‘Audacity': Speaking the truth in love to homosexuals … and others

Evangelist Ray Comfort produces films showing his interactions with non-Christians on the street. His latest film, Audacity, focuses on his encounters with homosexuals.

For three decades Comfort has pointed out that American evangelicalism is ineffective because it tends to skirt around key aspects of the Gospel, particularly uncomfortable topics like sin, law, judgment, and hell.

His films demonstrate that when those essential aspects of the Gospel are included and communicated well, hearts and lives are truly changed. A half-gospel is no Gospel at all if it leaves people in their sins. Ultimately, Comfort is making this point: you don’t actually love non-believers if you don’t have the audacity to bring up sin and present the Gospel. Love can’t stay silent.

Some of the people Comfort speaks to react very negatively to his approach, saying that he is intolerant, judgmental, or bigoted, but that response is a lot less common than you might expect. Even when there is that kind of negative reaction, it is often diffused as the conversation progresses. He manages to present the complete Gospel in a way that is winsome and attractive, causing people to eagerly, genuinely engage in discussion with him.

In previous films Comfort focused on his interactions with atheists, evolutionists, and pro-choicers. In many cases they walked away acknowledging that they had a better understanding of God, the Bible, and Christianity. In a few cases, they actually became Christians.

How does Comfort pull it off? There are a few strategies he employs. He asks lots of questions and genuinely listens to the answers. He really does care what people think and really does want to hear what they have to say. He allows people to express their views. In the beginning stages of conversation Comfort might ask questions like “Do you believe in God? What do you think about abortion? Do you think homosexuals should be able to marry?”

Comfort also establishes some common ground with people by asking questions about the Ten Commandments. “Do you know what the commandments are? Have you broken any of them? Do you think lying, cheating, theft, murder, and adultery are wrong? Have you ever told a lie?”

It’s actually pretty easy to get people to acknowledge something for which there is inexhaustible empirical data: that we all do bad things sometimes, and we instinctively believe these things are wrong.

By this time Comfort has built enough rapport to direct the discussion toward what the Bible indicates God’s standards are. Again, Comfort isn’t pushy, and uses questions. “Did you know that there’s a verse in the Bible that says X? What do you think about that? How do you know if something is true or not? What if what the Bible says is true?”

Finally, Comfort frankly addresses the danger of eternal judgment in hell, and gives people the good news that Christ’s death and resurrection establishes a way to be reconciled to God. Again he uses questions, “How do you think God judges sin? Do you think you will go to heaven or hell? How would you answer to God for your sins? Do you know what Christ did about your sins?”

Audacity is a timely resource in light of the recent Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage, but also a great resource on Biblical evangelism for any situation.

Comfort is asking Christians to fund the film and his evangelism training ministry by buying a pre-release download of the film at audacitymovie.com. On August 19 he will release the film completely free, and he is asking Christians to help spread the word by sharing it with friends via social media.

When you buy a pre-release copy you’ll also receive behind-the-scenes videos and a free e-book titled Mark Twain: A Christian Response to His Battle With God.