How Should Open-Air Preachers Handle Hecklers?

A “good” heckler is one who will provoke your thoughts. He (or she) will stand up, speak up, and then shut up so that you can preach. Occasionally, you will get hecklers who have the first two qualifications, but they just won’t be quiet. If they will not let you get a word in, as a last resort, move your location. Usually, most of the crowd will follow. It is better to have ten listeners who can hear than two hundred who can’t. If the heckler follows, move again . . . then the crowd will usually turn on him.

One tactic that often works with a heckler who is out solely to hinder the gospel is to wait until he is quiet and say to the crowd (making sure the heckler is listening also), “I want to show you how people are like sheep. When I move, watch this man follow me because he can’t get a crowd by himself.” The crowd moves, but his pride usually keeps him from following.

If the heckler is reasonable (or wants to look as though he is), you can say, “Both of us yelling is confusing. How about I let you speak for two minutes, and then you let me speak for two minutes. Okay?” Once you have his okay, then hold him to it if he doesn’t keep his word. Make sure you keep yours. I can usually get the gospel out in two minutes. Practice a short presentation in case you have to use it.

“If you are fortunate enough to get a heckler, don’t panic. Show him genuine respect, not only because he may double your crowd, but because the Bible says to honor all men (1 Peter 2:17), so you don’t want to offend him unnecessarily.”

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If you have a “mumbling heckler” who won’t speak up, ignore him and talk over the top of him. This will usually get him angry enough to speak up and draw hearers. There is a fine line between him getting angry enough to draw a crowd, and hitting you; you will find it in time. If you are fortunate enough to get a heckler, don’t panic. Show him genuine respect, not only because he may double your crowd, but because the Bible says to honor all men (1 Peter 2:17), so you don’t want to offend him unnecessarily. If you say something that’s a little unkind, be quick to apologize. It is humbling to do so, but you will get the respect of the crowd, and you want that for the sake of them listening to what you have to say.

Always ask the heckler his name, so that if you want to ask him a question and he is talking to someone, you don’t have to say, “Hey, you!” If he won’t give you his name, you may like to make one up. I usually choose “Bob.”

Often, people will walk through the crowd so they can get close to you and will whisper something like, “I think you are a #@*!$!” Answer loud enough for the crowd to hear, “God bless you.” Do it with a smile so that it looks as though the person has just whispered a word of encouragement to you. This will stop him from doing it again. The Bible says to bless those who curse you (Luke 6:28), so ask God to bless him. Remember that you are not fighting against flesh and blood. Many times I have had hecklers spit out venom, and approach me afterward almost bewildered at how nasty they were.

“The most angry hecklers are usually what we call “backsliders.” These are actually false converts who never slid forward in the first place. They “asked Jesus into their heart” but never truly repented.”

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Hecklers may stoop very low and be cutting and cruel in their remarks. If you have some physical disability, they will play on it. I put myself down before they can. If they ask why I’m standing on a box, I say “Because I’m short.” When I do trivia, I often ask, “How tall do you think this little body is?” and give a dollar to anyone who gets it right. If they insult you, try to smile back at them. Look past the words. If you are reviled for the name of Jesus, “rejoice, and be exceeding glad.” Read Matthew 5:10–12 until it is written on the corridors of your mind.

The most angry hecklers are usually what we call “backsliders.” These are actually false converts who never slid forward in the first place. They “asked Jesus into their heart” but never truly repented. When someone says that he “used to be a Christian,” ask him, “Did you know the Lord?” (see Hebrews 8:11). If he answers “Yes,” then he is admitting that he is willfully denying Him, and if he answers “No,” then he was never a Christian in the first place: “This is eternal life, that they might know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).