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Ray Comfort

J
Jacob19

Just out of curiousity, does anyone have anything against Ray Comfort? Considering my church (kind of) dislikes him so much. Someone from my church got kicked out for exposing their unbiblical evangelism and now Ray Comfort is outlawed. Please no bashing for the sake of bashing, but if you have legitimate concerns or comments, I really want to hear.

R
roaringlamb

I would say that Brother Ray has a wonderful Biblical way of evangelising. His work has been a tremendous blessing to many on here as well as abroad.
I do not know anything about your church, but I have a hunch it is very similar to the churches that do not like anyone who would preach the Law prior to grace. They all seem to say "oh you are too legalistic", or "enough hellfire and brimstone", or "my god is a god of love, not of wrath". I have heard many of these arguments used not just against Brother Ray, but anyone else who would dare mention judgement for the lost.
Just my two cents, and if I am off base then completely disregard this. ;-)
Blessings to you.
P.S. If you are able, track down that brother or sister and love on them (not to bring them back to that church, but to keep them in the Body). I have seen, and been through being asked to leave a fellowship, and it is one of the most painful things to go through. Pray how GOd could use you to minister to this Brother/Sister

J
Jacob19

Yeah, I personally love Ray. And my friend that got kicked out is fine, he actually has his own bible study and stuff and will probably see this on here. But, it is just funny to me how people act toward Ray and this friend who was kicked out, their names are like bad words. Any association with them and you are booted out. I'll probably be next, so pray that God will show me if he wants me to stick around longer. Thanks,
Jacob

S
sermonindex

Just out of curiousity, does anyone have anything against Ray Comfort?

He has established alot of old lankmarks that have been forgotten in the church in regards to law and grace in evangelism. His technique he has crafted is not for imitation blindly but are crutches and starting off points to be lead by the spirit of God. I know many including myself that have relied on these "techniques" early on, but have progressed and matured onto more.

People have to know they are sinners before they can accept a savior. We need to paint a awful picture of sin and a glorious picture of the holiness of God. Then Christ will be truly a treasure.

S
sermonindex

I know that a lot of people have things against Ray and his methods, but not me. I support WOTM 100%. It's a great ministry and the only reason many today in modern Christianity don't like it, is because it's biblical!

S
sermonindex

Amen Jesse, I too support Way Of The Master 100%. I am eternally greatful to Ray and the rest who are apart of Living Waters ministry. Jesse is right, many people don't like it because its biblical.

Ray has indeed "established alot of old lankmarks that have been forgotten," like Greg said. As I've said, I'm eternally greatful for Ray, that God would raise up a man who would "cry aloud," "spare not," and "lift up," his "voice like a trumpet," and show Gods people their transgressions (Isaiah 58:1).

My thankfulness to God, for Ray cannot be expressed.

I have heard men saying this or that about Ray, but I could care less, we all go wrong in theology somewhere! But for the most part, I've always known Ray to be sincere and true in his dealings with mens souls, he does not trifle with such precious territory.

I think what Greg said should be read again:

"His technique he has crafted is not for imitation blindly but are crutches and starting off points to be lead by the spirit of God...People have to know they are sinners before they can accept a savior. We need to paint a awful picture of sin and a glorious picture of the holiness of God. Then Christ will be truly a treasure."

How will lost men know they are lost unless we tell them there sins? How will men know they have a disease unless we show them the symptoms? Please folks, now is not a time about methods and ways to witness, we must tell men there sins, we must cry aloud.

Please may God give the people reading this a brokeness for lost men and tears, weeping and wailing for them. The times are so urgent, men are dieing and going to hell without God

Paul m.

S
sermonindex

Ray has always inspired me to press out of the comfort zone and further into real christianity.

I've had the pleasure of hearing Ray speak and preach in person as well as talk to him many times. In spite of Ray's use of law that turns many christians off he is still able to get into many churches. I know many churches also will not have him.

Rays use of humor and his resistence to get into Pastoring territory have helped to lower the defenses of some christians and thereby they get a blessing.

Some points that fuel the resistence.

1. Use of the law misunderstood.
Many have heard so much of were not under law but under grace that when they hear it they freak out. Plus many will also say "I didn't come to Christ by the law".

2. The challenge to witness themselves.
Many are so scared of this and don't want to be reninded or feel guilty in anyway for not doing it.

3.Open air preaching.
Even christians who give supportive lip service to the practice can still waffle and be to critical of the open air preacher,ex"that sounds harsh" or "I don't hear the love".
Open air is a big turnoff for most christians so when they see or hear that Ray does that it's another red flag for them.

Lord bless, John

S
sermonindex

I know that a lot of people have things against Ray and his methods, but not me. I support WOTM 100%. It's a great ministry and the only reason many today in modern Christianity don't like it, is because it's biblical!

Amen Jesse. I support his ministry 100%. When i listened to hells best kept secret it changed my life. Before i heard it i just couldn't understand exactly what sin was. This sounds ridiculous to many im sure but im serious because no one had ever taken the time to explain it to me before. I was told 'God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life' and that was it. So i was like ok but why did Jesus have to die exactly? Im opening myself up here so please don't judge but this was the message being preached to me. Now i can say i am soundly saved and have a heart on fire to also reach out to the lost and to those who have only been told half a gospel message.
I have personally met Ray and he is a very humble man who i thank God for. We serve a wonderful and mighty God and i thank Him for people who do step out in obedience regardless of how nervous they may feel.
He has established alot of old lankmarks that have been forgotten in the church in regards to law and grace in evangelism. His technique he has crafted is not for imitation blindly but are crutches and starting off points to be lead by the spirit of God. I know many including myself that have relied on these "techniques" early on, but have progressed and matured onto more.

People have to know they are sinners before they can accept a savior. We need to paint a awful picture of sin and a glorious picture of the holiness of God. Then Christ will be truly a treasure.


Amen Greg!

C
CJaKfOrEsT


thingsabove wrote:
In spite of Ray's use of law that turns many christians off he is still able to get into many churches. I know many churches also will not have him.

Interestingly, Ray is due to be featured on Joyce Meyer's show, and not just once. It would take guts for someone like Ray to go on a show like this, and risk losing his "reputation" amongst the more conservative Christians out there. Reminds me of Jesus who said something to the effect of, "The well have no need of a physician but the sick."


2. The challenge to witness themselves.
Many are so scared of this and don't want to be reninded or feel guilty in anyway for not doing it.

I have noticed that the majority of people that I have come across who object to WOTM's evangelism principles cite the "technique" argument. They argue that their friends will see it coming, and will think that your just trying to "get hem saved". Well, of course. Isn't that the whole idea?

Usually if you scratch these people hard enough, you'll find that the real issue the one raised above. They're too chicken to even try witnessing, not realising that this is Ray's goal in most of his teaching: that we overcome fear and seek and save that which is lost.

I have also noticed that there are many who accuse Ray of claiming that you cannot be a real christian unless you are involved in open air evangelism. This is not the case. His emphasis is to share your faith, period. Having said this, there are few who spend a significant amount of time around Ray's teachings who don't end up on soap-box, or at least witnessing one on one in a team. After all, open air is a contagious thing.


3.Open air preaching.
Even christians who give supportive lip service to the practice can still waffle and be to critical of the open air preacher,ex"that sounds harsh" or "I don't hear the love".
Open air is a big turnoff for most christians so when they see or hear that Ray does that it's another red flag for them.

It's funny you say this, the first person that I told that I was thinking about going out and preaching open air, responded by saying that it doesn't work, and pointed me to the "loonies" who preach in Burke Street Mall (in Melbourne, Australia). Well, the guy has become one of these loonies, preaching every Friday on Burke and Elizabeth Sts, and now is a local leader with the GNN (and, of course, I never miss an opportunity to remind him of this;-)).

B
boomatt

I love Ray Comfort.

I dont seem to get why he and Kirk Cameron are so cozy with TBN, that kind of puts a bad taste in my mouth. I saw him in pictures at a book signing with Kenneth Copeland's wife, and Kirk has hosted the Praise The Lord Program. I just dont seem to get it, we need to be preaching against it, not going on there shows promoting it.

I am confused about them sometimes.

However, I do say, that Ray Comfort is very biblically sound. His ministry has ministered to me and my wife in so many ways, and the Evidence Bible is one of the best study bibles I have.

god bless

M
MSeaman


boomatt wrote:
I love Ray Comfort.

I dont seem to get why he and Kirk Cameron are so cozy with TBN, that kind of puts a bad taste in my mouth. I saw him in pictures at a book signing with Kenneth Copeland's wife, and Kirk has hosted the Praise The Lord Program. I just dont seem to get it, we need to be preaching against it, not going on there shows promoting it.

I am confused about them sometimes.

However, I do say, that Ray Comfort is very biblically sound. His ministry has ministered to me and my wife in so many ways, and the Evidence Bible is one of the best study bibles I have.

god bless

perhaps they are trying to reach deceived people with the True Gospel instead of what most TBN watchers get? :-(

B
BeYeDoers

I dont seem to get why he and Kirk Cameron are so cozy with TBN, that kind of puts a bad taste in my mouth. I saw him in pictures at a book signing with Kenneth Copeland's wife, and Kirk has hosted the Praise The Lord Program. I just dont seem to get it, we need to be preaching against it, not going on there shows promoting it.

I contacted Living Waters about this a while back and Ray himself responded that he is indeed against the prosperity gospel and Word-Faith teachings. They are on TBN to reach the world, as well as the very ministers they appear with on that network.

M
myfirstLove

He has established alot of old lankmarks that have been forgotten in the church in regards to law and grace in evangelism. His technique he has crafted is not for imitation blindly but are crutches and starting off points to be lead by the spirit of God. I know many including myself that have relied on these "techniques" early on, but have progressed and matured onto more.

B
boomatt

I contacted Living Waters about this a while back and Ray himself responded that he is indeed against the prosperity gospel and Word-Faith teachings. They are on TBN to reach the world, as well as the very ministers they appear with on that network.


Praise God!

I still dont get it, I have heard Ray Comfort preach against the prosperity message, but helps bring in money to TBN. When you host programs, you might be reaching the world, but what is he doing that makes Paul Crouch want him on the shows. When you are on those programs, I feel that you are promoting the false(or what appears to be promoting) gospel. However, I still say he is a great evangelist.

Confused!!!

Boomatt

K
KingJimmy

To be short, I love Ray Comfort's ministry. When doing tract-based ministry, I hand out his stuff. Ray Comfort also teaches a lot of very sound principles that he has gleaned from the Scriptures and church history when it comes to doing evangelism.

My main concern about him though is that he almost entirely speaks about sin, and makes the resurrection of Christ almost an "oh-by-the-way" sorta deal. Sometimes he also seems too technique driven, and less Spirit driven.

Nonetheless, I think very highly of his ministry.

S
Santana

I think it was through Ray Comfort that I realized that I was serving God just to be happy. That changed my life. I love to hand out his tracks and he has taught me so much when it comes to witnessing and evangelising.

A gripe I heard a christian mention was, "Isn't he a little arrogant to say that this is the ONLY WAY OF THE MASTER?"

The other thing is that I have seen many christians open air preaching 'mis-using' his tecniques making him look bad. These guys actually had shirts on that said, "Homo's are hellbound" but thats another discussion. =( (very grieving). They went overboard with the militancy.

F
Forevidence

I am having flashbacks. This sounds to familiar... ;-)

C
CJaKfOrEsT


boomatt wrote:
I still dont get it, I have heard Ray Comfort preach against the prosperity message, but helps bring in money to TBN.

Sounds kind of like, "Render unto Caeser what is Caeser's..", after all, whose face is on the "coin"? I don't see any difference in this, and handing out money to sinners when preaching the gospel.

C
CJaKfOrEsT


KingJimmy wrote:
My main concern about him though is that he almost entirely speaks about sin, and makes the resurrection of Christ almost an "oh-by-the-way" sorta deal. Sometimes he also seems too technique driven, and less Spirit driven.

I think it was Greg who raised the point that Ray's "techniques" are more of a crutch to lean on while starting out, than a "be-all-and-end-all" technique. The point is, break the proud heart before ministering grace. When you watch Way of the Master, you may notice that Ray often strays away from his technique, while following the principle behind it.

Regarding the "sin/rssurection" ratio, the illustration has been made that a doctor who spends much time eplaining the graveness of the ailment, will need only point to the cure to have it deeply appreciated. So much of his teaching is on sin, purely because there are so many different expressions of it, however thier is only one Ressurection of Christ. I don't know if you've checked out any of the WOTM traning materials, but they go more into presenting Christ to the broken hearted sinner. The point is, don't cast the "pearl" of the gospel, to a "swine heared" sinner.

H
hmmhmm

say what you want about ray comfort or his "methods", i know this. if every professing christian would do what ray does... it wouldent take very long for all of the world to hear the gospel, we should all pray we also get a burden for the lost... and "the" evidence you do have a burden..is you do something about it...

christian

B
boomatt

say what you want about ray comfort or his "methods", i know this. if every professing christian would do what ray does... it wouldent take very long for all of the world to hear the gospel, we should all pray we also get a burden for the lost... and "the" evidence you do have a burden..is you do something about it...


I dont have a problem with his methods, I have learned so much through his ministry.

I would like you to respond to My question about his and Kirk's appearances on TBN, I simply cant let that go.

H
hmmhmm

hmm i dont know...i have never seen tbn... but maybe they reach many people...and they see it as a chance reach many people whit the gospel...

i dont know if thats right or not.... but i think it would be nice to se someone like paul washer be a guest at example benny hinns show and let him preach a sermon there... reach all those people that are decived... whit some "real" preaching

B
boomatt

The problem with going on Benny Hinn's show is that people think that you are associated with him. They say, since Kirk can go on that program and preach, they must be alright.


Its very deceiving, not intentionally, but this can lead people astray.

We need to be responsible for who we hang out with.

B
BeYeDoers

I agree we need to be responsible for who we "hang out" with. But being on a certain tv station does not mean that Ray "hangs out" with those people. I think God is more concerned with the real gospel being preached than what ministry is getting money. I go to a secular school, which brings money in to help fund all the filth that college teaches. I sat through a Eastern Religion class. Does that mean I endorse Eastern Religion? Of course not. Here are Ray's own words about his time on TBN:

"Thanks for your concern.
There are many who were once into the health/wealth/self gospel whom God
has awaked and wonderfully transformed through our teaching, and they
are now zealous soul-winners. They are the ones (and there are millions)
we are trying to reach. Imagine what would happen if these millions
suddenly began to witness biblically.
There is incredible evangelistic potential, so please pray for us (Luke
10:2).
God bless, Ray"

I might also note that WOTM appears on over 15 networks worldwide, not just TBN. It's about getting the true gospel to as many people as possible.

B
boomatt

I might also note that WOTM appears on over 15 networks worldwide, not just TBN. It's about getting the true gospel to as many people as possible.


I have no problem with them being on TV. But it is when the Station they are on, are promoting a false gospel. From the owners on down to the common preacher on TBN, they are all FALSE TEACHERS.


I agree we need to be responsible for who we "hang out" with. But being on a certain tv station does not mean that Ray "hangs out" with those people.

Exactly, Ray has done at least one book signing with Kenneth Copelands wife. Even though his book is biblical, other people are in line getting there book signed by Gloria Copeland, with her junk. I saw pictures of this event, It was one of their Living Waters newsletters, they didnt go there to preach to copeland and the people deceived, but to sign books.

Like I said, I love Ray Comfort and his ministry. I even have the Evidence Bible, which is one of my favortie Study Bibles. His ministry has blessed me in so many ways, but I STILL DONT GET WHY HE DOES THIS. Its a genuine concern, I am not trying to make him into a false teacher, just a little worried about who he hangs around with.

B
BeYeDoers

If there is such a concern, why don't you email or call Ray and Kirk? You're not gonna get anywhere hearing others' opinions on here, especially when it sounds you've already made up your mind that they are in the wrong. Ask them yourself.

B
boomatt

I have actually, NO response

B
BeYeDoers

interesting...keep trying. They are usually pretty good about responding.

J
Jacob19

Forevidence said "I am having flashbacks. This sounds to familiar..."

lol

G
GodsArmy

Hello My Brothers & Sisters

I am brand new to this messageboard and am thankful for finding this. Anyway I wanted to respond to this post. I can answer 100% why it is that TBN is a Big part of Kirk and Ray's Ministry. The majority of the stuff that comes on this channel is a Modern Watered-down message, or some kind of prosperity preaching. It is definately a channel a LOT of false converts watch. With this being the case it is a perfect opportunity to reach out to them, with the True gospel and the hopes is that they will see the errors in their ways and repent. It has just happened to Joyce Meyers herself Praise God. Ray was on her show and met with her. After she watched HBKS she has now repented of her prosperity preaching, and is now focused on the Great Commission. Anyway I just wanted to make it clear that as wonderful as WOTM is for us who are soundly saved, it is equally as wonderful for those who are not. I speak from past experience. God Bless.

In Christ
Jeff Broderick
www.wayofthemasternews.com

B
BeYeDoers

After she watched HBKS she has now repented of her prosperity preaching, and is now focused on the Great Commission

REALLY!?!?! Praise the Lord! Where did you hear this and when did it happen? Has she also repented of her prosperity living? If this is true and she holds fast to the faith, this could have a big trickle down effect in the WOF movement, considering she has been one of the bigger promoters of it.

Praise Him.

W
Wildhorse

His preaching made me doubt my salvation, and made me think along the lines of, "Am I properly saved?" and so I kept praying that I may be saved.

I now realise that I didn't need too, because on my conversion (A year and a bit earlier before hearing Comfort) I was already saved, I had a testimony, I knew I was free from sin.
I have heard stories of his preaching making people doubt their salvation, when they are already clearly saved.

I also find that some of his preaching comes across as being smart alec like to non-Christians, and I don't agree with his methods 100%.

He raises some interesting points however, and I don't avoid talking about law and judgment when need be, but I don't try and scare people by threatening Hell. I am aware that God is holy, and just.

If I was to tell someone here in Australia, "Repent because God will judge you and you will go to hell", I can tell you that I would be told where to stick it. There are better ways of reaching out than I believe he does.


Disagree with me if you must

Michael

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