It’s not just what we say in open-air evangelism that matters, but how we say it. Responding to hostility with gentleness and patience is essential. But what should we do when the hostility becomes so intense that it’s difficult to carry on preaching? David Harding shares his experience from a recent open-air in Cardiff.
Open-airs are rarely boring, but this one really took the biscuit! We set up in our usual spot, which was busier than normal. There were roadworks nearby, a couple of buskers, and two Hare Krishnas not far from us. I started preaching from Romans 6:23. Halfway through, a young man on a small mobility scooter drove up. He had a microphone and speaker, a guitar on his back, and a stool in his hands. He may have been planning to busk before he realised what we were doing.
Instead of busking, however, he decided to drive in circles around our outreach, loudly lambasting us and warning people not to listen because ‘we were wrong’. It was distracting, but I pressed on. I preached about those who oppose the message of Christ, the need for salvation, and how God’s grace can even reach those who have been violently opposed to the gospel.
When I finished, the young man—let’s call him Max* (because he was making full use of his mic!)—continued his rotating rant. After a while, I approached him to engage in conversation, but he wasn’t interested. I called out to him, inviting him to dialogue if he thought he was right, but he just kept circling, shouting, ‘They want to talk to me so you won’t hear me speaking the truth!’
Responding with wisdom
What was the best course of action? It seemed unwise to continue preaching at that moment. Another loud preacher might have escalated the situation into a shouting match. Instead, we paused the preaching and focused on handing out tracts and engaging in one-to-one conversations.
One team member, Tom, started a serious and in-depth conversation with Ben, a tough-looking man. Meanwhile, as Max continued his obnoxious orbit, it was noticeable how many passers-by found him annoying.
While we shouldn’t aim to be performative in our good works, the way we respond to antagonism can leave an impression. Our patient endurance seemed to impact others for good.
However, Ben, still deep in conversation with Tom, grew increasingly irritated with Max’s antics. Eventually, he shouted at Max, threatened him with violence, and used some colourful language. Max responded in kind but retreated to a safer distance, continuing his verbal tirade from afar.
Turning away wrath with a soft answer
To change the dynamic, I suggested another team member, Ethan, begin preaching. Ethan is a quieter, more softly spoken preacher, and in the spirit of Proverbs 15:1, ‘A soft answer turns away wrath’, it seemed like the wiser approach.
Sure enough, Ethan had only been preaching for 10 minutes when we heard Max sigh to a friend, ‘Oh! My battery’s run out!’ He promptly drove away.
Meanwhile, Ben continued his conversation with Tom, which grew deeper and more personal. Ben spoke of his Christian upbringing with a mother who took him to church, though he hadn’t attended for years. He shared how he had been ‘searching’. Tom gently explained the gospel and Ben’s need to respond to Christ.
At the end of their conversation, they shook hands. Ben looked at Tom and said, ‘You might have saved me today!’ Tom was quick to point him to Christ, giving all the glory to God.
There are three key lessons we can take away from David’s experience:
1. Sometimes it’s best to pause the preaching until a tense situation dissipates.
Proverbs 26:4 reminds us, ‘Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.’ Though we may feel tempted to continue out of zeal for the gospel, taking a break until calm returns is not an admission of defeat—it’s often the wisest course of action.
2. Gentleness and grace can often diffuse a difficult situation.
Different preachers have different gifts, and in moments of heightened tension, it may be best for a preacher with a gentler tone to continue. If you know you’ll struggle to respond helpfully, it’s wise to step back. ‘As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God’ (1 Peter 4:10).
3. In the midst of opposition, the Lord is often at work.
While Max was causing disruption, Ben was pouring out his heart to Tom and hearing the gospel. As Psalm 76:10 says, ‘Surely the wrath of man shall praise You…’ God often uses opposition to open unexpected doors for the gospel.
*Names have been changed to protect anonymity