Friday 23 August 2013

Street Preaching 4

Again I want to take a moment to talk about something that truly I sorrow about. I know that we all have our "pet peeves", myself included, however when we then use it as a platform against a brother, that is just wrong and there is no way to justify it. I'm not talking about someone who is preaching heresy; that is a different circumstance altogether. What I am talking about is a personal preference of delivery, because the Bible itself says that any way that Jesus is preached is cause for rejoicing:

  Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:   The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:   But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.   What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. Philippians 1:15-18


There was some dispute as to whether Tony Miano is truly doing the work of the Lord in what he says and does, and that he doesn't always in every instance mention the way to salvation. Sigh. He also calls people liars by citing:

For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?  God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. Romans 3:3-4

Truly, it grieves me that people who are blaming Tony of being contentious, are being even moreso themselves by what they are saying and bring greater condemnation to themselves.

I have read Tony's testimony (previous post) and acknowledge him as a brother in Christ by the truth of his convictions in Jesus the Lord.

If a person will not come to Christ, he won't come no matter how sweet sounding the call to him, and if a person will run to Jesus, he will do so no matter how much his flesh feels condemned.

Members of British Parliament wrote to Tony after his arrest for street preaching in Britain. You can find the letters here:

https://www.facebook.com/OpenAirTony/photos_stream

My comment on one of the images of a letter by an MP:

"It was my understanding of my sinfulness that had me run to the fountain of God's mercy and grace. If it is preached another way, it becomes another gospel which is unable to save. There are many "Christians" who are in name only, who wear it as a badge, and who put on their own righteousness rather than the righteousness of God. Sad, really. Those are the most hardened and unreachable sinners, because they have deluded themselves into believing that they are saved, but their god is their belly and their comforts and want the approval of men over the approval of God."

If our personal perfection were a prerequisite for telling others about Jesus, no one would talk of Him, we would all be silenced. Thankfully there are "Tony's" in this world who aren't going to count on their own perfection while preaching of the need for Jesus forgiveness and need for our repentance. I have seen him several times admit his own need of forgiveness and of the love of God, as should we all.

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