I have to be honest here. Whenever I go to an evangelism destination, especially one that may be hostile, like the Hollywood Anti-War Protest sponsored by ANSWER Los Angeles (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), I have mixed feelings. One part of me is excited by the possibilities of reaching a lost people group: atheists, Communists, extreme leftists, Feminists, gay activists, etc., while another part of me would prefer to stay home.

It’s safer at home. (Click here to start at part 1 of the series.)

Knowing that only 2% of Christians actually share their faith (according to Bill Bright, but it’s probably less), and a Barna study that shows that only 55% of born-again Christians even believe it’s their responsibility to evangelize  motivates me to get out of my comfort zone.

The question is always: How do we get the message out before they kick us out—or knock us out?

Thousands had congregated on Hollywood Blvd. to hear furious women and red-faced blathering men scream anti-war epithets against the government, rich people, corporations—anyone, or anything that smacks of Conservatism or rationality.

What would they do to us if they discovered we were fundamentalist Christians?

To complicate matters, a hater guy with Jesus signs and a bullhorn was there on his corner screaming insults at the protesters. When an elderly woman tried to stop him he shouted, “Back off, Grandma! Back to the retirement home for you, Grandma! Back to the trailer park with you, Grandma! Take your Geritol! Take another two tablespoons of Geritol!”

To the marchers he yelled: “Shame on you, Americans! You call yourselves Americans? You hate America! Bible! Bible! Bible! Get yourself a Bible, people!”

A protester shouted back, “You hypocrite! You hypocrite!” Then he blew a whistle in the Hate Preacher’s ear.

A bald-headed man screamed and shook his fist: “Am I going to Hell? Am I going to Hell because I’m protesting the war?”

The preacher continued with, “You’ve got one foot on a banana peel, and one foot in the grave! Jesus Christ said ‘My peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you…'”

Some peace. Some example of Christ-like love. Sad. Very sad. And a very wrong way to preach the Gospel. (See the 6 minute video yourself by clicking here. WARNING! Rough language the first 12 seconds.)

What would you do? How would you approach this tense situation as an evangelist?

We decided to go in with Gospel money tracts. (Hey! Even anti-capitalist socialists like money!

We gave out Giant Hundred dollar bills…

Presidential trillion dollar bills…

and million dollar bills, all with the true Gospel written on the back.

Walking in the midst of the protesters we’d hand them out saying, “Peace money. Peace money.” By no means would we try to talk about eternal things in the “now” of this hot bed of fury and tension. We would smile and say, “Peace not war; peace not war,” and gently hand them a tract. And smile, smile, smile. We were friendly, warm and accommodating. How did these marchers respond?

Apparently, this guy thought the Gospel written on the back was a gas!

Better green than, uh, er, red?

Pro-Palestine Muslims for…Jesus?

Do they actually read what’s on the back? Of course.

With the right attitude and a little creativity you, too, can get the message out  that all have sinned against God by breaking his Moral Law, the 10 Commandments. If a person has ever lied, stolen or misused His name, He would see them as lying thieves and blasphemers. If someone ever looked with lust that’s adultery, according to Jesus. And the Bible says that hatred and anger is murder. On Judgment Day, they’d be found guilty and end up in Hell.

But, if they repent and put their trust in Jesus Christ—God in the flesh—who died on a cross, was buried for three days and rose again—if they believe that, and put their faith and trust in Him, God will forgive them and grant them everlasting life.

That’s a tough message, and a great message. Smile and be gracious when delivering it—with a Gospel tract! We love these people.

In the next part, things get a little uglier when we  actually start preaching from the sidelines to the marchers on the move….Watch the video by clicking here for Part 4.

*****

Read a Conservative appraisal of the march by Pajamas Media here.

Photo credits: Robert Stuart Louden of IndyMedia.org & Ringo’s pictures (used w/permission).