Amy,
I begin by saying thanks for the wonderful comments about the website! I am glad you are enjoying it...
As for the videos those are just various clips from the entire 3.5 hours of preaching. They do not show all of the preaching I did and they don't show the many times I did preach the Law and the Gospel. I am very well aware of The Way of the Master Ministry and have been on the streets several times with Ray and others from the ministry during my time as a Local Leader for The Great News Network.
My goal in preaching is not to stir up strife or have gender wars but to abandon apologetics and not answer questions "sincere questions" while preaching is not sound. We are to give a defense for what we believe and we are to contend earnestly for the faith once and for all delivered to the Saints.
The two points you address in specific were, "Who cares if Paul was a Jew or Roman" and "I didn't answer the young woman's question"
In regards to both situations you must understand that these few people had been there for well over an hour and were heckling, blaspheming, mocking, etc. (not so much the woman)
The young man had heard me preach the gospel several times and knew the Scriptures and Church history very well. At some point when preaching for an extended period of time you must move away from the good test. Furthermore I am a presuppositionalist and to say that you completely abandon dealing with someones intellect or rather presuppositions is inaccurate. Ray doesn't even do that... I have a few videos of him preaching that I will re-upload for you to review yourself and I would encourage you to get a copy of his Open Air 4-in-1 or at least Open Air Preaching New York for you to see the way Ray deals with Open Air Preaching.
As for the young woman I did answer her question... I told her, "You must repent and believe the Gospel" - I told her, "Cry out to God that He have mercy". I addressed her directly and deliberately lowered my voice and pleaded with her... Her response was "I have done that and I don't think any of the things listed there is sin..." Here lies the trouble - she was not convicted of her sin and particularly her lifestyle. I was pleasant when dealing with that subject and did not even really address it though this was the root of both of their heckling. They were trying to use Scripture to defend their ungodly lifestyle and at some point it needs to be addressed.
Campus preaching is much different than tracting and one-2-ones or even open air preaching at parades or on the street. Emotions run high, logic and reason is king, relativism is queen and sin is glorified.
The students will not stand for "The Good Test" too long and you have to use Apologetical arguments mixed in with the call to repentance toward Christ.
Unfortunately one of the downsides to not having the camera running even after wrap up is seeing all of the great one-2-ones and witnessing encounters that follow the preaching. I call it "when all heaven breaks loose" you look up and there are groups of people everywhere talking about the Gospel! Many students stay for hours and we have great opportunities to witness on an individual basis.
Yes, At times the hecklers come hard and fast and the confrontation of sin and the tearing down of every stronghold that exalts itself against Christ gets heated but ultimately Christ is glorified.
The purpose of the videos is to encourage others that they will be able to confront sin and the intellect of those on campuses as well. Let me tell you it can be pretty intimidating challenging some of the minds on a campus.
"If you are seeing souls come to Christ, praise the Lord!"
Is this to say that you would be comfortable with what you perceived to be a bad means of evangelizing if people were coming to Christ?
Because I can tell you that have done it both ways just the "Good Test" and the way I do it now.... The results are the same....
God will have mercy on those he will have mercy.... I just try to remain faithful to the Word of God.
Again I do thank you and please know that I may not change the way I preach but your words are well received and I will continue to think of the impact my methodologies have on others and the way they are perceived.
In Christ,
Paul
P.S. I look forward to your comments...
