SOS Monthly Newsletter - February 2004

Persecuted by Christians?

Dear Christian friends,

On Friday December 19, we had planned to witness at Union Square in San Francisco. Because of the rain, we set up a block away, outside a convenience store with a large canopy. The convenience store had no problem with us being there, but a clerk at a nearby store told us he didn’t want us to be there. We tried to work out an accommodation with him, but he insisted that we leave the area. When we didn’t, he immediately called the police.

About ten minutes later, two officers arrived. They told me we could not use our amplifier because of the complaint. They threatened to arrest us and confiscate our equipment unless we left. Fortunately, as I was talking to the officers, the store clerk closed his shop so the police allowed us to stay

Both officers claimed to be Christians. One officer told me the church he attended, which I believe is an evangelical church. He said he sends his children to a Christian school. He said he believed that a Christian should immediately cease from doing anything that offends anyone, including preaching the gospel.

I do not know if these officers were really saved. If they were, they were willing to arrest other Christians whose only “crime” was preaching the gospel, simply because one person complained about their preaching. One morning a Christian brother could stand next to me in church, worshipping Jesus with me. That night, he could throw me in jail for preaching the gospel. What an astonishing thought! In a way, I am not surprised. A false teaching is prevalent in the church. Many Christians believe that, if the gospel is preached, it must be done in a way that offends nobody. This is clearly unscriptural.

Jesus said, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: `No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” John 15:18-20. Many people were offended by Jesus’ words, and they insisted that He be crucified.

The apostles were likewise persecuted for preaching the gospel. When the high priest said, “Did we not command you not to teach in this name?” Peter and the other apostles answered, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:28-29). I could go on with countless scriptures to prove this point. It is amazing that anyone who had read the New Testament could come to any other conclusion. God has called His people to preach the gospel and has promised that some would be offended by their preaching and would persecute them. Yet many Christians do not believe this. Christians in the U.S. have invented a new, comfortable “gospel.” We can serve God without any persecution. We can preach our “gospel” without offending anyone.

I realize that some offense is unnecessary. We need to preach the gospel in a gentle, tactful, loving way – without compromising our message. But preaching the gospel involves not just talking about God’s love and mercy. We must also mention God’s holiness and the judgment to come. We must tell people that Jesus is the only way to God. These things will upset some people, but they are an essential part of the gospel message.

Reaching Your Classmates

I have never attended a reunion for my high school or college classes. Last year, however, I got an invitation to a lunch with others from my college graduating class who lived in the Bay Area. I decided to attend. Everyone asked what I was doing, so I had a chance to share my testimony with them. The class secretary asked me to write down my testimony, and he included it in the Yale Alumni Magazine. This magazine is read by tens of thousands of people, including many of our nation’s leaders.

Here is what I wrote:

“Larry, who was born Jewish, is now a Christian evangelist on the streets of San Francisco. Like many others, he did his share of drugs in college and afterward, ending up in a commune in the Haight-Ashbury. That all changed in 1970, when he met a group of 'Jesus People.'

“`I saw in them the love and sense of purpose that seemed absent from hippie communes,’ he says. `I resisted their attempts to persuade me to become a Christian because I am Jewish. But as I studied the matter, I became convinced that Jesus is the Messiah and committed my life to Him.’

“`In 1977, I began organizing Christian concerts in San Francisco parks. Since then, we have helped many drug addicts get free from their addictions and many homeless people get off the streets. While I was at Yale, I never could have imagined that I would become a Christian minister. Now I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.'”

On the Streets

Rain had been forecast for December 5 and 6. On Friday Dec. 5, we went to Powell and Geary St., on the corner of Union Square. Thousands of people passed by this corner as we preached, played Christmas music, and gave out tracts. Many of these people only come to San Francisco at Christmas time. I prayed with Mike, a heroin addict who wanted Jesus to help him get free of this habit. It didn’t rain that night. On Saturday Dec. 6, we witnessed in Berkeley. We played recorded Christmas music, preached, and gave out hundreds of tracts. About 15 minutes before we ended, it began to rain. We had set up canopies, which protected our sound system. As soon as we got home, it started raining very hard.

In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, a worship group called “Forever Grateful” used to minister with us almost every week. On December 20, several members of the group came together with their children to minister with us in San Francisco. They sang Christmas carols and other worship songs. Also, a group from Christ the Rock Fellowship in Redding brought food to give out on the streets.

We ministered at Powell and Market during our permit time, from noon to 1 PM. At that time, it was raining pretty hard so we moved to 939 Market St., a nearby storefront with a canopy. We continued to minister through music and preaching, giving out food, and praying with people all afternoon. Our last outreach of 2003 came to a dramatic end. As we drove down Market St. on our way home, San Francisco suddenly went dark. A major power outage shut off electricity to half the city.

	Eric Baxter preaches at Union Square. He just moved into our house.
	“Forever Grateful” sings Christmas carols while Christ the Rock gives out food at Powell St.
	Ministering in the rain on Market St.
	Christ the Rock youth pray with a man at Powell St
	Lights go out in San Francisco

Coming Events

Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 531-5325 or 541-9903 (cell phone) to confirm outreaches or for more information.

Friday February 13, 20, 27, March 12, 19, 26 7:30-10 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods. (Call for location).

Sat. February 21, March 20 12:30-4:30 PM Berkeley Outreach. Telegraph & Haste St.

Sat. February 14, 28, March 13, 27 12-4 PM San Francisco Outreach. (Call for location).

Ministry News and Needs

Again, I want to thank you for your prayers and financial support of this ministry. We have set the dates for next summer's SOS-San Francisco (Year 25!): June 18-26. Please set aside these dates to attend this important outreach. Please pray that we will have more workers to help us on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Also, we need someone who can make some self-standing signs or who can design frames to hold our banners and signs.

Judge Chesney has still not ruled on our lawsuit. Please continue to pray that she will issue a favorable ruling. A legal victory would keep us from being arrested simply because someone complained about our preaching.

Our Tape of the Month is Passionate Evangelism by Lloyd Ziegler. Lloyd is Director of the Master’s Commission, Phoenix, an intense discipleship program for youth.

Yours in His love,

Larry Rosenbaum