Street Preacher Or Barking Dog? Godly Message Or Aggressive Noise?

[@terrybryce88]

I have a problem with those who stress sinfulness, instead of the love Jesus wants us have for each other.

[@toonlyrics]

I agree. Fundamentalists don't just have a problem with their pushiness and disrespect for others. Their message is - fundamentally - flawed.

[@danieltilley4187]

A huge AMEN great message Rev Ed i agree. Several times I have had street preachers approach me and ask me if I accepted Jesus and I said yes. But then they keep asking me like I was lying to them trying to get me to pray with them. I told them to ease up if you become to pushy to people you will push them away more.

[@buckeyefangirl1976]

All I know is that I like and enjoy your messages Rev Ed 👍♥️. I love how you share truth. Keep up the good work. Thank you. We need you. Blessings to you and your family and those here on your channel.

[@calinasagilitypartner4444]

My nephew is a tight end for Ohio State! Keep an eye out for #49

[@Suzicherie7777]

My sister and I were at a big street festival when we passed one of those hate flinging preachers. He pointed at us and yelled, “You’re going to Hell!” What a turn off! We laughed it off. I was wearing a colorful tie dye t-shirt that my cousin made for me because I like bright colors. I wear my hair short. I’m an ordained, seminary-trained minister, straight cisgendered person. That preacher obnoxiously made assumptions. Yikes

[@howardcohen6817]

So, did you ever get there? Love.

[@AlyraMoondancer]

@@howardcohen6817 lol I've been to Hell. Hell, Michigan. Nice town! 😄

[@howardcohen6817]

@@AlyraMoondancer Hell-o. Love.

[@ad-dx9gi]

Thanks Rev Ed Loved the Discussion.. God Bless 🕊️

[@johnkunze5362]

I had a serious medical appointment this morning. And the 2 dogs downstairs were howling all night...keeping me up....ALL NIGHT. By morning I was thinking dog chops or sweet and sour dog balls and rice. Turned out there master and friend was in the hospital with a more serious condition and may not survive. They were in mourning. It is not our duty to convert others. It IS our duty to prove the value our conversion and inspire others desire to want the same. I'm such a jerk sometimes, forgive me as I now forgive those DAMN DOGS!!! Doggy strudel!🥰💕😇

[@donaldwert7137]

I'm constantly reminded of the old adage "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar" when I hear these people, whether on a street corner or in a pulpit. How many people do they actually lead to God by screaming at them? Whether they literally scream, if they are telling people what sinners they are, they might as well be screaming. I see a lot of signs on trees saying "REPENT! Jesus it coming!" and I think "Well, he's been coming for 2000 years, you need a better message than that." That all feels very performative, to me.

[@howardcohen6817]

When a street-preacher talks to me about how God loves me, I leave him/her be. When they are berating me and the rest of the passers-by about the penalties about my not loving God, I am repulsed. This is all unimportant and disruptive information, I feel. I cannot be shamed, over-powered or making me feel deprived of something into love of anything. When they extol God exuding to all/us how wonderful God is and how much they love God I listen attentively. Their speech has nothing to do with me, directly, except that they see me and this is enough for them to articulate that which they are wonderfully experiencing directly about God. I am happy for them and enjoy their sharing with us of their experience. "Eat completely what's on your plate or else it will rain tomorrow," (a folk-saying and accepted admonishment here comparable to the saying in the 50s and 60s, "Clean your plate - people are starving in Europe,") will not get me to love my food or help me to enjoy it more and neither help it to not rain, tomorrow or feed other people in Europe; nor is convincing me that a food contributes to my health and well-being and adequate appetizer. Eating something in a with urine stinking elevator is unappetizing regardless of the benefits and detriments of not eating one might tell me. The older, dejected woman walking slowly down Kurfuerstendamm her eyes lit up when she saw the street-hawker of the magic-mouse which would follow him everywhere. His show was so funny that - even though the "mother's" laughing gear was badly rusted - her years fell off before my very eyes and life was enjoyable for her, again. A miracle. As I had seen the show, before, THIS was the true spectacle for me. It was no different for us in Cologne in the 80's. My partner and I would seek out a spot to play our music which wasn't in street-traffic but somewhat off the well-beaten path from the Rhein to the consumer-street-mall. People were able to DECIDE to come to listen to us and in this magical moment their extra years fell away as we as their every-day concerns and woes through interest and curiosity. Eager to listen to us they would gather to a sizable crowd and offer a lot of applause at the end of our pieces - not typical for other street-musicians. We just didn't want to proselytize - only offer something of beauty to be enjoyed (and hopefully earn an obolus for it). In Muenster we would only play when the shops in the pedestrian-zone/mall were closed and in a shops entrance-way so that we wouldn't be hitting anyone over the head with our (for them, then) noise, yet inviting people into "our" space to enjoy the music. Communing with a violently barking dog is infinitely more difficult than is enjoying the dog which is already playing with other dogs or standing there wagging its tail.

[@howardcohen6817]

Greetings all. Love.

[@paolovirgili9651]

Very well said. Pure truth. Barking at me is not loving me...

[@jamesparson]

Is it Christian love?

[@Dalekzilla]

Oh my god! What a fantastic analogy! As far as myself, I have not seen a street preacher on the internet or in person that I felt was doing it because they genuinely cared about the salvation of the people that they were harassing. For one thing, 97 percent of the time they are attacking lgbtq people. They don't go to country clubs and set up their loudspeakers and signs, yet (unlike homosexuality) Christ actually did talk about rich people and them being in danger of Hell (Luke 6:24, Matthew 19:24). And they don't show up where people are protesting the homeless or migrants, despite the fact that treating the marginalized like that can send one to their "eternal punishment" (Matthew 25:32-46). And I don't recall ever seeing one of these street preachers at a Republican MAGA rally, despite the fact that those people are supporting and idolizing politicians who are serial adulterers, pathological liars, racists, rapists, idolators, Human Rights abusers, and general hate-mongers. These street preachers do what they do for precisely the same reason the Pharisees stood on street corners and screamed out their prayers....to say to the world, "look at me, at how wonderfully righteous I am, at my incredible piety". And we know what Christ said about that (Matthew 6:5). And they do it because they have utter contempt and hatred for the people they are calling names and judging.....when they themselves are not without sin, and therefore should be judging NO one.

[@RJ420NL]

Amen.

[@user-wq8rf9kr9n]

💖

[@wrathofthepotato]

“There are many of ways up the mountain. Each had its own merits. The only one mistaken is the person sitting at the bottom telling everyone they are doing it wrong.” Hindu proverb

[@obviousalias9506]

Love this. Thanks.

[@howardcohen6817]

Being at or near the bottom isn't so bad. Encouraging or otherwise helping other mountaineers and -dwellers makes the climb very enjoyable, indeed.

[@libbycollins9349]

@@howardcohen6817 Sometimes the farther along one has gone without reaching the top, the more encouragement a person needs to persevere. It sounds like you’re good at that!

[@howardcohen6817]

@@libbycollins9349 The secret is in the joy of sharing the rainbow and not in getting to the top. After all, there is no top. I've got no competitors.

[@libbycollins9349]

@@howardcohen6817 Oh, there is a top. It’s not a race, though. I remember being in Greece and seeing a double rainbow and pulling the car over to watch with my son. Lovely moment on the journey to the top.

[@marisolmagana9644]

Great message!!! Thank you from Mexico Revernd!!!

[@revedtrevors4961]

Thanks for watching!

[@darwinskeeper421]

As a dog person, I find Reverend Trevors' analogy interesting. Street preachers are an occasional nuisance in the place I currently live. I personally don't care if they are sincerely trying to help, or if they're just doing this because condemning the faults of others makes them feel better about themselves. I don't like people yelling at me, so I'm not going to engage with them.

[@jamesparson]

💯

[@williamfinch9858]

You're never satisfied, aren't you? You condemn street preachers who are barely making ends meet as nuisances, and you also condemn mega rich preachers. It takes great strength to preach for free when you're barely making ends meet, and that's definitely worth caring about. Even if their preaching is bad, it can't be worse than Jonah's preaching.

[@darwinskeeper421]

@@williamfinch9858 If street preachers wish to condemn me for my faults, I see no reason why I shouldn't condemn them for theirs. While we're at it, would you appreciate aggressive street preachers from other religions if they got into your face?

[@williamfinch9858]

@@darwinskeeper421 I’ve been approached by false preachers such as those from Jehovah’s Witnesses. I can appreciate why they do it. “I’ve always said that I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there’s a heaven and a hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward-and atheists who think people shouldn’t proselytize and who say just leave me along and keep your religion to yourself-how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? “I mean, if I believed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe that truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.”

[@JohnAllenRoyce]

@@williamfinch9858 You missed the point. These false preachers are not acting from love, even Jesus told you this.

[@REGGIE_BXNY]

Great message!

[@MinionofNobody]

I am reminded of DARE programs. After two decades of effort by countless police officers in numerous police departments in multiple countries, DARE proved to have no measurable impact on the use of hard drugs and no statistically significant impact on the use of marijuana. The intentions were good but the method simply did not work.

[@jamesparson]

I don't think the intentions of the War on Drugs where good. They wanted to load up jails with minorities and in large part they succeeded. There are people on drugs. The need mental health not jails. I see DARE as a part of that thinking that put people into jails.

[@eyesofthecervino3366]

Truth be told I question whether the intentions were good in the first place.

[@Benjaminsmallwood]

It actually INCREASES drug use according to their own studies.

[@jcourtmail9261]

I'm very good friends with a Veterinarian, the larger the dog the more the baby they are, the smaller the dog the more aggressive dog. In no instance should you ever trust a dog's behavior. A friendly dog might bite you just because it is protecting it's owners. Animals teach a lot on how to understand people.

[@d.bertrand4039]

Dear Reverend, For a while now, I have been following your thoughts and will take this opportunity to tell you so. Thank you for helping me try to reconcile my faith with today's politics, or at least, to place the current events under the filter of my Christian values. You sometimes reference biblical passages that I would not have thought about using to inform my stance. Your work helps me greatly and I am grateful to you for it. This said, I wanted to comment on the episode above (I watched it on a different device). It was not a dog story, but I had a similar experience as the one you relate. I am originally French, now bi-national (Franco-American) and one day, some Jehovah's Witnesses knocked on my door and started to speak to me in French. I was preparing for work and was not in a state of mind to start a conversation on my religious believes, so I politely, but firmly, rebuked them, letting them know “now was not the right time.” Then I reflected on the experience. How could they, as you mention in your segment, who may have had the best intentions in the world, ever think it would be a good idea to show up at my door, speaking in French-how did they even know I was French-speaking? I felt preyed upon, targeted, and extremely put off before I even knew what they wanted. After the fact, I wished I had been a little more patient with them, giving them the benefit of the doubt, but there was nothing I could do about it by then. Another thought I had afterward was to wonder why Christians should be trying to convert Christians to their own brand of Christianity. Most of all though, I could not believe that showing up at my door could seem to them as a good idea that should endear them to me.

[@revedtrevors4961]

Thank you for sharing

[@FreddieVee]

“Fire and Brimstone” preachers fear God. Reverend Ed and I love God.

[@VictorBush-cx7sj]

Frequently, there is a loud-mouthed street preacher near where I live. Everytime I hear them, I am reminded of James 1;26.

[@jamesparson]

26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. ----- This atheist finds this interesting.

[@jamesparson]

There are a couple or reasons why I don't give them the benefit of the doubt. 1. I don't know what their model of faith is. JWs for example have as a part of their faith that they will proselytize even if everyone ignores them. 2. They know full well they are interfering with people going about their daily lives. 3. As an atheist, they think it is moral for me to be tortured forever. I know that I am not the only one that they expect to be tortured. As soon as you find torture be acceptable, you have no respect for who you are talking to. 4. Without getting into details, I have had a street preacher blatantly lie to me. So, I vote aggressive noise. P.S. I admire the presenter for bringing this up as a topic. I don't think I have heard any religious person every bring this up.

[@marionopisso212]

About your point 3: It doesn't seem logical that God tells us that we must love everyone and forgive everyone, but He won't do that and will burn many in hell forever. Really? He won't follow His own commands to forgive and love everyone?? I believe God IS Love and will not contravene His nature.

[@jamesparson]

@@marionopisso212 I could not torture someone. I could not torture anyone. I cannot defend the morality of torture. I refuse too.

[@obviousalias9506]

Method matters. If someone wants connection, they need to discover a method of connecting which doesn't alienate (or terrify) those around them. This applies to faith, romance, and most other forms of human connection. You have to discover a way to express yourself that others can genuinely understand. I've seen people discover methods that work through good therapy, but there are other ways out there.

[@christineholeman11]

I’ve always been more responsive when watching someone simply truly living in the way than preaching about it.

[@patriciadreyer8977]

If you approach in love then people will end up reflecting and knowing their own sinfulness. Repentance happens in the heart.

[@lloydperrin3889]

I think you hit the nail on the head here today. Watching from Ontario. I have been enjoying listening to you for a while now. Thank you.

[@tanyawilliams8254]

❤️

[@sprdave820]

Method totally does matter!

[@reginafalzone8537]

Sin does need to be addressed, many don’t know or realize that they are living sinfully. It can be done in a gentle way.

[@rsh793]

Ain't up to you - you're not God so you don't get to judge - it's in the Bible!

[@reginafalzone8537]

@@rsh793 I was not judging, I’m sorry if you interpreted it that way. Also in the Bible, Romans 3:23 “ we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”.

[@lilianfowler7988]

Dogs can be very territorial. I walked many miles with my dogs over the years. Dogs who were on the other side of fences were often more angry and showed aggression stances with their bodies. The same dog could have been aggressive without the fence or they could have approached my dog inquisitively. My dog being stuck on a lip leash could also be more aggressive either protecting me or feeling tethered. A dog stuck in a car can be even more aggressive because in a way they are trapped in the car. However you are very wise to be cautious. Over 20 years of walking my dog - who was small and dorky - there were 3 attacks by dogs who were loose - who actually stalked my dog in low crouch stances with their shoulder fur up. Not a good sign. One owner swore up and down her dog had never behaved that way before. I told her it don't matter and my stomping and yelling no was for my little dog's protection.

[@brendalong3852]

From what I can tell, most that are on the attack either want to prove they are better than others or they are afraid they aren't as good as others. Then again sometimes they seem to be on some kind of grift.

[@c1886]

Yeah i would just walk away from that

[@RebeccaPaige]

5:50 You are damaging my calm!

[@jamesparson]

Enhance your calm

[@RebeccaPaige]

@@jamesparson Enjoy the silence?

[@ryanhoward5516]

i know people give the choosen a bad name a lot do because its displaying the gentle nature of christ and many want him to be the "aggressive dog" but there is a scene where he encounters different ethnic people on a road im not sure of the scripture but he sits down on the ground it makes you wonder if more "preachers" would actually sit on the ground for even fellowship out of all the rituals and things churches do none of it seams to matter sitting on the ground changes blood pressure and enables a person to think better but if more churches did these simple things at level ground with others how things would change the scene can be found with THE CHOSEN Jesus Talks About FAITH (Full Version)

[@RebeccaPaige]

4:52 But that's the $1M question; How do they know Jesus Christ?

[@jerryhampton5755]

Most likely the dog is a farm dog breed and was just protecting it perimeter. Literally doing the job he was bred to do.

[@hunrahel]

for sure, demonstrates lack of empathy or imagination to not see how street preaching is mad-dog behavior

[@libbycollins9349]

I avoid dogs that snarl and growl and bark with bared teeth. You never know…. On the other hand, it’s hard to resist a dog that is obviously overjoyed to be in your presence. Street preachers overjoyed may get more attention from passers by..

[@terrip3345]

The way I see it is, if you feel like you have to yell your message to get people to listen, it is a message I have no interest in hearing.

[@deborahgardner7862]

Did Scripture say they’d be out there? And what did it say about them? That is what you need to know, Scripture tells you if you read it. Always remember anyone who speaks in hate anger or revenge is not a Spirit of Our Creator, beware of deception, many men have come with the good word and can show you everything they say, and be lying, it’s Spiritually understanding the words and relaying them, not physically understanding them, that is The Precepts of Men, Scripture was written Spiritually not physically, why would it be? Our Creator is a Spirit. We know Our Creator didn’t put pen to paper, so where did Scripture come from? Every since I can remember, my Bible said written by man, inspired by God, and man can write or change what he wants, Our Creator told you Psalms 147:19-20 that their is only one people who can teach them, Jeremiah 16:19 told us you inherited lies, Daniel 12:4 tells us of a sealed book to come, new knowledge, if you’re still teaching or learning the same things you are following The Precepts of Men, deception what you were taught, did we forget Our Creator told us to come to Him with the mind of a child? Meaning forget everything you were taught. There was a religion on Earth before the many different religions were forced down our throats. Don’t get me wrong the Scriptures have been altered, but not so much altered where people who were spoken to in parables can’t understand them, their are many books of Scripture, if three prophets wrote 204 Books in thirty days and you have the sixty six and the Apocrypha where’s the other Books? Scripture says Cleave to Israel for your understanding, lean not on your own understanding, you need to Cleave to Israel, not the place, Israel is not a place, Israel is a people, and you would know that if you read Scripture, and Scripture says you will know them because their words match their actions, be vigilant, they are among you always have been. It’s why Our Creator tells us to love our neighbor like we love ourselves, because you never know when you’re entertaining an Angel, it’s why Our Creators is coming quickly, to end the suffering of His Spirits, and recompense them for not being recompensed for their labors, Scripture says they won’t be recompensed, I believe that was Deuteronomy 28, Our Creator wants to recompense us so it was put on the world not to recompense The Spirits, (The All wants to do that so you will know I loved thee) that is Revelation I believe 3rd chapter. Scripture says you will know it is Me, (Our Creator). Just keep walking past the street preachers, if your Spirit don’t feel lead to be there, you don’t have to be, if it does and into his message you feel uncomfortable, negative messaging you don’t have to stay there and you can walk away, don’t be programmed into another religion until you can release or let go of everything you were taught, and understand why, and Israel can help you with that. Israel is scattered, so that all nations of people would get the true word always remember that word All, no matter what you’re told by these street preachers, stay positive and walk away.

[@dalex60]

If Christians could demonstrate any of their claims with FACTS, I could understand the urgency and plight of street preachers, but we all know they can't, so it's just disturbing the peace and harassment...

[@jamesparson]

They have a different definition of facts.

[@dalex60]

@@jamesparson - True, they assert claims they pull out of their asses as facts…

[@speedymunchlax5733]

As a Christian, street preaching wouldn't be my approach, for various reasons. But I also don't understand why atheists are always asking us to give you "proof" of God before anything else, when you already know the answer to that. If there was some sort of tangible evidence that would satisfy those that are inclined to deny God from the start, people wouldn't be asking such questions and the concept of faith wouldn't mean much at all. I didn't choose to believe in God overnight, but rather throughout my life I heard, I read, I talked, I pondered, I saw, I listened, in both matters of God and matters of life, until over time I chose to believe, growing in conviction and ideology. But my experiences are my own, no one else could ever fully understand them just as I wouldn't be able to fully understand those of others. To me is there proof of God all around us? Yes, but that's how I view the things around me. But even in a broad generalisation, it sounds crazier to believe that everything in the universe was born out of nothing than it is to believe that God created everything. Why Christianity then? Because I'm not perfect, no one is. I make mistakes and I have empathy for those I have wronged in some way. I humble myself, and I'm happy to do it. Other religions tell me I have to comply to a strict set of rules or be condemned. Or they tell me I can achieve some sort of higher state of mind if I try really hard. Christianity tells me first what God considers to be wrong, the things contrary to how He intended for us so I can understand His side. And it tells me how He understands our struggles and also provided a way for us to be reconciled again to Him, through Jesus. Adam and Eve were the first to go against God, and people haven't stopped since. You need proof of God's goodness? Humans are still breathing, despite what we do everyday. Look at the goodness in people. Humans cannot be better than their Creator, because our goodness didn't just manifest out of thin air. If you try to seek proof of God with the mindset that you have absolutely no regrets in life and you feel really at home in a world where people scam and murder for a living, just to ease your own conscience or whatever, I'm not sure you'll ever find Him. But ultimately we all hear God's message at some point, and we all consciously decide whether to accept it or reject it.

[@jamesparson]

@@speedymunchlax5733 I am sure you don't understand atheists. I didn't even have to read that far.

[@cheriann6461]

@@jamesparson No, the religiously inclined often have a different definition of "evidence," because what we experience internally constitutes evidence for what we believe. There is a difference between asserting a belief has evidence or is true, and asserting it as fact. For example, anecdotal evidence is a type of evidence, though it isn't fact.

[@juansoto241]

Interesting talk. I supposed there's a law against peace disturbance. Examples of disturbing the peace include: Playing loud music outside after warnings, Public intoxication, Shouting offensive words or slurs in public, Fights in public places, and Drawing a firearm or other deadly weapon in a threatening manner, just to name a few. I don't care wich koolaid flavor is contaminating with noice. I will complaint and if I have time I will call the police regardless of what religion is. You have your own belives and I supposed you will feel concern perhaps offended if I try to teach your kids my belives. It's your responsability to education your children. So why you think you can stand in a street corner spewing what someone else thing is Blasphemy? There might be children that you have no right in pushing to them what their parents don't want them to hear? It's unethical and disrespectful. As I understand, the best way to share your faith is by actions. How we live our life. If you are hatefull misogynist homophobic prik yow need to understand that no one will ask you for wisdom. If I don't know you perhaps I give a rat *** about your wisdom. If you are a peaceful honest caring charitable loving perhaps someone may ask you for wisdom. Like I said there's thousands of koolaid flavors and perhaps I like mine better that yours. Perhaps I once liked the flavor you have but got tiered of it and moved on.

[@howardcohen6817]

What about the unceasing ringing of the church-bells so interrupting all conversations and through which it's almost impossible to think? Ironically, the only place one is safe from this very loud interruption of life IS IN THE CHURCH itself. There the ringing is the least disturbing. Love.

[@jamesparson]

Well said. And I don't drink Kool-Aid any more.

[@Pawpatrol119]

Amen