The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approach to preaching
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The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approach to... - 11/16/2008 3:10:08 PM
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Holiday
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Hello, all, God Bless you and also, before I begin, I want to say that I very much appreciate Ray Comfort's & Kirk Cameron's ministry. They are one of the VERY FEW groups on "christian" TV that I think are very useful.
That said, I would like to comment on his (Comfort's) approach.
I have seen his show and his approach on TV and also heard it mentioned here in other threads.
Here is my issue: I like the fact that he tells people that conversion to Christ is not going to automatically produce some kind of "fulfilled" great, rich, luxurious life; as promised by many other "evangelists" today. I like how he hits home the points about sin, death and hell and how that is what we are being saved from when we accept Christ as Savior. I like how he also mentions that being a Christian might bring us persecution and struggle after we accept Christ.
What I don't care for in his approach is that he is SO upfront in telling people about the things they might suffer for following Christ.
The issue I have with this can be broken down like this: when I got saved, I was a heavy drinker and a drug user. One of the first miracles of my personal faith was that God opened my eyes to the folly of drink and illegal drugs. I did a 180 degree turnaround and was given the power to stop drinking and even to change my mind about how "cool" or "sophisticated" it once seemed to be. I see this as a gift from God. Now, some who might be saved or unsaved and struggling with drinking might see giving up drinking as a terrible price, since they enjoy it so much. But, after over 6 years of not drinking (praise God!!) I can say that deliverance from this paticular sin has brought great joy and peace to my life.
I wonder why Ray Comfort stresses the "pains" of salvation so much. I know Jesus said that if they hated me they will hate you. I can't deny that. But, salvation and the peaceable fruits of being made a child of God bring great joy to those who have accepted Christ. I wish that Mr. Comfort would give the people that he preaches to some encouragement about the "here and now" benefits of accepting Christ's finished work. The benefits are eternal, but they start in this life as well. True - many accept Christ for the wrong reasons: they think God will make them rich, powerful, successful - and He may! But, the riches of the peace that passes understanding are to be esteemed higher than this. I understand that now.
< Message edited by Holiday -- 11/16/2008 5:09:12 PM >
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/16/2008 4:32:19 PM
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MrFribbles
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I haven't had extensive exposure to Mr. Comfort's methods, but I have seen a few Way of the Master videos, and I'm afraid I just don't see the emphasis on doom-and-gloom that you do. Perhaps you could link to a video, or some other source, to illustrate this?
_____________________________
You're a door without a key,
A field without a fence.
You've made a holy fool of me,
And I've thanked you ever since.
- Aaron Weiss
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/16/2008 4:38:32 PM
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rcjames
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Holiday
What I don't care for in his approach is that he seems to be pushing the fact that the Christian life is all about sorrow, suffering and persecution. His approach seems to focus on the fact that we are by default going to have to have a crummy life if we accept Jesus, but hey, its heaven when we die.
I have never found Comfort's approach to be all about sorrow, suffering, and persecuton; but it seem to line up very well with the New Testamen in these areas.
Thanks
RC
_____________________________
Just a country Preacher's humble opinion
Read the first chapter of my latest book here;
http://www.deliveranceofsara.com
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/16/2008 4:56:15 PM
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musicboss11
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I'm sorry, but I'm missing something as well. Do you have any links that might help?
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/16/2008 5:12:59 PM
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Holiday
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OK, I edited my OP because I do not have access to a link to the paticular show I saw. By the way it was at least three years ago at this point.
As I said, I edited my post. The things I felt I could not prove, I retracted. But, I still don't care for the emphasis at all on suffering as an evangelistic tool. Jesus preached life and did miracles of healing. He also preached hell and told some things that caused some to turn away. I think He also confused some people and made people think alot.
I think it is alright to tell people that God will bless you in the here and now if you accept Christ. The "blessings" might not be all worldly blessings, but you will be blessed.
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/16/2008 5:18:46 PM
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rcjames
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Holiday
OK, I edited my OP because I do not have access to a link to the paticular show I saw. By the way it was at least three years ago at this point.
As I said, I edited my post. The things I felt I could not prove, I retracted. But, I still don't care for the emphasis at all on suffering as an evangelistic tool. Jesus preached life and did miracles of healing. He also preached hell and told some things that caused some to turn away. I think He also confused some people and made people think alot.
I think it is alright to tell people that God will bless you in the here and now if you accept Christ. The "blessings" might not be all worldly blessings, but you will be blessed.
So you do not think that in the interest of 'Fairness' you should mention the Scriptures that promise persucution and problems?
Thanks
RC
_____________________________
Just a country Preacher's humble opinion
Read the first chapter of my latest book here;
http://www.deliveranceofsara.com
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/16/2008 6:18:00 PM
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Holiday
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Well.............maybe. I guess I tend to look at witnessing in a whole other light when it comes to witnessing on TV. I feel like we should be led by the Spirit when we are witnessing, and that it should be natural and organic, pardon the expressions. There have been many times during a dialouge with someone on spiritual things where I get a thought and then I move past it, and pray that God would show me where to take the conversation. Mainly, I would pray that God would meet me then and there and show me what to say. I don't think it is possible to be led by the Spirit and have a pre-determined course of what you will exactly say. It might be different from person to person. Now, having said that, I must also say this: the Spirit will not lead anyone to say a single thing that contradicts the Word of God - so my caveat there is that I am saying that we must be full of the Word, so that when in dialouge with people we will have a vast amount of ways to relate what they are saying to spiritual, bibical concepts. I am not a "quiver in the liver" kind of Holy Ghoster. I am a bit more pragmatic than that. So, please understand that when I say, "led by the Spirit" I am talking about being full of the Word and depending on dicernment and wisdom (which are from God) to show how and what should be said.
When Comfort is preaching the same doctrine, to the cavalcade of people on the show, i.e. following God will bring suffering and eternal blessings, etc. - it feels contrived and more of a reading of a list than "Spirit" led witnessing. It also makes great TV for those of us who have "arrived" to watch the look on the skateboarder's faces when they hear of suffering - and "we" are all like, "yeah thats right little punk following Jesus is not easy...." - you all know what I mean.
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/17/2008 10:17:51 AM
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MrFribbles
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quote:
This is what Mr.Comfort should do.
Confront folks coming out of country club !
More like those coming out of the churches on Sunday morning... The Pharisees =/= country clubs.
_____________________________
You're a door without a key,
A field without a fence.
You've made a holy fool of me,
And I've thanked you ever since.
- Aaron Weiss
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/17/2008 5:29:24 PM
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sledmt
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Holiday, I now what you mean.
I believe people like Ray Confort and others don't know what it means to do Spirit lead witnessing. They do the same thing over and over. I agree there are times that people need to hear hell and brime stone, but other times people need to hear compassion and love.
In all reality, Christ modeled how we should witness. Proclaim the Gospel in power. Christ witnessed to each person a little bit different. Should we not do the same.
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/17/2008 5:45:39 PM
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MrFribbles
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quote:
They do the same thing over and over.
I'm not sure I agree. They use a similar style and basic structure, yeah, but they seem to adapt it to whatever audience they have. I don't see anywhere in their method that says "do this exactly this way each time, no matter what."
_____________________________
You're a door without a key,
A field without a fence.
You've made a holy fool of me,
And I've thanked you ever since.
- Aaron Weiss
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/17/2008 7:05:23 PM
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sledmt
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Everytime I have watched him on TV, he has the same pattern. I'm sure he has good intentions, but I wonder about his method of sharing the Gospel.
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/17/2008 7:07:35 PM
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sledmt
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To be honest, it reminds of people that hand out Gospel tracts. I know that their intentions are noble, but is this really the most effective way of proclaiming the Gospel. How did Christ model it for us. "The Way of Master"
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/17/2008 8:08:25 PM
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earthless
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quote:
ORIGINAL: MrFribbles
quote:
They do the same thing over and over.
I'm not sure I agree. They use a similar style and basic structure, yeah, but they seem to adapt it to whatever audience they have. I don't see anywhere in their method that says "do this exactly this way each time, no matter what."
Agreed. If people do not know about sin, about them being sinner... how can they even come to a realization that they are in need of a savior?
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Probing Today's Religious Movements | Promoting Doctrinal Discernment & Critical Thinking | Providing Reasons for Christian Faith & Ethics
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/17/2008 9:57:33 PM
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sledmt
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I think the problem is how the Gospel is presented. The "material" is wonderful. Ray Confort seem to always approach the sinner the same way. Did Christ do this. No, He presented the Gospel in different ways.
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/18/2008 1:26:49 PM
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MrFribbles
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quote:
Ray Confort seem to always approach the sinner the same way. Did Christ do this. No, He presented the Gospel in different ways.
The thing is, Christ had a great advantage over us. He knew the hearts of the people He spoke with - better than they did. We do not. I think that if you look, you'll see Ray does adapt his approach in some ways depending on how the conversation goes. Yes, he uses the same basic approach every time, but that's because he doesn't know the people he's meeting the way Christ did.
_____________________________
You're a door without a key,
A field without a fence.
You've made a holy fool of me,
And I've thanked you ever since.
- Aaron Weiss
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/18/2008 4:46:23 PM
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twincities
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i watched his show last night. It was about witnessing to Mormons. They were in Utah and talking to ex-mormons who are now Christians and mormons. when the other guy on the show talked about liars being cast into the lake of fire the mormon girl's got real wide.. Like she knew she had lied before.
Thank God for Christ's sacrifice
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/18/2008 9:49:33 PM
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sledmt
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Does he ever move in a word of knowledge while proclaiming the Gospel? Or something similar???
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/18/2008 10:15:17 PM
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MrFribbles
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quote:
Does he ever move in a word of knowledge while proclaiming the Gospel?
Please define "word of knowledge". : )
_____________________________
You're a door without a key,
A field without a fence.
You've made a holy fool of me,
And I've thanked you ever since.
- Aaron Weiss
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/19/2008 2:00:06 AM
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sledmt
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The Holy Spirit reveals something about their lives that no one else would know. Example: your talking with someone on the street and Holy Spirit shows you that they are cheating on their wife. When you don't even know this person.
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/19/2008 9:48:36 AM
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MrFribbles
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quote:
The Holy Spirit reveals something about their lives that no one else would know
Do you have any biblical support for the idea that every Christian is supposed to receive these words?
_____________________________
You're a door without a key,
A field without a fence.
You've made a holy fool of me,
And I've thanked you ever since.
- Aaron Weiss
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/19/2008 4:40:00 PM
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sledmt
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quote:
ORIGINAL: MrFribbles
quote:
The Holy Spirit reveals something about their lives that no one else would know
Do you have any biblical support for the idea that every Christian is supposed to receive these words?
Why ask this question? "every" We are commanded to eagerly desire the spiritual gifts. Word of knowledge is one of the spiritual gifts.
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/19/2008 10:20:52 PM
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MrFribbles
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quote:
Why ask this question?
Because you seem to be suggesting that everyone is capable of receiving every gift. I don't believe this is biblical. If Mr. Comfort doesn't receive words of knowledge, that doesn't mean his ministry is deficient in any way.
_____________________________
You're a door without a key,
A field without a fence.
You've made a holy fool of me,
And I've thanked you ever since.
- Aaron Weiss
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RE: The things I don't like about Ray Comfort's approac... - 11/20/2008 12:57:02 AM
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sledmt
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quote:
ORIGINAL: MrFribbles
quote:
Why ask this question?
Because you seem to be suggesting that everyone is capable of receiving every gift. I don't believe this is biblical. If Mr. Comfort doesn't receive words of knowledge, that doesn't mean his ministry is deficient in any way.
I'm not implying that all. My concern with people that say that every gift is not for everyone, tend to not operate in any gifts. There lays the problem. It like people use this to juditify their not having any gifts. What gift(s) do you think Ray Comfort operates in?
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