Chick Tracts

[Calsgal]

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. 

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)

[Calsgal]

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

[airIam2worship]

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.

[servant]

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 .

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.

[Ruth]

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. 

[airIam2worship]

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.

[Calsgal]

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. 

Sometimes  the truth stings but it is still the truth

[servant]

Sometimes  the truth stings but it is still the truth

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

[ibuchanan82]

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