Overcome with awareness of people's eternal destination....

[carlos123]

Last night as I was walking home from a most wonderfully delicious meal at a local restaurant I was overcome with a realization of how most people around me are headed for a Christless eternity in hell.

Tears began streaming down my cheeks as I slowly walked on. At how readily I can take advantage of the wonderful grace of Jesus in my life every day while being mostly oblivious to the need for Christ in those around me.

That realization had began as I ate at the restaurant and pondered the implications of what I believe.

And it led me ultimately to ask myself whether the choices I am making in life are in line with letting the Lord use me to reach out to the others with the Gospel or not.

I want to do more about getting the Gospel message out to those in need of hearing it. Especially out to those members of our society who are the working poor. Those I see on the trolleys and buses of San Diego. Who are too poor to afford a car but who have to go to and fro to work trying to survive in these hard economic times.

So many are headed for hell and do not know the joy and assurance of forgiveness.

And what I am doing about it? Hanging out on Christian forums such as this one and discussing things with people whose minds, for the most part, are made up about this or that issue and who are unlikely to change their thinking as a result of anything I say.

I do want to do more in line with reaching out to the lost.

So...I am wondering if anyone would like to work with me on creating a track or two that we could start handing out?

This would be a collaborative effort. If you can't write well...that's okay. I can and so can others. But perhaps you could help with teaching the rest of us how to use Google collaborative tools to enable us to work together. Maybe you could proofread. Maybe do something else.

If you speak and write Spanish or another language you could even help translate created tracks into another language.

If you are a great writer and love the Lord...I'd love to work with you too. In writing the best tracks we can. To give away freely.

Tracks that anyone can download for free off the Internet and print out to use.

Many tracks in existance today could be done better. Many are too religious. They quote King James english. They assume too much religious knowledge on the part of those they are intended to reach. I think we can do better as a collaborative effort by the general Body of Christ.

If the Lord blesses our efforts we could even encourage each other with stories of how the Lord used our track distribution efforts.

Lots of possibilities.

This is all tentative. Track distribution is certainly not the only way to reach others with the Gospel. I am just putting this idea out to see if the Lord uses the Body here to give a go ahead to this idea.

If not...that's okay. But maybe the Lord might be in this and might want some of us to do something with this.

To reach out to the lost.

We can spend so much time debating the finer points of this or that doctrine when there is a whole world dying at our feet who do not know God.

And those of us who are true Christians are entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. If we don't get out there and reach people they won't hear and if they don't hear they won't get saved or come to know the joy of relationship to God.

I don't want this thread to be yet one more thread through which somebody pipes up and questions my saving theology. This thread is not intended to be a debate thread.

It is intended to see if there are any true believers out there who might have the idea I propose on their hearts too. Such that perhaps we can work together on it.

That's all.

If you are such a believer please respond and we can go from there. Better yet PM (private message) me and we can discuss this in private.

Thanks.

Carlos

[riel]

Hi Carlos,

Have you ever heard of Chick Publications? There about the only tracts I hand out, and they're available in foreign languages. You might want to go to their website, and check them out.

I have thought about writing my own tracts.

I believe the forums are important because every Christian has something to encourage the body with. We may never know how our words may have helped someone else.

Hugs,

Darlene

[carlos123]

Have you ever heard of Chick Publications?

Thanks for the input Darlene but there are some things about Chick tracts that I would rather do differently. Thus my desire to create tracks seperately to theirs. Not to mention that I want to work on new tracts with others in the Body to create something together. Not just create tracks by myself. If this is of God, He will pull together the people that He wants on this. If not or if the timing is not yet correct then it won't happen. At least not at present.

Carlos

[EricH]

Rather than spending time rewriting tracks, I would just get out there and start getting to know unbelievers personally, so you can shere with them in the context of a trusting relationship.

[Matthitjah]

Rather than spending time rewriting tracks, I would just get out there and start getting to know unbelievers personally, so you can shere with them in the context of a trusting relationship.

Amen bro.

[carlos123]

Rather than spending time rewriting tracks, I would just get out there and start getting to know unbelievers personally, so you can shere with them in the context of a trusting relationship.

I have done that and continue to do so (though certainly I could do more). I have shared with many to whatever degree they are willing to listen on the trolleys and buses, in the burger joints, or wherever I happen to meet them. Even my landlord knows I am a Christian but at present he is not open to knowing more.

I want to do more. Writing happens to be something I am very gifted at.

Thus my desire to write tracks and to write them in collaboration with others in the Body of Christ. Not as a one man show.

Furthermore for many in the Church they have no ready outlet to sharing the Gospel with others. Working with me to write tracks and learning to use them effectively might give them such an outlet. While the Lord continues to work with us all to use our existing relationships with unbelievers to win them into the Kingdom.

Carlos

[Matthitjah]

Grace to you,

Furthermore for many in the Church they have no ready outlet to sharing the Gospel with others.

That's funny, because we have the exact opposite problem at my Church. There are hundreds of opportunites for folks to share the Gospel but we are having trouble gaining peoples interest.

Why not plug yourself into a local Church with a dynamic outreach?

Peace,

Dave

[carlos123]

Grace to you,

Furthermore for many in the Church they have no ready outlet to sharing the Gospel with others.

That's funny, because we have the exact opposite problem at my Church. There are hundreds of opportunites for folks to share the Gospel but we are having trouble gaining peoples interest.

Why not plug yourself into a local Church with a dynamic outreach?

Peace,

Dave

What I meant by a ready outlet Dave is that many Christians associate with Christians, hang out with Christians...not just in real life, but on internet forums such as this one, worship only with Christians, go to potlucks only with Christians...and so forth.

Most Christians don't do anything to get the Gospel out.

Leaving tracks around is one of the easiest things to do. It may help one's that don't have a ready outlet to share with unbelievers a way to start doing that.

I mean anyone that wants to can join me in hanging out on the trolleys and buses of San Diego or otherwise making contact with unbelievers. Maybe we should start a trolley ministry . But it's far easier to get others to join me in writing tracks and getting them out.

Better yet any Christians in San Diego want to make their homes available for get togethers that we could invite unbelievers to? Trouble is most persons who profess to be Christians are more interested in pursuing the good life for themselves and wouldn't want the first thing to do with anything that spills out of our church buildings and into real life.

Regarding what you said about a lack of interest....may I suggest that the problem is one of a lack of true faith in the Gospel. There are many folks, church going folks, who are not even Christians. The Gospel has been watered down to this feel good, 4 steps to the great plan God has for your life, say a prayer thing that has resulted in tons of false conversions.

2 Cor 4:12

It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.

If we don't speak there is something lacking in our faith. If we have faith as we should...we will speak. Plain and simple.

If people aren't speaking...it's because there is something wrong in their belief.

I'm not saying that everyone who does not open their mouth and say "Jesus" in the presence of unbelievers is an unbeliever. But if we, as professing Christians, don't do even that little there is something wrong.

As for my lack of going to a regular Sunday church building...it would take longer than I have the inclination to do on this thread to explain my reasons for that. Suffice it to say that I get daily fellowship on the front lines with many, many Christians. Why do I need to go sit for two hours in some building with a steeple on it to have someone else tell me what the Bible says?

Please don't make assumptions about some supposed problem on my part with submission or that I am anti-authority. There is something wrong with the practice of church in North America and I want no part of it.

But having said all that...my goal with this thread is not to discuss what is wrong with the practice of church, why I do what I do, or any other such a thing.

It is simply to find others on whose hearts the Lord might be laying the things I propose. To see if the Lord wants me to do this with others in the Body.

If not...that's cool. It's either not the right timing for me and/or others, not God's will for me to do this with others, or otherwise. I have this post on another Christian forums as well. If the Lord wills it may He lay it on the hearts of some to join me in this endeavour.

Carlos

PS. Oh I forgot to add...if anyone knows some Christians who are doing open air preaching on the streets of San Diego...I am trying to find some that I can hang out with and learn from.

[Believer1997]

Grace to you,

Furthermore for many in the Church they have no ready outlet to sharing the Gospel with others.

That's funny, because we have the exact opposite problem at my Church. There are hundreds of opportunites for folks to share the Gospel but we are having trouble gaining peoples interest.

Why not plug yourself into a local Church with a dynamic outreach?

Peace,

Dave

What I meant by a ready outlet Dave is that many Christians associate with Christians, hang out with Christians...not just in real life, but on internet forums such as this one, worship only with Christians, go to potlucks only with Christians...and so forth.

Most Christians don't do anything to get the Gospel out.

Leaving tracks around is one of the easiest things to do. It may help one's that don't have a ready outlet to share with unbelievers a way to start doing that.

I mean anyone that wants to can join me in hanging out on the trolleys and buses of San Diego or otherwise making contact with unbelievers. Maybe we should start a trolley ministry . But it's far easier to get others to join me in writing tracks and getting them out.

Better yet any Christians in San Diego want to make their homes available for get togethers that we could invite unbelievers to? Trouble is most persons who profess to be Christians are more interested in pursuing the good life for themselves and wouldn't want the first thing to do with anything that spills out of our church buildings and into real life.

Regarding what you said about a lack of interest....may I suggest that the problem is one of a lack of true faith in the Gospel. There are many folks, church going folks, who are not even Christians. The Gospel has been watered down to this feel good, 4 steps to the great plan God has for your life, say a prayer thing that has resulted in tons of false conversions.

2 Cor 4:12

It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.

If we don't speak there is something lacking in our faith. If we have faith as we should...we will speak. Plain and simple.

If people aren't speaking...it's because there is something wrong in their belief.

I'm not saying that everyone who does not open their mouth and say "Jesus" in the presence of unbelievers is an unbeliever. But if we, as professing Christians, don't do even that little there is something wrong.

As for my lack of going to a regular Sunday church building...it would take longer than I have the inclination to do on this thread to explain my reasons for that. Suffice it to say that I get daily fellowship on the front lines with many, many Christians. Why do I need to go sit for two hours in some building with a steeple on it to have someone else tell me what the Bible says?

Please don't make assumptions about some supposed problem on my part with submission or that I am anti-authority. There is something wrong with the practice of church in North America and I want no part of it.

But having said all that...my goal with this thread is not to discuss what is wrong with the practice of church, why I do what I do, or any other such a thing.

It is simply to find others on whose hearts the Lord might be laying the things I propose. To see if the Lord wants me to do this with others in the Body.

If not...that's cool. It's either not the right timing for me and/or others, not God's will for me to do this with others, or otherwise. I have this post on another Christian forums as well. If the Lord wills it may He lay it on the hearts of some to join me in this endeavour.

Carlos

PS. Oh I forgot to add...if anyone knows some Christians who are doing open air preaching on the streets of San Diego...I am trying to find some that I can hang out with and learn from.

Carlos,

I feel the comment you made is so judgemental to use the term "most" who "profess" to be Christians... You must have much pain and discouragement.

I hope that God helps you with your bitterness towards organized religion and the belief that people who enjoy organized religion are somehow not worthy. We know so many people who are good Christians and enjoy their church experience and who do go 'out into the world' and witness to those who are unbelievers. I hope your endeavor to reach unbelievers is successful.

[Believer1997]

my question is: how effective are tracts really in spreading the Gospel and reaching the lost? it may be one of the easiest things for us to do, but it's also the easiest way some people can pat themselves on the back for "spreading the Word" when they've actually done nothing of the sort. but they've 'done their part' and so do nothing more.

let your light so shine.... not hand out a shiny tract.

now, i do think there are times tracts can be used with purpose--but rarely by themselves. we need to give of ourselves first. when we shine our light, then it's easier for someone to read the tract and take an interest in it.

just my opinion.

I think you are quite correct actually- well-written and concise tracts may be an 'ice breaker' to talking with people, but if your light isn't shining bright your message may be lost...