Over the years I have watched street preachers who operate on the extremes, too hard or too soft. I think the gospel 'sweet spot' is somewhere in the middle.
NTEB'er Jane Nymberg was nice enough to take some incredible videos of the street preaching that we all did on Sunday during the NTEB Camp Meeting. As you will see, preaching the old-fashioned gospel of the grace of God elicits quite strong reactions in people passing by. Watching this video, it will become crystal-clear how Jeremiah wound up in the sewer after preaching the hard truth to his fellows Jews in the Bible.
"For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten." Jeremiah 20:8-11 (KJB)
Over the years I have watched street preachers who have virtually mowed people down with their words, spat out rather than spoken, doing more harm than good. I have also seen street preachers go way too soft, and it becomes like harmless background noise, affecting no one. But somewhere in the middle, the truth spoken passionately in love, becomes a mighty gospel hammer that is able to penetrate the cold hearts of the lost. In this video you will see some strong reactions, but they are reacting to the gospel, not to the preacher.
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