I didn’t know that the rock band, The Cure, was still around. They are a band from England that started their career in the late 1970s. They decided to hit the U.S. this summer to play a few shows on tour.
One of our mottos here at the ministry is, Let Satan draw them together, and we will witness to them. So, it was time to hit the streets again.
I went down to the event to hand out tracts and strike up conversations with the people in line and on the streets. One guy didn’t take a tract and walked over to the side. I decided to go over and talk with him, but he said, “If you don’t stop talking to me, I am going to break your arm!” I responded, “You need Jesus.” As I started to walk away, he said, “I am an ordained Baptist minister!!” So, I responded, “You need to turn that certificate back in. This business is way too serious.”
Tossed Aside
Remember, when handing out tracts, never worry if some of them wind up on the ground. I saw too many people slip them into their pockets or purses. I saw others who read the tracts before they tossed or set them down. Seeds planted! I usually go and pick those up and reuse them anyway.
I had a few people come up to me and encourage me for handing out tracts and talking to folks. One thing I have found through the years, though, is that no one steps in to help you! They rarely say, “Give me some of those and let me help you hand them out.” I think someone has offered to help maybe once in all my years of witnessing.
One father in line told me that he and his son were saved. His son was college-aged. I asked them, “What inside there is going to glorify the Lord?” The dad responded, “We just like music.” I let them know that is correct: Our flesh likes music, but nothing in that pagan concert was going to glorify the Lord. Of course, wouldn’t a better evening be a father taking his son out and showing him how to witness?
Will Your Light Shine?
I had one couple walk back to me and tell me that they really liked what I was doing. As we talked, they let me know they were born-again and went to a Calvary Chapel church. So I used my standard line, “What inside there tonight is going to glorify the Lord?” Then the man kind of sheepishly looked away. He knew nothing would. The lady with him replied, “Talent.” She said it a couple of times. Wait a minute. Talent used by the devil does not glorify the Lord.
She also said they were going to let their light shine. What does that even mean at a pagan rock festival? You will dance a little slower than the other folks? You won’t sway as much as the person next to you? You will hold the door open for someone a little longer than a lost person would? Goodness. Your light isn’t going to shine unless you are sharing Jesus or if they know you are born again. Then, and only then, can they tie your good works to your faith in Christ. But then, of course, they would ask what you were doing at the concert in the first place!
Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Another thing I have learned through the years is that Calvary Chapel folks typically like their secular rock and roll. Why do you think that might be?
All Good
When people don’t want a tract, they typically wave their hand and say, “I’m good.” When they do that, I say, “Are you good enough to go to Heaven?” Typically, people are walking past me at this point. Very refreshingly, many of them at the concert answered, “No, I am not.” Others just mocked that there won’t be a Judgment Day.
Philippians 2:10
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Matthew 7:13
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
The gate is wide, and many people are heading off into Hell. Don’t let them go there.
Living the Past
It was almost like Halloween for some of the older people. A lot of them dressed up in their old punk clothes. Some people wore garish makeup, just like the lead singer wears.
One older man with curly gray hair was wearing black horn-rimmed glasses, black leather pants, and black shoes, almost like he was trying to relive his youth. What a sad way to dress at the end of one’s life. It’s like grabbing one more earthly pleasure before heading off into an eternity of torment.
Regrets in Eternity
Well, The Cure had scheduled back-to-back shows, so I decided to go downtown again for the second night. I ran into more than one person I had met the night before! People have too much money on their hands if they can afford two shows like that.
Most of them were friendly, and many said, “Hello.” I guess that is not a bad thing. One guy told me that he had seen me at a few other events downtown. Hopefully, each of those encounters have him thinking more and more about the brevity of life.
Acts 17:32
And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
Sadly, mocking is just part of standing up for Jesus. It was that way 2,000 years ago, and it is the same today. A few atheists definitely wanted to mock me, but it’s all in a day’s work.
One lady just flipped me the bird as she walked past me and said, “Suck it.” What would make a middle-aged woman behave like that? I let her know that her actions would not bode well on Judgment Day.
Another lady came up to me and said, “I heard you are a piece of ****!” I responded, “I believe my mother has a different opinion of me than you do!” I asked, “Have we met before?” She said, “No.” She mentioned that a lady down the street challenged her to say that as she walked past me. I looked down the street, and there were two atheists laughing their heads off. They had been giving me a hard time. The bald-headed woman atheist said more than a few words that, had I said them, my mom would have washed my mouth out with probably three to four gallons of liquid soap!
Interestingly, the lady who cursed at me took a tract! We had a short, cordial conversation after the rough start!
But as the verse says, some want to hear more. There are people in a crowd like that who are interested in hearing what you have to say.
Lifting Up Your Voice
When the event get closer to show time, more people tend to rush the doors so they don’t miss it. Also, the crowd is a little tipsier or more under the influence of drugs the closer it gets. Many times, at a certain point, they will really stop taking tracts. That’s when I raised my voice, looked at the people, and said, “The Cure, The Cure,” a few times, then paused, and continued, “for sin is Jesus. That is ‘The Cure’ you are looking for.”
Wow. There were some very interesting responses. Some mocked. Some laughed. Some said, “You are right.” But I watched their eyes. Some of their expressions showed that these words registered with them. They knew what I was saying was true. Some even mouthed those exact words. Our job is to plant seeds, and it is the Holy Spirit’s job to make them grow.
Acts 26:28
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
A young man at church who is homeschooled said this is the saddest verse in the Bible. Agrippa almost got saved.
And, of course, “The Cure” for sin is Jesus. It is our job to bring Him to people if we truly care where their souls will spend eternity.
Until the Nets are Full,
P.S. God always brings you encouragement when you are out doing His work. This is a picture of Officer Wade. He came up to me at “The Cure” concert with a big smile on his face. He told me that this picture was from 2015! We got to talking about how his faith is doing and the importance of God’s protection when either of us is out and about doing our jobs. Please say a prayer for him and take the time to get to know some of the policemen in the area where you are witnessing. They can be a great asset in a time of need.
P.P.S.
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