Preaching at Universities

Foxhound38

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPbvDiRSzlAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPbvDiRSzlA

In this video, a group calling itself Cheap Missions Trips came to Vanderbilt University, Tennessee to preach the word of the Lord to students who, from the video where clearly revelling in their sin on the date of a big football game.

With Irish Universities starting up again after the summer, and similar revelry set to take place over the coming days and weeks, would it be advisable for Irish christians to reach out to the lost in a similar way on their campuses?

RMD

Honestly, next to nobody will listen and most who attend will either be a small portion of believers and a large portion of giddy students looking for a laugh.

Just because I don't have the same beliefs as you doesn't mean I'm "lost", or am I entitled to call you ignorant since that's my view on your beliefs?

swiftblade

RMD wrote: »

Honestly, next to nobody will listen and most who attend will either be a small portion of believers and a large portion of giddy students looking for a laugh.

Just because I don't have the same beliefs as you doesn't mean I'm "lost", or am I entitled to call you ignorant since that's my view on your beliefs?

I also doubt you would actually be allowed into any of the IT's or Uni's . Maybe stand outside of them.

mikemac

You'll find preaching in Eyre Sq and Shop St in Galway and thousands of students passing by

The colleges won't let you on the premises

Manach

Perhaps if the group was invited by an internal student society to talk at a meeting. I reckon the College authorities would not be in a position to block that? However just arriving at campus and preaching, would be a case of trespass.

swiftblade

Manach wrote: »

Perhaps if the group was invited by an internal student society to talk at a meeting. I reckon the College authorities would not be in a position to block that? However just arriving at campus and preaching, would be a case of trespass.

Yes but just because you were invited, dosen't mean you could wander around the campus preaching.

If you were invited by a student the chances are your audience would be 99% Catholic anyway. So would be a bit pointless.

Foxhound38

RMD wrote: »

Just because I don't have the same beliefs as you doesn't mean I'm "lost", or am I entitled to call you ignorant since that's my view on your beliefs?

I don't mean or wish to judge, as that is not my role. However, according to my religious beliefs and backed up by my holy text, those that undertake such things as shown in the video are engaging in Sin and need to be warned to repent, lest they be lost in the eyes of the Lord forever. It is a kindness preachers believe they are undertaking

swiftblade

Foxhound38 wrote: »

I don't mean or wish to judge, as that is not my role. However, according to my religious beliefs and backed up by my holy text, those that undertake such things as shown in the video are engaging in Sin and need to be warned to repent, lest they be lost in the eyes of the Lord forever. It is a kindness preachers believe they are undertaking

It would be anoying and off putting, and would probably turn more people off than "convert" .

Please don't do the whole mega phone thing. You wouldn't be doing Catholism any favors. (I'm an atheist btw)

georgieporgy

The video portrays some american evangelicals in action. That style works well over there, seeing as anything goes in america. I've seen similar types of preachers standing at one end of Grafton St Dublin, or Patrick St Cork.

Noise rarely converts anyone and probably is more likely to lead to ridicule.

The voice of The Lord tends to come in the gentle breeze, not the roaring thunder.

But their hearts are in the right place, so who knows?.....

Fanny Cradock

The Veritas Forum runs events throughout major US colleges throughout the academic year. They get some quality guests (atheists, agnostics, Christians, Muslims etc...) to debate issues relating in some shape or form to Christianity. It's a worthy endeavour. One I think that very few would have an objection with.

philologos

Foxhound38 wrote: »

With Irish Universities starting up again after the summer, and similar revelry set to take place over the coming days and weeks, would it be advisable for Irish christians to reach out to the lost in a similar way on their campuses?

Irish Christians are already reaching the lost on their campuses. There are Christian Unions now in 26 universities and IT campuses in Ireland. While a student I served with the Christian Union at my university. A major aim was to share the Gospel with those in the university around us. You can be praying for them OP.

Foxhound38

philologos wrote: »

Irish Christians are already reaching the lost on their campuses. There are Christian Unions now in 26 universities and IT campuses in Ireland. While a student I served with the Christian Union at my university. A major aim was to share the Gospel with those in the university around us. You can be praying for them OP.

I am glad to hear that the good news is being spread. God bless the missionaries

snafuk35

Your hearts are in the right place and you mean to do good but you are on a hiding to nothing if you think this kind of approach is going to work on a campus in Ireland.

philologos

snafuk35 wrote: »

Your hearts are in the right place and you mean to do good but you are on a hiding to nothing if you think this kind of approach is going to work on a campus in Ireland.

The way that Christian Unions generally work is by inviting speakers to the campus and by inviting speakers to come along. Arranging Bible studies for people who are interested on the campus to come along to and by organising debates and such throughout the year so that people can probe into the major claims about Christianity. They also serve as bridges between Christians and non-Christians on campus.

So they aren't generally about preaching in the open air at universities, but they do provide a means for students who are interested to come along and hear about the Gospel in a friendly environment.

snafuk35

philologos wrote: »

The way that Christian Unions generally work is by inviting speakers to the campus and by inviting speakers to come along. Arranging Bible studies for people who are interested on the campus to come along to and by organising debates and such throughout the year so that people can probe into the major claims about Christianity. They also serve as bridges between Christians and non-Christians on campus.

So they aren't generally about preaching in the open air at universities, but they do provide a means for students who are interested to come along and hear about the Gospel in a friendly environment.

Okay. Okay. But the type of preaching in the video is likely to end up in a brawl. You'll just a have bunch of retards in your face screaming at you and probably get thumped or have something thrown over you or get mooned or something.

Monty.

philologos wrote: »

The way that Christian Unions generally work is by inviting speakers to the campus and by inviting speakers to come along. Arranging Bible studies for people who are interested on the campus to come along to and by organising debates and such throughout the year so that people can probe into the major claims about Christianity. They also serve as bridges between Christians and non-Christians on campus.

So they aren't generally about preaching in the open air at universities, but they do provide a means for students who are interested to come along and hear about the Gospel in a friendly environment.

How are Catholics regarded in these Christian Unions ?

Manach

Monty. wrote: »

How are Catholics regarded in these Christian Unions ?

From my own experience, quite politely. I did insist on using my own Bible, but I found the weekly bible readings interesting.

Fanny Cradock

Monty. wrote: »

How are Catholics regarded in these Christian Unions ?

Like anyone else, I'd imagine.

Overature

There is alot of work being done by Christian Unions and other christian groups in colleges around Ireland at the moment, they are and should be all inclusive to everybody regardless of your denomination or belief, please please dont use this approach shown in the video as i feel it would only have negetive effects for the work that the CUs are doing. thanks

homer911

http://www.agape.ie/ Part of the International Group: Campus Crusade for Christ http://www.ccci.org/. Currently changing their international name to CRU

Theres also IFES: http://www.ifesireland.org/index.php
..with links to various Christian Unions: http://www.ifesireland.org/list-profiles.php?c=4

keano_afc

Foxhound38 wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPbvDiRSzlAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPbvDiRSzlA

In this video, a group calling itself Cheap Missions Trips came to Vanderbilt University, Tennessee to preach the word of the Lord to students who, from the video where clearly revelling in their sin on the date of a big football game.

With Irish Universities starting up again after the summer, and similar revelry set to take place over the coming days and weeks, would it be advisable for Irish christians to reach out to the lost in a similar way on their campuses?

It already happens. A good freind of mine did a year internship with Irish Church Missions and he spent the time witnessing to students in Trinnity and UCD. He says it was an extremely beneficial year all round.

snafuk35

keano_afc wrote: »

It already happens. A good freind of mine did a year internship with Irish Church Missions and he spent the time witnessing to students in Trinnity and UCD. He says it was an extremely beneficial year all round.

Did he convert anybody?
It's all very nice and beneficial witnessing but what good is it if you don't actually persuade anybody to come back to the light?

Overature

snafuk35 wrote: »

Did he convert anybody?
It's all very nice and beneficial witnessing but what good is it if you don't actually persuade anybody to come back to the light?

its not just about converting people mate, yes it would if people came to know jesus, i think thats a very black and white view to have

snafuk35

Overature wrote: »

its not just about converting people mate, yes it would if people came to know jesus, i think thats a very black and white view to have

So it's an ego trip then or what? You feel great because people threw it back in your face?

Fanny Cradock

snafuk35 wrote: »

So it's an ego trip then or what? You feel great because people threw it back in your face?

It would be great if you didn't beg the question.

Not everyone who comes to know Jesus does so immediately. A seed might be planted only for years to pass before it germinates.

It also occurs to me that when the like of Jesus and Paul - and no doubt others in the NT - spoke sometimes their words fell on deaf ears. Indeed, Paul was often on the wrong end of a be hiding (assuming there is ever a right end to be on) because people didn't like what he had to say - which is ironic considering his Christian bashing past. (Makes me think God was having a bit of a joke as well as doing the serious stuff.) He still said it though.

If the Gospel is offered as truth it's up to the recipient to decide if it's worth considering the claims it makes or not.

Overature

snafuk35 wrote: »

So it's an ego trip then or what? You feel great because people threw it back in your face?

no i dont, its about living like jesus lived and acted so that hopefully some people will see his love through you, just because they dont become a christian doesn't mean it wasn't worth doing in the first place.

we never know how far we can impact people with our actions, if the very lease i can do is make some see christianity in a new light then i will do it,

i can show them the door but its up to them to walk through it

Foxhound38

snafuk35 wrote: »

So it's an ego trip then or what? You feel great because people threw it back in your face?

People need to come to the realization of christ on their own, that is why God gave us free will - all you can do is show them the path, and warn them about the dangers of continuing down the one they currently travel. I greatly fear for the lost amongst our young - they know not what they do