The Holy Spirit uses the words of all Christ's followers to bring conviction to people's hearts. Those who tell other Christians not to talk about their faith and their beliefs are working hand in glove with God's enemy. Clearly God's word doesn't call on us to be silent.

I suppose that you are right. But it would be nice if some were more silent than others. Then perhaps the Holy Spirit could be heard.

Those who spend their time sitting in criticism of another's efforts to share the Word do not share in the efforts of the body of Christ.

"...and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice." Philippians 1:15-18 NKJV
Blessings!

Every command given by God reveals His love. The fact that many see no love in all of His pronouncements reveals a lack of the knowledge of God. And it's true, you can't give what you don't have. If all they have is music to offer and they wish to offer it in the name of Jesus, it would be good to do the best they can for Him.
I would just caution that it would be good not to set up a golden calf while playing the music.
Blessings!

God blesses action. As long as we are moving ahead with the gospel commission in a sincere and prayerful effort to be reaching out to those who will respond, there will be results. When we don't make an effort for fear of rubbing someone the wrong way, that's when it becomes time for the rocks to cry out.

When I was in academy, I remember the academy church had an evangelistic series. We students universally agreed that it was a terrible presentation. The preacher had a hillbilly accent and approach; he was too dogmatic and a bit corny. He dressed and combed his hair like someone out of the 1950s. We thought the whole thing would be a failure. But many people came out from the community, and many made decisions for Christ. We were all astounded.

A few years ago a book was published by one of our presses - I forget the title - but I think it was something like The Man Who Couldn't Die. It was an inspiring book, but what struck me the most was his whole approach to outreach was to ask people if they knew the ten commandments, and if they knew about the Sabbath. He had amazing results from his efforts.

Our pastor's family in Missouri became believers when an SDA came to their door and gave his opening spiel: "Do you know about the Mark of the Beast?" They invited him in, and he told them his belief about the Mark of the Beast being Sunday keeping. Can you imagine such an approach working? It is hard to imagine, but in this instance it did.

I learned from that. I learned that we need many approaches to meet the needs and heartstrings of different people. Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks, you know. Neil is allergic to violin music, but others love it. Others are allergic to contemporary music, but they love the old hymns (I know several in my generation who left the church years ago, and when they come back to visit, they want to hear the old familiar hymns). Some are reached by messages of God's love and forgiveness. Some are reached by proof of prophecy being fulfilled. Some are reached by logic. Some are reached by calls to change their lives. Let's embrace and support all efforts, even when our own approach would be entirely different.

Ok, I can live with this principle being expressed.

Now, limit your tools to radio. And, being a church, you want to reach the most people in the most positive way posible. You have to understand, the people that you are reaching out to, DO NOT SHARE YOUR VALUES. Some are christian, many may not be. What is the best mannor, style, or way to reach them?

What do most of these people like that radio can provide?

Once you answer that question, that is going to be YOUR mannor in reaching them.

If they like rock and roll, provide contemporary christian music. If they like country music, you provide contemporary country christian music. This is how you reach the majority of your listening audience. Hopefully, the radio will help them to grow in the grace that Christ provides to people everyday.

What I don't want this radio to do, is to supply something for Adventist culture, all in the name of "evangelism".

I agree that what you are criticizing is the programs that focus more toward inreach and not so much toward outreach. 3ABN has a huge SDA stay-at-home audience, so they are filling a need that may not necessarily be evangelism, but nevertheless has a purpose, and from some of the comments here, has also fulfilled an evangelistic niche even when we don't see the format as fitting our personal style. Maybe what we need is simultaneous programming for the various generations and cultures.

The searching heart will find truth and salvation no matter what the trappings.

That's why I made a sarcastic comment to Neil that instead of complaining he should start his own station. But if you look at all the Adventist outreach TV or Radio stations they have all do the exact or basicly the same thing. And they can't help that even though they are trying to reach non SDA's they are attracting more SDA's. Than he mention's about baptism's in are church's, where are they coming from? Well other than the young in our church, who are having there own evangelistic meeting's, almost every new member in our church have come in through the outreach of 3abn, IIW, VOP, etc. And that includes SDAs that have left the church and are now coming back because of 3abn etc. So I would say that they (all the different media outlets) are doing what people are looking for just like you are saying. All people are reach in different ways. You when I was a teen, youth, young adult all the evangelistic meetings I ever went to had at least 70% of the church members attending. Even the meetings that Mark Finley is having right now I bet you that most attending are church members. I've always felt that any kind of outreach was for member and nonmember alike. I guess I should stop now.

pk

I felt for years that my attendance at evangelistic meetings, especially when I was in my pre-teens and teens, helped a great deal in strengthening my own knowledge and faith in Christ. I'm very glad my parents didn't keep me at home by making the excuse that I had school the next day.

Now that's the type of preach'n I like. Let's not beat up on the ear because it doesn't see the same way the eye does. What's important is whether we're striving to extol the virtues of the Head.

"...but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called." 1 Corinthians 1:24-26 NKJV

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5 KJV
Blessings!