Is it good to give out gospel tracts? Are they the most effective way to share with the lost? What about the people and churches that do not believe tracts are worthwhile – but instead believe that it is better to use relationships to share the gospel?
Starting off, I want to say that, truly, the best way to share the gospel is to sit down with someone and share with them. Unfortunately, that would tremendously limit our ability to witness to the lost! So often, the deceptions of Satan involve taking a little bit of truth and mixing error with it. Such is the case with those who only believe in “relationship evangelism”. They have taken the truth that it IS truly best to share in person with a lost person, and ignored the fact that a wonderful secondary method of sharing the gospel is giving the person a gospel tract to read!
For those that believe relationship evangelism is the ONLY way to share the gospel, I would ask how many relationships have you started over the past month? How many have you then shared the gospel with?
When it isn’t possible to sit down and share with someone, I firmly believe the next best way to share the gospel with that person is via a gospel tract. You can then, in essence, share with them through the text later on (if they read it). Over the course of the past year, our family has handed tracts to hundred’s of people with whom we didn’t have time to build a relationship: at many stores (workers and customers), restaurants (to workers and people that were waiting to be served and even patrons at various tables!), the County Fair (we shared personally with hundred’s, but gave out Gospel tracts to thousands that we didn’t have time to build a relationship with), people on the street, people who were out exercising – many, many people! While we have desired to share more with each person, time was too limiting. Instead, we were able to give them a tract and encourage them to read it later.
When a delivery person was at our house the other day we only had a few minutes with him during the unloading process. Not enough time to build a relationship. However, I asked him if he had ever been given a million dollar bill – and he said once, a long time ago, for a promotion – but he didn’t have it anymore and would love another one. I asked him if he likes to read and he said he does. I then gave him a gospel of John (one of the best tracts available since it is strictly God’s Word!) with a million dollar bill in it. He sincerely thanked me, promised to read it, and put it in the bib pocket of his overalls.
Think of it this way… Did God only communicate to us in verbal form only? No. He also communicated to us in written form through His Word. Tracts are a great example of communicating with others through the written word.
Are Tracts Effective? YES!
It is definitely important that you find “good” tracts (ones that include a clear gospel message; we have liked some of the ones from www.LivingWaters.com – but, it is more important that you find ones you like than ones we like!)
A missionary we know that is currently serving the Lord overseas – when he was younger - repented of his sin and trusted Jesus after picking a soggy tract up off of a country road, bringing it home, drying it out, and then reading it. Curiosity is an incredible driving force in people!
Since December of last year (about the time I started this blog), I have given out between 1,000 and 2,000 gospel tracts. To date, I have not heard back from a single person that received a tract. Am I discouraged? NO! Seeds are being sown. I am not responsible for the sinner’s response; my responsibility is simply to share. (read Ezekiel 33:7-9 and see that God required the blood of the wicked at Ezekiel’s’ hand if he wouldn’t share)
If you doubt the effectiveness of tracts, I encourage you to download the MP3 titled “Miracle on George Street” and spend the next 10 minutes listening to it.
If your heart is soft you will be moved to tears. If you are not motivated to start passing out gospel tracts – then your heart is hard. Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, said, "Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that."
But, you say, I DO desire to see people saved – just not by handing out tracts. If you search your soul I believe the real reason you will find for not wanting to pass out gospel tracts is a fear of man. In Mark 8:38, Jesus said: “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
The History of Gospel Tracts
Gospel tracts arrived soon after the invention of the printing press in the 1400’s. I haven’t been able to find out too much about their history, but did find an interesting article online that not only shares the History of Gospel Tracts, but also a number of amazing testimonies to their effectiveness. http://www.faithalone.org/journal/1994ii/Brown.html
Ways to Give Out Tracts
I’ve shared a number of ways that I use for giving out tracts already on the blog… Here are a few of the most common times I give out tracts:
- At stores/banks/restaurants
- When paying bills (I always include one or two in the envelope)
- With people that are waiting (whether in line, or sitting on a bench somewhere)
- To delivery people
One thing I try to be careful about is littering. I know a number of people who truly love the Lord and are seeking the lost recommend leaving tracts throughout buildings, on the floor, in restrooms, at payphones, etc. We have struggled with that issue ourselves, and can’t seem to get past the Scriptural commandment for us to obey authorities (Romans 13:1-2), and so I always try to hand a tract to a person – not leave one lying around in such a manner as would be considered littering. I do leave tracts with the tip if I eat at a restaurant, and I have left them on a person’s desk before, but I’m always careful to not litter. (once I left one on the windshield of a man’s truck at the grocery store, but I had just had a conversation with him)
I would also love to hear from any reader’s who are not currently passing out tracts. Why are you not? Are you willing to give them a try? Would you be willing to buy some?
I’d recommend you order pack of Million Dollar Bills, and the comic “Are You a Good Person”, or the plain text tract Are You Good Enough to Go To Heaven (which is VERY thorough), and then give the million dollar bills out with one of the more detailed tracts. It'll cost you about $25 for the tracts, but you will be equipped to share the gospel with about 200~300 people as a result. The weak link in the entire "chain" will be you (or me!) - are we willing to give these out and start conversations with people?
I use this blog as a personal journal, part of the goal being to encourage me when I'm discouraged in sharing with the lost. This post was primarily written to encourage and build up another. Anyone is free to report back and let us know how your, perhaps, first, tract distribution has gone...
Share with the lost!
11 comments:
There are different ideas out there about relationship evangelism. I think those who are offended by the idea of tracts are usually the ones who see relationship evangelism as fitting in with and acting like the world to give the lost the sense that they can be Christians and not change. I was spurred to get involved with tracts by a statement my husband made in a sermon "If you're not being persecuted at all, there is something seriously wrong with your Christianity." I'm not much of a conversationalist and would not be very effective at sharing my faith without help from tracts. Of course, there are sometimes opportunities, but tracts are a huge aid. We listened to the "George Street" testimony last night and were impressed.
Sadly, all too often, what is called "relationship evangelism" is nothing more than hypocritical tactics, as in, an act or a sales pitch.
When I preach the Gospel, my cards are on the table. If, when looking at what I got, people respond favourably: praise God! If they respond unfavourably:
Praise God!
Later,
I have used some of Answer's in Genesis's tracts (Is there a God?, and Why is there Death and Suffering). I would be interested in your thoughts on the gospel presentation in these tracts. They do show how sin came and its result (death), however, they do not have the law like Living Waters' tracts.
I also use Living Waters' tracts like you.
Thanks, so much for your encouragement to witness and for sharing your failures. You build trust by being open and sharing your failures and struggles. Thank you in Christ Jesus.
Biblical First,
Thank you for sharing...
I have to say that I have never seen the AIG tracts (although they sound like something worth looking at) - so my sharing is simply based on what you shared.
I see some of the question-answering tracts (Is there a God? Why is there Death and Suffering?) as being secondary tracts that may be of primary importance to some who have specific questions holding them back.
The law is what converts us, and it is through the law that we realize our need of a Savior. If the AIG tracts do not have any form of law in them (which, I would think they probably do, just not as straightforward as the Living Water's tracts), it would be hard for a person to experience genuine salvation as a result.
So, from that standpoint, the tracts sound like good ones to have on hand and available as needed, and a good supplement to tracts that focus on the law and our need of a Savior. Although there may be specific times when one of these tracts becomes a primary tract - like to a lost person that has just experienced a death in the family and is battling the issue of Death and Suffering.
Either way, what seems to be the most critical issue is that we are actually busy sharing the gospel and seeking to give out tracts - and that the tracts we give out are Biblically based and are the ones that Lord has put on our heart and led us to. His Word will never return void.
Thank you. If you want to look at those tracts they are free on AnswersInGenesis.org. Why is there Death and suffering? The gospel presentation at the end of that tract. and Is there really a God?
An interesting opinion, but one I happen to disagree with from both personal and, more importantly, biblical perspectives.
The history of the tract comes from early religious debating. They were essays, meant to be widely dissiminated, concerning points of doctrine. For example in the mid-18th century, tracts had the titles like "on apostalic succession in the english church", or "Thoughts respectfully addressing the clergy on alterations in the liturgy" or "On shortening the church service." In an era where there was no video feed or blog debates, these tracts spread opinions and fostered debate and, like today's blogs, got both positive and negative responses: which were at times published in the form of additional tracts. like luther's 95 thesises, they were documents addressing points of doctrine, written to an christian audience. It was a system that used available technology to spread ideas.
What today's Gospel tracts are, unfortunately, are little bit of propaganda. pieces of kitch intended to "plant a seed". A few verses quoted out of context and no one to explain, to teach. they are genaric, impersonal and in the hand of a hostile audience (hostile in the debating sense) is often seen as insultingly reductionist. I've read numbers and heard arguments and testimony:
"if one our ot 10,000 recieves christ wasn't it worth it!" and "tracts are like spreading seed, some falls onto stony ground, some..." The problem with these arguments is that just like those who claim that tracts are inneffective, and use numbers to justify their claims,arguing for the use of tracts by claiming that by spearding enough, they produce results, you're still arguing from a position of effectiveness.
Can and does God use it? yes. But are we "called" to pass out doctrinal summaries in the form of mini comic books or tragic little stories or million dollar bills? Is that how you came to christ? is this the source of the hope that you have within you? was this a fundamental part of YOUR discovering christ? Is this the great commission? Let's follow biblical precedent: Christ spent three years living with, preaching, healing, ministering, and ended up with just a handful of disciples, and at the end of his ministry, had 33 disciples. And then those disciples shared what THEY had come to see and hear and believe. Read Acts 4. 19-20 says, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” individuals reaching individuals, telling the first hand account. Or Acts 26: Paul before Agrippa. That's the whole point of a testimony. it's the story of what God has done in our lives. We are not called to make converts, we are called to preach and teach, and encourage and exhort: we are called to make disciples.
Read 1 peter 3. "a reason for the hope that within you..." that sounds like sharing your life, living with hope, engagin in a personal level with those around you.
The reason I am so passionate about this is because rather regularly, I meet unbelievers people who are offended, not by the gospel, but by those who claim to be following or preaching the gospel.
I met a man on a plane last week who told me of a group of students who were handing out tracts in the park. listening to his description of the event, i could see a young version of myself, out spreading seeds. and he asked the boy, "have you read it?" and the boy stammared and said he hadn't. then he tried to engage the boy in conversation and was met with a rehearsed speech about the four spiritual laws.
Here was a man that was open for conversation, hungry, telling ME about his search for something spiritual- and how he dismissed those christians as being empty.
I was that boy once. are tracts wrong? no. can god use them? yes. but what are we doing when we hand them out? are we demonstrating an investment in individuals? Or are we using an impersonal method of communication out of, at best, habit from two centuries ago. At worst, we are acting from a lack of substance in our relationships in Christ. If we are filled, we can not help to tell what we have seen and heard, getting the blessing from the joy that comes from praising the work that god has done in us. And like john and peter, do what you will to me, I have to speak. it's not from a place of fear that I refuse to hand out tracts. I believe that tracts summarize and trivialize what I actually have. Can you imagine going to a doctor because of heart trouble and him giving you a pre-printed WHO pamphlet about the causes of poor heart health and possible preventions for a heart attack. you'd want him to examine you to address your symptoms walk you through a plan for good health, give you a prescription, and follow up with you once a month. How dare we give the world any less of our time or effort.
Hi Ivan,
Thanks for your comment. You share some very valid points about the importance of living what we're preaching and sharing personally. That's why my blog post started out by saying that I think the best way to share the gospel is to sit down and share with someone.
On the other hand, I don't think your Doctor analogy fits this situation. If you'll consider for a moment with an open heart, I think you'll agree that handing out tracts is completely different than someone going to the Doctor and asking about their heart condition. That would be the equivalent of someone coming up and asking about salvation. Does it happen? Yes – and every believer should know how to lead someone to Christ in that type of situation! (in the example you shared of the young man who didn't know what to say: that sadly sounds like a great opportunity that was unfortunately missed or maybe even mis-handled - assuming the circumstances as relayed to you were accurate ----- but I don't see how one person mis-handling an inquiring soul supports an argument against handing out tracts?).
Back to your Doctor analogy --- the majority of adult Americans are overweight or obese (Feb 10, 2010 article by WebMD lists 63.1% of adults in US as overweight or obese) – my understanding is that being overweight is one of the greatest causes of heart disease. I'm not a Doctor, but for the sake of our discussion let's say keep things simple and say that eating wrong results in being overweight which results in increased heart disease? A lot of those people don't care enough about their health to make a change, and even if they went to a Doctor they don't follow the Doctor's instructions to lose weight. Let's take a Doctor who has an incredible burden for people with heart disease. Will he be "preaching" about the dangers of heart disease and the solutions? Yes, he will. Should he be a living example of eating right, exercising, and avoiding heart disease? Yes, he should. Will he have a blog to try and reach out to others? Perhaps. Wouldn't it also make sense for him to publish a little pamphlet and then hand it out to everyone he meets (whether they are overweight or not) warning them about the dangers of heart disease and giving practical information on what they can do to alleviate it and including his contact information if they would like free assistance? That would sure make sense to me.
A lot of people would still take offense that this Doctor thought they were unhealthy and handed them a tract (in the same way that some unbelievers will also take offense), but that's the way the world is: whether we're preaching, sharing personally, or handing out a tract: some people are open, some are not.
(continued in the next comment)
(comment for Ivan: continued)
While you shared some wonderful examples from Scripture about the importance of talking with people as we share our faith, there was no Biblical justification for refusing to hand out tracts. I would be very interested if you could find one.
As you look into Scripture keep in mind that the times have changed greatly: we are now able to inexpensively print and distribute literature in a way they couldn't back then. Honestly, I believe that Paul would have passed out tracts if he had the resources to do so. However, even back then they would still write and distribute pamphlets and letters to share with someone when they weren't able to share in person. I believe Jeremiah (and other OT prophets) sent written prophecies by messengers? And you mentioned Paul preaching before Agrippa --- unfortunately, I don't see how that supports your argument for not handing out tracts? Didn't Paul write many letters to share with people when he couldn't be with them in person? Wouldn't that support writing letters and tracts to share with people who we can't share with in person? Did Paul write any letters or pamphlets to unbelievers sharing the gospel with them? (that's a fascinating thing to consider: we don't have any record that he did so, but we do have record that he wrote letters which have since then been lost – I don't think you would be able to categorically say "Paul never wrote a gospel tract" or "Paul never wrote a letter to a lost person sharing the gospel with them.")
I agree with you that it's vital to have the right kind of tracts. Being passionate about the right kind of tracts would be a wonderful passion! And, if you can't find ones that are good: I would encourage you to write your own. In fact, you could write one that has your testimony in it and includes your contact information.
I would also encourage you to prayerfully evaluate your heart. You will probably become upset when I share this, but I would ask this: might it be that your insistence in not handing out tracts, and all of your logical reasons for not doing so – are based in laziness? For me, it's MUCH easier to not hand out tracts and it's MUCH easier to not try and engage people in conversion about their souls - I struggle all the time with being lazy. It's so much easier to instead wait for people to express interest.
Thank you again for sharing, and God bless you.
I'd just like to pass on another way to help spread the gospel and it's simply this:-
Include a link to an online gospel tract (e.g. www.freecartoontract.com/animation) as part of your email signature.
An email signature is a piece of customizable HTML or text that most email applications will allow you to add to all your outgoing emails. For example, it commonly contains name and contact details - but it could also (of course) contain a link to a gospel tract.
For example, it might say something like, "p.s. you might like this gospel cartoon ..." or "p.s. have you seen this?".
I'd just like to pass on another way to help spread the gospel and it's simply this:-
See if a newspaper will publish a gospel tract (e.g. www.freecartoontract.com/are-you-a-good-person-english). Maybe pay for an advertisement in the newspaper - but submit a gospel tract to them instead - hopefully they'll publish it as if it were an advertisement?
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