Greetings, all! Today, I ran (actually, walked, mostly) with my 15-year-old son in the Indianapolis 500 Festival Mini-Marathon with 34,999 other people (don’t worry, though, yoga-patrol members – it was not a full marathon, and Pan wasn’t mentioned…)
There was a very interesting object lesson within the race that we talked about afterward…
All along the race route there were a number of individuals, business and churches with bands, speakers, water and other items for the runners.
About a mile into the race, there was a guy with a sound-system shouting about hellfire and damnation at the top of his voice as the runners went by (though he didn’t have an actual bullhorn with him…)
A little ways further, there were 2 or 3 evangelical church groups and a Pentecostal church with live bands, music that helped us keep up a good pace, making the race a little bit more enjoyable. Additionally, they had members lined up along the road cheering the weary runners on. One of the churches, in particular, was just before the mid-way point, where doubt about the race and thoughts about sitting down and waiting for the “bus of shame” were creeping in. They helped give a good dose of encouragement right where it was needed.
Then, near the 12-mile marker, there was a group of young men in long-sleeved white shirts, black pants and black name badges – Mormons – handing out water and encouraging folks down the home stretch.
After the race, I told my wife about this observation, and her reaction was simply – “how typical”.
There are a number of object lessons that could be pulled from this, so I will allow the reader to supply their own, and share it, if they would like…
![Image of The Prodigal God (An Unabridged Production)[2-CD Set]; Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31Jl6fhDLxL._SL75_.jpg "The Prodigal God (An Unabridged Production)[2-CD Set]; Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith")
13 Comments(+Add)
Chris,
First off, congrats on the race. Sounds like it would have been a good time. I am sure you and your son had a good time.
As for the approaches used by the churches (we will exclude the Mormons for the obvious reason of, well, their not Christians), I would say this. First off, I am not sure a race is a good place to do any open air preaching, much less sit their and yell “You’re all going to hell”. I think open air preaching is fine, given the right place and time. I also think it can be done in a manner not to purposely offend the people and yet still not water the Gospel down. As for the churches that were passing out water, offering encouragement, and playing music, I think that was a better approach but it lacked one thing. I would have at least made an effort to give out a tract with the water, not simply let lost people walk past me and not share the Gospel. But their approach was far better it seems than the other. People will remember their kindness, but perhaps be put off by the other.
Again, I think open air preaching is Biblical, necessary and good, but not at a race. Also, simply shouting at people will not accomplish anything. But that is my two cents.
In Christ,
Ricky Rickard, Jr.
Are you saying we should all become LDS?
If the rose colored glasses fit……….
I’m saying that it’s scary that the LDS folks were much better witnesses for what they believe than some Christians along the route…
Chris P., you constantly amaze me with what you choose to pull from a post and snark on.
Clearly, Chris L. was saying we should be like Pentecostals.
Whew.
I thought we were supposed to admire the many doggie photos that Chris found to accompany many recent posts!
Seriously, dude, where did you find these? They inject a good bit of humour and levity to some otherwise heavy posts.
Robby,
I’ve been collecting them for awhile via searches and submissions, and then pulling them out as appropriate. Thanks for noticing
Julie
Lighten up!
I could have said that this blog has been going to the dogs, butb that was evident even without the doggie photos.:-)
Chris L.
Since the LDS does not preach the same Jesus or Gospel Paul preached, what are they better witnesses of?
Good works? We are not saved by OUR good works, nor do we demonstrate salvation by OUR good works. This is why liberal christianity quotes Gahandi, Bono and Mandela etc as “prophets”
Eph 2:8-10
BTW what about the brief overlap between Joseph Smith and the “Restoration Movement”?
My brother went to a Disciples of Christ church many years ago, (until he came to accurate revelation of salvation). Their “hired” organist was a member of the LDS church.
Do not tell me that mormons are christians.
And yet Jesus said, “Let your good works show before men that they may see them and glorify your Father in heaven.”
“until he came to accurate revelation of salvation”
That’s pretty mean. So all of us Restoration folks have an inaccurate view of salvation?
Chris P….
“Since the LDS does not preach the same Jesus or Gospel Paul preached, what are they better witnesses of?”
Loving people…. which is what the sign is of true believers… which should make us all stand convicted… instead of haughty and proud… as you seem to be coming across as…
Chris is not stating the LDS is teaching truth… but contrasting that they are working out their love in a way that witnessed their belief better than the “Christians” did.
Blessings,
iggy
Chris P:
I part of your post, as I didn’t write much (if any) yesterday:
Question: What about the overlap between John Calvin and the Bubonic Plague which swept through souther France? (Answer: Neither had anything to do with the other…)
The Disciples of Christ branch (which split off during the early 1900’s as a liberal off-shoot of the RM churches) has always been more liberal in both orthodox interpretation and -praxy.
Mormons aren’t Christians, and I wasn’t implying that…
Julie, not sure why you are amazed. Chris P has long shown that he believes that God is incapable of revealing truth to the Christian in unexpected places.
I had a friend that did some LDS once in the 70’s.
***I am kidding by the way***