Google “gospel tracts” and you’ll find a plethora of results. Happy tracts, sad tracts, cheesy tracts, goofy tracts, angry tracts, and on and on. We will also find a large number of what we might call gimmick tracts. Some of them look like a trillion dollar bill. Some claim to indicate your mood with a press of the thumb. Still others attempt to trick readers to recite Bible verses. What an incredible display of Christian creativity. However, what is humanly creative is not always evangelistically beneficial.
Many of these gimmick or puzzle tracts work to gain a hearing for the gospel through a kind of Christian slight of hand. The basic premise is that unbelievers, especially those who perceive Christianity as cold and stale, may give the gospel another listen if they can see the gospel as fun and interesting. Granted, the gospel is sort of fun and interesting. There are probably a million better more suitable adjectives, but these two certainly would make the list. But I would argue that introducing the gospel or Christianity in this way – through gospel gimmicks and puzzles – is poor form, necessary, and even unwise.
First, let’s consider a brief reminder of how the God depicts the gospel in Scripture.
In the New Testament, the Gospel:
-is preached by Jesus in the synagogues (Matt 4:23).
-is preached to the poor (Matt 11:5).
-shall be preached in the whole world (Matt 24:14).
-is preached by Jesus in Galilee (Mark 1:14).
-is what Jesus commanded people to “believe” (Mark 1:15).
-is preached to many Samaritan villages (Acts 8:25).
-is what the disciples preached when in danger (Acts 14:4).
-is what Paul was called to preach (Acts 16:10).
-is about the grace of God (Acts 20:24).
-is for what Paul was set aside as an apostle (Romans 1:1).
-is preached to BELIEVERS (Romans 1:15).
-is the power of God for salvation to all who believe (Romans 1:16).
-is about a day when God will “judge the secrets of men” (Romans 2:16).
-is what Paul aspired to teach where Christ was not known (Romans 15:20).
-is “not preached in cleverness” (1 Cor 1:17).
-is what made Paul a father to his followers (1 Cor 4:13).
-is what Christians work hard not to hinder (1 Cor 9:11).
-is what Paul was “compelled” to preach (1 Cor 9:16).
-is what Paul offered “without charge” (1 Cor 9:18).
-is what Paul did all things for the sake of (1 Cor 9:23).
-is veiled from those who are perishing (2 Cor 4:3).
-is the central confession of Christians (2 Cor 9:13).
-is what enemies distorted (Gal 1:6).
-is what the Scripture preached to Abraham (Gal 3:8).
-is the “message of truth” (Eph 1:13).
-is the promise of God (Eph 3:6).
-is for what Paul was an “ambassador in chains” (Eph 6:19).
-is what Christians defend (Phil 1:16).
-is of what Christians are to live worthy (Phil 1:27).
-is the word of truth (Col 1:5).
-is the only hope to be heard of (Col 1:23).
-is what came in power, the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction (1 Thess 1:5).
-is what God entrusted to the Church (1 Thess 2:4).
-is what will result in retribution for those who disobey it (2 Thess 1:8).
-is glorious (2 Tim 1:11).
-is what Paul invited Timothy to suffer for (2 Tim 1:8).
-is through what Jesus brings life and immortality to light (2 Tim 1:10).
-is what Christians preach through the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 1:12).
-is an eternal sermon preached to “those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people” (Rev 14:6).
Whoa! That’s a great way to start your day!
Perhaps, if we could sum up the gospel (and we can’t) we might say with Paul that the gospel is the power of God. When we think of the gospel in this way, starting a gospel conversation by dropping fake money on the sidewalk or telling a riddle suddenly seems out of place. Now, I’m quite sure that these various gimmicks and puzzles are well-intentioned. Most of these approaches to evangelism spring from a desire to help Christians gently and confidently transition from natural conversation to spiritual dialog. But it still seems out of place.
Furthermore, leading off with puzzles does not provide our hearers with a helpful introduction to the riches of God’s grace. Think about your own experiences. What would you think if someone came up to you on the street and said, “Hey! You want to hear a joke” or “What’s black and white and read all over?” Again, what if that person then said, “Good job. You solved the puzzle. Now, I want to offer you something. Will you listen to me for 5 minutes?” You’re probably expecting a sales pitch. Granted, God has saved many many people through gospel presentations that began this way. High praise. Yet, on these important matters, our focus should not be on finding something that “works,” but on wisely determining what will reflect best on the gospel. And here is an important issue on the topic of tracts and evangelism.
In sharing the gospel, shouldn’t we think carefully about how we might give our hearers a crescendo which culminates with the magnificent beauty of the gospel? Isn’t that the way God brought the gospel to us? From creation to the end of the age, God has given us an uplifting chorus of wisdom and truth that culminates in the gospel and eventually the glorious reign of Christ. Creation, fall, Law, prophets, virgin birth, perfect life, sacrificial death, resurrection, restoration of the world…..a constantly growing unveiling of His purposes. What an incredible introduction to the faith He has given us! Marvelous. Astonishing. Silencing. Humbling. Awesome. And in spite of that we have decided to start with fake money and puzzles. I have a hard time imagining that this reflects well on the gospel. Rather than perceiving the gospel as the revelation of God’s righteousness and grace, people are more likely to perceive the gospel as game of logic. There is a better way to introduce our friends to the gospel.
How, then, might we gain the attention of our hearers if it’s not through ice-breakers and gimmicks? We may grow most in evangelism by studying the way God brought His good news to us. God brought us the gospel through the incarnation of His Son. Christ came to us and entered our world. He walked our streets and bore our griefs. He came to love us and know us. Truly, He entered our world. As such, we know from Hebrews that “We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”1 This is how Christ gained our attention and this is how we may gain the attention of our world; to love them and know them, to unpack the riches of the gospel for their lives, to display the transforming power of the good news on the backdrop of their lives. Of course, this cannot be accomplished from a street corner or dropped from an airplane. It requires time and ears and words from God; walking with our neighbors through life and showing the good news to be as good as it really is. Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence, we are free to minister the gospel to the lives of our friends, providing genuine help and hope without gimmicks or riddles. We can break even the ice of evangelism through redeeming love. This too, an implication of our riches in Christ. To learn more about person ministry that is helpful even in evangelism, read about Love-Know-Speak-Do in the book Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands.
Also: For some simple help on starting an evangelistic conversation, look here.
Also, also: Are you looking for a great tract? Try Two Ways to Live. 
