Chick Tracts

Hey guys,

Just wanted to know your opinions on Chick tracts and if you use them. Also, if you have a testimony on how a Chick tract was instrumental in leading to a conversion, I'd love to hear about it.

God bless, Paul

Hi there!

May I ask what a 'chick tract' is?

God bless,
Jonathan

Hi Jonathan,

Sure! They're comic book tracts. They're small little booklets with titles like "This Was Your Life" or "The Death-Cookie" and always end with a mention of the lake of fire. Jack Chick draws them, they've been around for a long time. Perhaps you've seen one?

God bless, Paul

[url=www.chick.com]www.chick.com[/url]

[url=http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0001/0001_01.asp?wpc=0001_01.asp&wpp=a]This was your life[/url]

I personally don't think much of Chick tracts and don't use them. I'm sure there are some good ones but most of the ones I've seen are a bit unscriptural and don't really present the Gospel very well, which is probably because of Jack Chicks personal beliefs. There also a bit over-priced in my opinion. I stick with "Living Waters" tracts and when I'm too broke I use "Fellowship Tract League" tracts which are "free" but if you reimburse them the cost to make and ship them it comes out to 1,ooo tracts for $7.

Yeah, they cost like 15 cents per. Ordering 200 comes out to 35 bucks with shipping. That's kind of pricey, if you ask me. How much are the "Living Water" tracts?

I've used some free tracts from the Fellowship Tract League, but I don't really give them out anymore. They're pretty much all the same, as far as I can tell. The gospel message in them seems so cliche: "God loves you, has a plan for your life and sent Jesus to die for your sins. Accept Him now by saying a prayer like this - "Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. Forgive me. I accept you into my heart, etc..."

A little too Billy Grahamish for me (not that I don't love Billy Graham!). Can anyone recommend a tract that the likes of a Leonard Ravenhill or John Wesley would give out? Thanks to all!

Paul

The living waters tracts are 5 to 7 cents per tract.

There are some of the Chick tracts that are good. I like 'It's The Law' probably the most. I just read through them online before ordering.

You can actually find Wesley's tracts online and just transcribe them.

I like Living Waters the best, though.

I liked the chick tracts as well as many other types of tracts, mainly because it was easier to stop people by giving them something. Then of course I could share Jesus with them. But the cost of tracts did become pretty expensive, so a dear departed brother in the Lord started printing out his own tracts, several of which eventually made thier way into the bible tract society tracts. As to testamonies? I personally know of none, sorry.

Yes,

One of the cool things about Chick tracts is that they're fun to give out. It's easy to hand one to a check-out person or someone you just happen to be chatting with. At first glance, they don't look like religious literature. This, in my opinion, is very, very good. Before I became a Christian, I disdained anyone handing me religious propaganda. But I remember, years ago, finding "This Was Your Life" and thumbing through it. It was different than all the rest of the boring salespitches for Christianity. I guess what struck me most was the dead guy in the casket hearing, "ARISE!" and coming up from the dead to meet God for the final judgment. I've never forgot that.

Yeah, like I said, they are costly at $.15 a peice, but perhaps certain ones are worth the price...knowing they'll actually get read and passed around. A local church here hands them out for Halloween along with some candy, and the kids love them. I think you need to pick and choose the right ones, because some of the tracts are...a bit wonky. But I know "This Was Your Life" is strong and clear, and I can't find anything to disagree with, theologically.

Check out the [url=http://www.livingwaters.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=gospeltracts]Living Waters Website[/url].

A coupe of stand outs [url=http://www.livingwaters.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=298]Million Dollar Note[/url] US$5.00 for 100.
[url=http://www.livingwaters.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=231]Atheist Test[/url] US$12 for 100.

But my personal favourite is the [url=http://www.livingwaters.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=247]Smart Card[/url] at US$8 for 100.

Personally, I find that freight lets me down when I order them over here, in Australia. It's a good idea to co-ordinate ordering with friends, and if possible, buy in bulk.

I have a funny story about "$1mill notes". The first time I went out Open Air, there were a bunch of kids heckling, who weren't engaging with the preacher, but just being a nuisence. I approached them with a "$1mill note", to distract them so the preaching could continue. One asked if it was real, to which I replied, "Of course not. It's a gospel tract."

They were about to leave, and I asked how long it would take for someone to pick one up if I put one on the ground (If you fold an Australian "$1mill note" right, it looks like a $100 note). They thought it sounded like fun, and I bought their attention for 15 minutes while I took them through the Law.

The funniest thing was the cheer that went up as some guy picked it up, thinking it was his lucky day. Who says witnessing is boring. :-)

Ha! Very cool story!

I know that just recently there was a whole fiasco here in the States over Living Water's 'Million Dollar' tract when some guy tried deposit one in his bank account! The Secret Service stepped in and seized thousands of them from Ray Comfort's ministry (I think they were actually raided). Apparently, they look legit enough to fool a bank teller. This confuses me! A Million dollar bill? I didn't know we had any of those circulating around. Especially with the Ten Commandments written on them.

Go figure.

PaulWest wrote:
Apparently, they look legit enough to fool a bank teller. This confuses me! A Million dollar bill? I didn't know we had any of those circulating around. Especially with the Ten Commandments written on them.

Funny you say that, over hear a guy used one in a bottle shop. He dropped it on the counter and cried out, "Keep the change." as he ran out. Apparently he got away with it too.:sad:

Bless you brother Paul, great to see you here on Sermon Index.

As well there are some good tracts here: One Million Tracts http://store.prostores.com/onemilliontracts/index.html

Thanks for the link, brother Ricky! I'll check it out; looks like they have some good tracts.

Funny you say that, over hear a guy used one in a bottle shop. He dropped it on the counter and cried out, "Keep the change." as he ran out. Apparently he got away with it too.:sad:

That happened in the suburb I live in.

Willo wrote:
That happened in the suburb I live in.

I was going to leave you out of it Willo. John told me all about it ;-).

a guy used one in a bottle shop

Pardon my ignorance, being from the States and all, but what is a "bottle shop"? A bar?

PaulWest wrote:

a guy used one in a bottle shop

Pardon my ignorance, being from the States and all, but what is a "bottle shop"? A bar?

A bottle shop is a place where people go to buy cartons of grog etc.

What's a 'grog'? :-)

"Smokes" Cigarettes?

Interesting getting the cultural differences here.
Generaly a "bottle shop" is a liquor store from my recollection on this side of the world ...

Ever since I read up on Jack Chick himself, I cannot use his tracts. I have found some of the points he makes to be very convicting and Biblical, but there are too many wacky things mixed in (such as accusing the Vatican of storing the names of all Protestants in a large computer so they can one day kill them all.)

If you like the comic book style, then try this one out (it's one of my personal favorites, and at only $7.00 for 100, it's quite a deal):

http://www.livingwaters.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=269

but there are too many wacky things mixed in (such as accusing the Vatican of storing the names of all Protestants in a large computer so they can one day kill them all.)

Yeah, I know he's a bit of a conspiracy-theorist. That's unfortunate. I always think it's sad when men of God get sidetracked from the simplicity of "Christ and Him crucified" and go off on tangents such as blasting one particular religion or cult. Certainly we should preach against them and warn of false gods and idols, but let's not go overboard and get obsessed with theories. I think we should stick to preaching repentance unto salvation and let the chips fall as they may. I can't imagine Paul going on an anti-Jupiter or Zeus campaign where he's spreading all kinds of paranoidal propaganda about certain Greek shrines and temples.

I don't know about Australia, the US or Canada, but here in England 'grog' is a mixture of alcohol and water. Isn't it funny how we can jump from one subject to the other? First we were talking about Chick Tracts, next we are talking about grog!

What's a 'grog'?

Booze - Beer etc.

Ah, so a 'bottle shop' is a bar. Interesting. Some guy used a Ray Comfort tract to pay his beer tab! Well, at least the bartender got a chance to read the gospel! What an awesome testimony if the tract actually led to his conversion...

Nope a bottle shop is not a bar. Its just a shop that sells bottled booze in cartons etc.

Its just a shop that sells bottled booze in cartons etc.

Okay, this is getting pretty ridiculous.

Is "bottle shop" Austrailian for "liquour store?"

If it's not, I give up.

PaulWest wrote:
Okay, this is getting pretty ridiculous.

Is "bottle shop" Austrailian for "liquour store?"

If it's not, I give up.

I'd say, "Give that man a cigar!!!" but it's bad enough that we're dicussing liquor, in this light. ;-)

Paul,
You requested a testimony of someone who was influenced postively by a chick tract. Here is one testimony you may find interesting:
http://www.lifechangingseminars.com/Testimony.htm

This is the testimony of Rick Grubbs. He and his family were at our church Sunday night and we were blessed with his message of "Redeeming the Time."

ginnyrose

ginnyrose wrote:
Paul,
You requested a testimony of someone who was influenced postively by a chick tract. Here is one testimony you may find interesting:
http://www.lifechangingseminars.com/Testimony.htm

ginnyrose

I could show you the testimonies of people who's lives were changed "positively" by mormonism, Catholicism, etc. Doesn't mean it's right...

I ordered a sampler box of Chick Tracks a while ago. It came with one of every tract they make. In the end, I might have found two or three (don't remember how many were in the box, but there were quite a few) that I would actually presented a biblical Gospel.

Chick tracts use "cartoon" styling to attract readers. They have a story line, and are generally very inviting. Nine times out of ten, however, the story evolves into a version of the Gospel saying "come to Jesus so you won't burn in Hell," or "Life's better with Jesus."

I myself like the Living Waters tracts. They are accurate, easy to use, and they clearly present a sinner with their sin, followed by the Gospel.

There are many innoculated believers out there, won with a false Gospel of humanism, or half-truths. I believe Chick tracts use these same tools in their attempt to "win souls". But a soul half won isn't won at all, and a believer who only comes to church to avoid having their skin singed, or so that they'll be happier in life isn't a believer at all.

I should say, however, that those two or three good tracts could be great witnessing tools. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God..." Even though I have doubts about the company that makes the tracts, there could still be some use in the good ones.

Frog,

Seems to me it would be to your credit to have read the link I posted before replying to my comment!

Here is a quote from the testimony that comes from this site:

"Spiritual Journey Begins

"I don't recall having much of a serious thought at all about God until one day when I was about 12. I was selling magazines for my Jr. High when I knocked on a lady's door who gave me a tract called "This was Your Life". It told the story of a man who died and went to hell. As I read it, the thought struck me that I too would die some day. I began to think on the fact that I must spend forever somewhere. I didn't get saved that day, but something definitely changed in my life. A sense of the fear of God came over me. Conviction of my sin had begun in a way that from that point on I could not completely escape." End of quote. (BTW: I know this was a Chick tract because he showed it to us Sunday night and the website has a link to the tract that got him thinking.)

Remember the original question was "has anyone benefited from any chick tracts?"

Now if any wish to discuss Chick Publications, I am certain you will find a lot to discuss with a lot of different opnions. Personally, I have been turned off by his rant against Catholics, etc. Until that is when my (now deceased) uncle related an incident which confirmed a small aspect of his rant. On the other hand a former Catholic gave me a box of Chick samples and they just sit here...unread.

ginnyrose

ginnyrose,

When I was eight or nine, I found a copy of "This Was Your Life." I remember the dead guy in the casket, the preacher standing above him pontificating, "He was a GOOD man..." and then the Lord's voice saying, "ARISE!" That picture has never, never left me. I didn't get saved, either. In fact, I lived the next 20 years of my life in vile sin. But I never forgot that tract.

I don't agree with all Chick tracts. Like you, I wish he'd lay off all the Catholic rhetoric and just stick to Christ crucified. Mind you, I despise the RCC system as much as I despise the Watchtower and Church of Latter Day Saints, but I see no need to concoct conspiracy theories and single out any one of them. They're all modern false temples, as far as I'm concerned.

Jack Chick has some good tracts, I think. "This Was Your Life" is something you never forget. "It's the Law" is supposed to be real good, too. If I have a grievance, I suppose it's that the tracts are too expensive to buy in bulk regularly. Thanks for that testimony! It confirms what I have expected; that other people have been impacted by that particular tract too!

Brother Paul

Bro. Paul,

My thoughts exactly. You explained it well.

The problem I have in using ANY tracts is what if the reader would contact the publisher, get more lit from him and some are, well, off the wall and then cause this person to stumble? This is my concern when I share lit with anyone. One needs to get lit from a publisher who is consistent all the way in ALL his lit.

Some years ago I ordered tracts for our Crises Pregnancy Center. I had read some and they were good. Since these were good, I order a some others. Before I put them out, I started reading them and was I horrified! It reeked of Calvinism at its worst! I gave it to the director to proofread, warning her that I think even a Baptist (she was one) will find it objectionable. She did and they were thrown away. But we still kept the good ones. :-?

It is sad when one can produce excellent lit but then have one or two which are so bad.

ginnyrose

The problem I have in using ANY tracts is what if the reader would contact the publisher, get more lit from him and some are, well, off the wall and then cause this person to stumble?

Sister, you've brought up an excellent point...and one I've never even thought of. I've never thought about a person checking out the tract publisher's credentials. It makes perfect sense! How careful we need to be when giving out gospel literature! Just imagine someone reading a tract, coming under conviction - and then seeking out the publisher for spiritual advice. They all have their contact information on them. Never mind that the tract was well-written; what will they find when they log-on to that website? What type of articles will they find? What kind of theology is being proported? Oh, sister, a most excellent, wise point.

This makes me think twice about giving out Chick tracts. I know they work...but I'm not exactly eager to endorse all that other stuff. All the Catholic ravings. The paranoia.

This is why I'm sticking to Living Waters. I don't think there's anything on that website I'm ashamed of representing. You can't really go wrong with Ray Comfort!

Thanks again!

Brother Paul

ginnyrose wrote:
Now if any wish to discuss Chick Publications, I am certain you will find a lot to discuss with a lot of different opnions. Personally, I have been turned off by his rant against Catholics, etc. Until that is when my (now deceased) uncle related an incident which confirmed a small aspect of his rant. On the other hand a former Catholic gave me a box of Chick samples and they just sit here...unread.

Umm, I was talking about Chick Tracts, and I don't mean to single you out by quoting you, but often times in these threads, the words of one can be a sparking point for another to continue on the general thread's topic.