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Just curious as to how Chick Tracts are received here.  I remember getting a few in my bag at halloween time and tossing them into the trash immediately after finding them amongst my sweet, delicious treats.  I've also received a few from soapbox preachers.  I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post any here (or links to them, for that matter), but if I can, perhaps I'll select a few choice tracts for discussion. 

Hello Ruth,

I would first be curious about:

1 - Which portions of the Holy Bible do you accept and like?

2 - Are there any Bible tracts that you don't throw in the trash? If so, which ones?

Your first question is irrelevant.  The Bible is never about what we "accept" or "like."  It's not a matter of picking and choosing, it is what it is.  Thomas Jefferson may find it beneficial to cut and paste the Bible, but I'm afraid I would find no reward in creating my own canon. 

Regarding your second question:  you must take into account the fact that I was 7 at the time.  According to what I've heard in this forum, I probably hadn't reached my age of accountability yet.   ;)   And are there any Biblical tracts that I would throw away?  Sure!  Any Biblical tract that truthfully presents the proper distinction between law and gospel without trying to scare people into becoming Christian would be a good tract, in my opinion.  I believe there are better, more effective ways of witnessing than chucking chick tracts at people.  Or yelling at them through megaphones.  Or walking around town with signs that say "REPENT OR SPEND ETERNITY IN HELL!!!!"  The audience must be taken into account, first of all.  It's important to gauge their Biblical knowledge and understanding before spouting off on them prematurely (as I've seen happen a few times by people distributing chick tracts). 

Ruth.

Brother Tom asked 2 very simple questions. The first question he was addressing to you and ONLY you. He asked what portions of the Holy Bible do you accpet and like. Not we, not Christians in general not more than 1 person, just you

The second question was " are there any Bible tracks you don't throw in the trash, and if so which ones"

2 very simple questions all your typing and you still didn't answer 2 very simple questions.

Is there any way or any time that you can answer a question straight forward?

A yes or a no will be enough to answer my question.

I'm pretty surprised you couldn't distinguish my answers.  But, for the sake of clarity:

1 - The Bible in its entirety is God's Word.  I do not have my own special canon.  What right do I have to pick and choose, and how was I not clear in my previous answer?  Or did you actually expect me to give a condemned answer?  Why would you ask me this question?

2 - I already said that any tract that presents the proper distinction between law and gospel without scaring people into becoming Christian is a good tract.  As far as example goes, the "What About" series put out by the LCMS does a nice job of presenting the Gospel and different topics and areas of doctrine.

I am not understanding how my answers were not straightforward enough the first time around.

Like I said

My question required a simple yes or no .

We asked you to try and figure out what you are trying to say, ruth. Go back and read post number 1 which you started in this thread, you are always being very evasive about how you answer questions, you were not specific when asked 2 questions by Brother Tom, but rather went into a long explanantion that did not really make much sense.

By the way when you got these chick tracts for holloween, someone was doing you an favor, as you may or may not know holloween is a satanic celebration, Christians don't celebrate holloween, someone was using evil and turning it into good and instead of promoting the devil's day, they were trying to send a message to the lost of the world. (Before you answer, may I remind you that in another thread, you insinuated that this would be a more acceptable way, instead of getting politically correct)
Too bad you threw them away..................

I don't carry signs around in that manner but when I witness to someone I don't mince words. Jesus Christ Himself said in Luk 13:3  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. I see no mincing of words in that statement either.

God is a God of love but He is also a God of wrath. As long as salvation is taught it does not matter or do you reject the teaching of Phillipians 1 ?

I still don't see how my original answers were misleading.  Any reasonable person should be able to understand what I was saying.  If you could clue me in to how I was being facetious, that'd be appreciated.

I don't believe in mincing words when witnessing either.  But I believe everything should be presented as clearly, fairly, and correctly balanced as possible.  And in my opinion, Jack Chick isn't doing this.  His ideas seem rather radical (Roman Catholics are not Christian, all Rock music is from the devil, even Christian rock, etc...)  He uses a scare tactic in trying to convert people.  He also plays into ALL types of offensive stereotypes and I just wondered why people advocate his work.

And for the record, I have seen people walking down the street with signs that say "repent or go to hell."  Carried by people passing out these tracts. 

God does not play games, ruth, as a matter of fact He is very straight forward and that is what BEP, Pastor Roger, and myself are trying to tell you.

You seem to get pleasure out of nit-picking God's Word. Why is it that you just can't take God's Word for what it is.

My advice to you is read the pray and ask God for wisdom before you start to read His Word, and let God's Word lead you. You can never go wrong by following what the Bible says.

Stop trying to dig into why other people do things the way they do, you can not control how everyone does things.

And for the record, each and everyone of us will stand before the Throne of God and we will be face to face with Him, at that time we will answer to Him and Him alone.

My main concern is pleasing God not man.

Amen to that!!

As a friend of mine would say, and I am paraphrasing, "God isn't saying lets make a deal, God is saying, this is the deal." Gods Word, is Gods Word. There is no nit-picking Gods Word, God said it I believe it.

AMEN!!

Ruth,

I was just reading and reflecting on this thread and couldn't help but think what could possibly be worse than being lost and on your way to hell. I'm also thinking about the misery of sin and being without JESUS in this short life. NOTHING COULD BE WORSE!

I don't personally agree with the harsh tactics used by some in witnessing, but being lost without JESUS would be much worse. If I was lost without JESUS, I might even appreciate being hit with that sign that says "repent or go to hell" to wake me up and make me think about my path and destination.

Knowledge of sin and the consequences of sin must be and is one of the steps to Salvation and JESUS. So, I won't be so harsh and critical of that person holding the sign "repent or go to hell". That wouldn't be the method that I would choose to witness, but GOD uses all kinds of people and methods to reach the lost.

Love in Christ,
Tom

Colossians 2:13-17 NASB  When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day -- things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

I agree.

Unless men see and understand they have broken Gods law and that they deserve punishment, they will never see a need for a saviour .

Before one can accept mercy they must know they have already been judged guilty !

Jhn 8:44 Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Jhn 6:70   Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

Chick tracks are very direct, and sometime a bit harsh. But you can not present the gospel to people unless you get their attention first. I prefer to "judge" them one at a time rather than a general condemnation .

And I handed out tracks at halloween ( not Chick, but defiantly presenting the need everyone has for a Savior)

AMEN Calsgal, I don't see anything wrong in handing out tracks some people may not be moved to reading the Bible, but once they have received a track chances are they will read them and a seed will be sown.

I believe in adding prayer to everything, and I believe that if someone is handed a track and he or she reads that track their curiosity has been picked and they will tend to be more alert to listen to God's Word

Handing out tracks on holloween is an excellent idea, afterall we must use every possible way and minute to stomp on the devil's head, and we must use what means we have to get people's attention.

I am sure that no one on this earth wants to go to eternal damnation.

Some Chick tracts go beyond being harsh, though. On some topics, including Halloween, the Roman Catholic Church, and evolution to name three, he repeatedly refers to complete untruths, such as the claim that the "IHS" on Catholic communion wafers refers to Isus, Horub, and Sheb, or that the Catholic church runs a global conspiracy which gave rise to Islam and the New Age movement.

I think tracts are fine as witnessing tools, as long as we're careful about what we're handing out. Not only is it important to speak the truth in all witnessing, but it is even more important, I think, to ensure that what is given out in a tract is what we want said, because unlike in an actual conversation (which I would favour in most cases where it is possible), you cannot check back and correct someone's misinterpretation of what they've been told.

This is also where my grievance lies. 

When Christ was preaching, He could be as harsh or as gentle as He wanted, because He knew the hearts of the people He was addressing.  He knew exactly where they were coming from and exactly what they needed to hear.

We, as regular sinful human beings, do not have this power.  We cannot gauge someone's knowledge of the Bible, so throwing a Chick tract at them might not be so effective, especially if it's one of the offensive tracts mentioned by servant. 

We don't want to condemn people, we love them, but because we love them we must alert them. We must also remember that we too were once in need of a savior. Some of us may have come from good Christian homes, yet we went to schools where there were otheres that did not come from Christian homes, and come on now everyone has to admit this, it's easier to start a bad habit than it is to break one. We always tend to learn what is wrong faster than what is right.

In some cases it doesn't matter how many tracts a person gets, they may never even get a  second look, that is when we as Christians show our love that is when our light should be brightest. Remember Jesus told us we are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Our speech is to be seasoned with salt and we should always treat everyone with love, that is the main thing. The old saying goes "you can catch more flys with honey than with vinegar".

We shouldn't always allow anything to speak louder than our actions. If we show love and respect towards others chances are they would be more willing to listen hence less of a need for tracts, however that fact always remains that the hardest people to reach are our close friends and family. Thank God we have prayer and a God to listen to the prayers we send up.

Sometimes  the truth stings but it is still the truth

Unfortunately, Chick tracts are not always the truth. Which is where MY grievance lies.

Ok Hi guys,

I don't know who this "chick" guy is (originally when i read chick tracts I assummed u ment tracts aimed towards girls!lol) but it sounds like he's using a tactic that worked for one culture and is using it for all cultures. The emerging generation is a totally new culture, they are more diserning and won't change their opinions based on the argument of one individual. Mostly to successfully convert someone who is part of this generation it takes work and dedication.

I use tracts every saturday, I reccommend Ray Comforts resources, they are bright, attention grabbing, funny and relevent!

The truth is a sinner needs to know about hell, because it's a real place, but trying to scare 'em isn't going to cut it. Showing them that without God thats where u end up is the main thing. I believe it's important to show the truth of the Gospel and Jesus so once they understand this truth, Hell becomes a reality and worth thinking about!

So when I present a tract I often speak first on he authenticity of the Bible, once the person understands this I can then speak about salvation (which includes the reality of hell). I must then be prepared to follow up whatI said, answer questions, take that person for a drink or a bite to eat. Meet up with them later that week etc.

So my answer : Chick tracts? by the sounds of this thread don't use 'em try Ray comfort instead! PPL gotta know about hell but u have to earn the right to tell them about it, thats just the way this generation is. If u don't recognise this ur not being an effective witness. Fortunatly u can earn the right to talk about hell within a single conversation. But it takes work + follow up work!! and shouting HELL at 'em won't work anymore, sorry it just won't

I think what the guy was trying to get at about "that question" what Do u like the part of the bible that talks about hell? If not then ur picking and choosing what to believe. If u believe the bible as it sounds like u do then u gotta believe in hell. I think u do believe in hell u just don't like telling others about it, or maybe like me don't believe in shouting it at them without the right to first, would that be accurate?

Also The origination of Halloween is not Satanic or even Pagan. It was the Celtic new year and had no spiritual attatchment (Celt's only had 2 seasons and there new year started when harvest was over) They would remember the dead on that day (Like we all do i'm sure, on new years). Unfortunatly some fool thinks that Celt's believed that the dead spirits would rise on this day(They also believed that Pict's had handle bar moustaches and sabre styles swords, which shows u how little they knew of celtic Scotland at that time) and would have a festival and do many pagan styled things (sounds like any new years to me) . Total fabrication unfortunatly most christians won't do enough research to understand this. U would understand this as false when u understand that the Pagan celts and Picts had a differant belief system than what we understand, they mostly believed in a single god, but that interpritation of god differed from clan to clan. So we can see that celts wouldnt get together to worship a "god of the dead" as they all believed in their own interpritation of god. I dont' support halloween now though, too much demonic activity attached there now.

Hope this helps

Ian