My wife used to scorn the street corner preachers (we live in a big city). She thought it tacky grandstanding, not dignified enough. I asked her if among all those people walking by if just one had their ears itched by The Gospel would it be okay. She thought about it for a second and God Bless her said I hadn't thought of that.
IOW, I've had people say how irritating it is when some "Born Again Christian" actually witnesses to them. A few of those times I've actually been able to explain to them why that Christian thought it was so important.
“IOW, I’ve had people say how irritating it is when some “Born Again Christian” actually witnesses to them. A few of those times I’ve actually been able to explain to them why that Christian thought it was so important.”
I can’t say as I ever found those preachers particular;y irritating. Down in Greece you don’t see many of them, though there are a few. The Greeks call them “Fools for Christ” and they are generally respected as holy people.
What one does see in Greece is beggars, lots of them. And Greeks always, or virtually always, give them some small coin. They call that a “evlogison”, a blessing and will often ask the beggar for a blessing when giving the coin. Here in America it seems the protestant culture is irritated by beggars to the point where not only do people refuse to give them something, they positively scorn the beggars. I understand that the importuning of beggars can be an irritation, but imagine what God puts up with from all of us.
Amen. We are taught to expect that sort of reaction, even from other Christians as we have seen. I remain very surprised that other Christians viscerally resent our missionaries witnessing in "their" countries, which their faiths apparently own (I guess). They and the lost fail to understand what is behind that missionary work. It is born of love and it is what God calls all believers to do.