Evangelism Gone Wrong, Pt. 16: Lady Gaga Gets a Gospel Tract

Here’s a classic example of how never to hand out a gospel tract. This evangelist, videotaped by Lady Gaga’s film crew, missed a golden opportunity to be nice to a big name celebrity as he gave her a tract with the message of everlasting life. (Start at part 1 of this series by clicking here.)

As Christians, we ought be the most gracious, most polite, most tactful of people when we share our faith. Sadly, not everyone feels or acts the same way. Our team sees this man quite often when we go out to big events—and we stay on the other side of the street so as not to be associated with his unloving methods. (Disclaimer: This is someone else’s video, re-cut and edited a little over-cautiously with some corny music at the end.)

Now, read the sad saga of Rock’n Rollen Stewart, the infamous John 3:16 guy who should up at sporting events in the 70s…and is now serving three life sentences. Click here for that story.

Comments (17)

  1. vintango2k

    Reply

    Wow. You know… more often confidence begets arrogance than it does actual wisdom. I’m certain if that guy encountered another person on the street just like him he’d be just as off put as everyone else probably is around him.

  2. Eric Stefan

    Reply

    Ok, I don’t get how this guy (the sign guy) thinks he is doing anything for God. How unloving can one be, the Lady introduces herself only to hear, what do I care and then sign-guy starts busting on her.
    Steve where do these people come from.

  3. Mr. E

    Reply

    Wow. That sign guy is something else. His bad attitude completely undermined any good that he could have done.

    Are most of these sign guys like this?

  4. Reply

    Eric Stefan wrote Steve where do these people come from.

    Think about the core principle underlying his behavior: people will end up being tortured for eternity if they don’t humble themselves and accept Jesus Christ.

    Depending on how stridently you believe this, I can imagine an evangelist using it to rationalize getting right in a sinner’s face and scaring them into “changing their ways”. After all, what good is politeness if it doesn’t actually get the person to stop and listen?

    People like the sign holder believe their actions are justified – as do Steve and Nohm and the rest of this blog’s readership. The sign guy is one of us (specifically, he’s an evangelist); he just uses different methods.

  5. Reply

    “…and the rest of this blog’s readership…” Hasty generalization fallacy.

    And the bit about “tortured for eternity”? No, torture is gratuitous, from a lack or need for pleasure on the part of the torturer. Big difference between that and eternal punishment for sin against a holy God.

  6. Thomas Moore

    Reply

    Sad to see, very sad to see. I do want to comment on what Jim said in connection to a comment made by Pastor Steve:

    “‘As Christians, we ought be the most gracious, most polite, most tactful of people when we share our faith.’ ”

    You be sure to let me know when you start doing that, hypocrite.”

    Jim sadly you are right in making that call. I know that I have made mistakes in this area. God is helping me to change but it is not an easy change to make at times. I’m just thankful that though there is hypocrisy in my life that God doesn’t give up on me and is bringing me through it to make me more gracious, more polite, more tactful and more like Christ when I share the faith.

    God bless Jim!

  7. Reply

    Soldier for Jesusresponded to something I wrote: “…and the rest of this blog’s readership…” Hasty generalization fallacy.

    Am I to assume you think people here DO NOT feel their actions are justified? Or were you flaming simply to be contentious?

    And the bit about “tortured for eternity”? No, torture is gratuitous, from a lack or need for pleasure on the part of the torturer. Big difference between that and eternal punishment for sin against a holy God.

    That’s your on-the-spot definition of torture; can’t find it anywhere other than this thread. Seriously, if this is all you’re going to do, SB, you might as well find a different hobby.

  8. Reply

    Mr. Moore, I hope you realize that some people will find fault with anything you do, and use labels like “hypocrite” not out of knowledge or constructive criticism, but simply to cause pain. It is impossible to accommodate the preconceptions of each individual as to what a “good Christian” is, because their “standards” keep changing. Just a suggestion that you keep following where the Lord leads you in your growth, and only pay attention to critics if he directs you. I expect those instances will be rare.

  9. Thomas Moore

    Reply

    Thank you Soldier for the advice. God bless!

    P.S.—I like your name.

  10. Reply

    “Am I to assume you think people here DO NOT feel their actions are justified? Or were you flaming simply to be contentious?”

    You’re assuming I’m flaming. And for you to speak for the rest, about how they FEEL… smacks of the ad populum fallacy. What, do you think you’re at Atheist Central, where almost anything goes?

  11. perdita

    Reply

    Storm, can you explain why you have a problem with WEM’s statement? I read it as, “Most people think they have a good reason for doing things,” and I’m not sure why that would be so contentious.

  12. Reply

    for you to speak for the rest, about how they FEEL… smacks of the ad populum fallacy.

    No, Stormbringer, it doesn’t. It’s a fact that if a sincere person is posting to this blog, he/she feels what they write is justified.

    You flamed simply because you felt like it – obviously, you also think youv’e got a good reason to do so. Rather than address what I wrote, you’re picking some tangent issue and making a mountain out of a molehill. It would be interesting if you actually had correctly pointed out a logical fallacy.

  13. Uncle Ho

    Reply

    Thanks Perdita. I admit I’m baffled as to why he chose that statement to disagree with…

  14. Henry

    Reply

    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. http://www.freecartoontract.com/animation) as part of your email signature.

    An email signature is a piece of customizable HTML or text that most email programs 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?”.

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