3 men attacked me while street preaching

[seanpayne]

Please pray for me; when I was out today street preaching I was attacked my three men. They punched me in the face a few times and pushed me over; blood was running out of my nose. A big crowd was gathered around me and it almost seemed as a riot may begin to break out. I had not begun to preach, but they saw my new sandwich sign and were greatly offended. I didn't really say much but what I did say was gentle and afterwards I was able to tell the one attacker that I would be praying for him.

The police came and the teens dispersed; however after the police left more teens surrounded me and the police were called again.

When the police returned they told me that I am banned from Gore Park (the public place where I preach) and if they ever see me there preaching again they will ticket me and such. I am not too certain what to do yet, so please pray for wisdom and for my attackers.

(If I should go back to keep preaching or find another spot or etc...)

Matthew 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Acts 5:28,29
28Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

1 Corinthians 9:16
For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

In the end it is better to obey God then men. I agree with the Word of God and say woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel.

May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!

[James]

What did the sign say?

[seanpayne]

Here's the sign in case you wanted to see it:

http://www.seanpayne.net/sign1.jpg

Well at least the side people found offensive; the other side said Repent Sinner Trust Jesus.

[MavMin]

Might I suggest a sign?

List the 10 commandments and ask which one have you broken? Then on the other side use the passage that says to break one you broke them all. You convey the same message but may provoke less violence though they may not apprciate it.

Of course, depending on what you say with the sign might also get you punched.

The Gospel will offend but we do not have to be offensive doing it. I fear that it is not the Gospel they are reacting to but rather your method or demeanor from what I can see from these messages. A spoft spoken message can get you shot but if you seek to irriate rather than seed and irrigate violence you will aggregate.

Speak to the law and then show them the Gospel. Most are ignorant of the Word and might actually respond to a rational presentation.

What Billy Sunday and others did back in the day was fitting for their generation but we are not speaking to Jews who understand the Law and basically understand the Word and even respect it. We are speaking to Greeks who don't believe in Creation or see any relevance to to Word. When you are doing a John the Baptist sermon to them you are casting your pearls before swine and of course they turn and rend you.

You need to take a Paul on Mars Hill approach and like Jesus the master teacher take them from what they know and use it to bring them to where they need to be.

Honestly, people turned a deaf ear to sandwich men decades ago. They either see one and think you are selling something or the nutcase predicting the end of the world. If you just stood there in silence you would probably be ignored by 99% of the people thus I feel it is your rhetoric combined with the sign that is getting you some attention but it is all negative. I would probably ignore you.

Jesus only called down the religious crowd. In the streets he was meek and mild and a teacher of righteousness. John the Baptist did the same. The messages you are doing only went to the Scribes and Pharisees and unless you are preaching outside of a seminary or monastic retreat you are using the wrong bait for the fish in your pond. Instead of dynamite why not use bait that will let you catch a few alive rather than killing them all and letting God sort them out?

[seanpayne]

Originally Posted by MavMin Might I suggest a sign? List the 10 commandments and ask which one have you broken? Then on the other side use the passage that says to break one you broke them all. You convey the same message but may provoke less violence though they may not apprciate it. Of course, depending on what you say with the sign might also get you punched. The Gospel will offend but we do not have to be offensive doing it. I fear that it is not the Gospel they are reacting to but rather your method or demeanor from what I can see from these messages. A spoft spoken message can get you shot but if you seek to irriate rather than seed and irrigate violence you will aggregate. Speak to the law and then show them the Gospel. Most are ignorant of the Word and might actually respond to a rational presentation. What Billy Sunday and others did back in the day was fitting for their generation but we are not speaking to Jews who understand the Law and basically understand the Word and even respect it. We are speaking to Greeks who don't believe in Creation or see any relevance to to Word. When you are doing a John the Baptist sermon to them you are casting your pearls before swine and of course they turn and rend you. You need to take a Paul on Mars Hill approach and like Jesus the master teacher take them from what they know and use it to bring them to where they need to be. Honestly, people turned a deaf ear to sandwich men decades ago. They either see one and think you are selling something or the nutcase predicting the end of the world. If you just stood there in silence you would probably be ignored by 99% of the people thus I feel it is your rhetoric combined with the sign that is getting you some attention but it is all negative. I would probably ignore you. Jesus only called down the religious crowd. In the streets he was meek and mild and a teacher of righteousness. John the Baptist did the same. The messages you are doing only went to the Scribes and Pharisees and unless you are preaching outside of a seminary or monastic retreat you are using the wrong bait for the fish in your pond. Instead of dynamite why not use bait that will let you catch a few alive rather than killing them all and letting God sort them out?

The day when I was attacked, I wasn't even able to begin preaching; I just walked by people and stood somewhere and a huge crowd gathered on there own. They read the sign on their own and were naming their sins themselves. I was very gentle that day.

Here is a 2 part series of what my street preaching is generally like:

YouTube - Eaton's Centre Outreach - Downtown Toronto

BEWARE in part 2 an angry heckler curses.
YouTube - Eaton's Centre Outreach - Downtown Toronto Part 2

[MavMin]

I must say that you handled the hecklers well. Personally, in that situation I would not rail against the various religions but stick to sin and the Cross. There is a time and place to denounce them but you are trying to get people to see what sin is and Who it is against and what the cure is for their problem. I think sticking to those three subjects will keep you busy and on focus. That might even be a better placard.

What is sin?
Who is angry at Sin?
Is there help for the Sinner?

You discuss about many sins that people don't even think about like lying, cheating on taxes, disrepect of parents and such. Unbelief sends them to Hell. Concentrate on that and the so-called "white" or "little" sins. You may gain more hearers, less hecklers and fewer knuckles. When you deal with an individual and the "big" ones come up then that is the time to discuss it. You are seeking a hearing and conversion not controversary and a beating. Those may come anyway but why provoke them unnecessarily?

I was involved in streetpreaching while in college in NC. We did get our share of weirdos but no one attacked us. We did not sugar coat the Word but we were discerning in our approach and subject matter.

I admire your zeal and willingness to take the beatings but I still think you can accomplish more with a few changes. Blessings unto you.