.
  4. The Salvation Army has a long tradition of this, and I admire them as an organization.
 
USMC0311 said:
To me, they should approach spreading the word in a more friendly approach than flat out telling people they are going to hell for all of their sins.
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Combining that with the venue that is the title of this thread, maybe the problem is that under those circumstances passersby don’t think of any appealing options for responding.

Thus, there could be an opportunity for some street preachers to propose creative responses, list those responses in pamphlets, and request ideas from the general public for additions or amendments to the list.

For example:
Are all people equally prepared for hell, or are there things that I can do to make myself better prepared?

In hell, will I know that I am in hell, or will it appear to be just like this world, except that I will personally hold a delusional belief that my best option in life is to stand on the street and tell people that they are going to hell?
 
Street preaching has been practiced for a long time but it is not one size fits all. I watched an excellent video where a group of non-Catholic Christians were witnessing to a crowd. The main spokesman did not tell anyone they were going to hell but told them about the sinfulness of the event they were attending. Generally, the responses were ridicule, profanity-ridicule, and get the ] out of here comments, with anger. One young lady introduced herself as a pagan and a Wiccan and was more respectful than most. One Catholic woman was quite rude. In any case, accusations were made and the responses were appropriate. Repent. Turn to God.

The Church takes a more low-key approach. When I did street witnessing, I offered religious pamphlets to people in various settings. Those who didn’t want them I left alone, those who took them took them. The end.

God, and the Church, does not force anyone to love Him.

Ed
 
You’re right in that neither we nor anyone else can know who will go to Heaven or Hell, but maybe God can use that type of message to reach some people. Whenever I see a street preacher I ask God to bless their ministry and touch others with His Word. God’s Spirit can do that.

Wasn’t John the Baptist kind of like a street preacher? His message was, ''Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."
 
I agree with all the statements above. I just think that pushing fire and damnation as a means to spread the word actually does the opposite for most. For non-believers, I feel that this method of preaching causing anger and hatred towards the words spoken. I’m all for street preaching if done in the correct forum. That’s just my personal opinion. I don’t like being told I’m going to hell just because I’m attending a sporting event or concert, especially when children are around.
 
Street teaching is a good idea. Almost everyone appreciates a prayer.

I can see that a Bible-beater preaching fire and brimstone would be laughed at by many, and that some would be saddened or dismayed, or think the fellow was ignorant.

This said, the fire and brimstone really will be there. We should be fearful of opposing God and fearful of just punishment for our sins.

But if one wants to evangelize, this is a wholly different matter. People want God; they don’t always want their just punishment! 🙂 More than this, ours is a God of love, and it distorts the message if the fire and brimstone is all that people hear about, distorts in an offputting way.
 
I believe these verses apply to the street preachers telling everyone that they are going to hell.

James 4:11-12 “Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one lawgiver and judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?”
 
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