Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark
Episode: What Happens After You Die? | Ray Comfort (January 27, 2026)
Guest: Ray Comfort (Founder, Living Waters; Street Evangelist; Author)

Overview of Episode

This episode dives deep into some of the most controversial and foundational questions in Christianity: What happens after death? What is real repentance? Are “sinner’s prayers” enough? How should Christians evangelize authentically in a culture that’s spiritually sick? Host Alex Clark interviews Ray Comfort, renowned street evangelist, author, and co-host of "Way of the Master". The conversation focuses on biblical evangelism, the failures of modern approaches, the crucial role of God’s law in revealing the need for salvation, and practical tips for sharing faith—whether you’re a busy mom or someone struggling with fear.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Problem with Modern Evangelism

Timestamps: 00:00-02:38, 31:22-35:29

• Modern Christianity has twisted the gospel, often focusing on "God's wonderful plan" rather than the gravity of sin and the necessity of repentance.
• Ray: “The gospel’s been twisted to: God has a wonderful plan for your life. ... Just say this prayer and give your heart to Jesus. It’s not biblical.” (00:02)
• The practice of leading people in the ‘sinner’s prayer’ is not rooted in scripture and risks producing false conversions.
• Many Christians seldom share their faith verbally; most congregations show only about 10% have evangelized more than a dozen people in a year. (02:38)

Memorable Quote:

“If a man has committed adultery against his wife... and I say, ‘Just repeat this after me: Dear wife, I’m really sorry...’ That’s crazy. She’s going to slam the door. ... I want to know his heart. Is he genuinely sorry? ... We think we can lead people to God and have them repeat a prayer of repentance. It’s not in scripture.” (31:36)

2. Biblical Evangelism: The Role of the Moral Law

Timestamps: 04:51-08:44, 11:08-16:53, 19:44-24:55

• Ray teaches that the Law (Ten Commandments) functions as a mirror, exposing sin and the need for God’s mercy—“the law is a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.” (19:44)
• Sharing the gospel should follow the biblical method: identify sin, show guilt under the Law, then reveal the need for Jesus’ sacrifice.
• Ray: “Most people don’t know what good is. ... You need the moral law to show you’re not [good].” (00:46)
• Repentance is demonstrated by brokenness, not just repeated words—using the examples of King David, the prodigal son, and the rich young ruler.
• Fear of evangelizing is common; Ray overcomes it by focusing on others’ eternal destinies rather than his own discomfort:
  • “The key is just to love people, be concerned about people’s eternal salvation.” (03:38)
• Evangelists should ‘bark’ at the sheep (the church), provoking them to care for lost souls:
  • “If you’re gonna lift your hands and worship to God, make sure you’re prepared to reach out your hands in evangelism for God.” (07:38)

3. Practical Evangelism: Overcoming Fear & Starting Conversations

Timestamps: 04:42-06:07, 24:55-30:10

• Ray has witnessed to his seatmate on every flight he’s taken (over 2000 flights)—he sees it as biblical, not remarkable.
• Fear is natural, but the analogy of a firefighter running into a burning building illustrates the urgency and selflessness required in evangelism.
• Start conversations by asking simple questions, e.g.:
  • “Do you think there’s an afterlife?”
  • “Are you a good person?”
• Use the “Socratic method”—keep asking questions to let people self-reflect and reach conviction:
  • “There’s no accusations, just question after question. And you let them talk and let the conscience do its work.” (43:57)
• Go directly to the conscience when sharing with atheists or those hostile to Christianity.

Memorable Quote:

“When I meet a stranger, I’ll say, hey, how you doing? Do you think there’s an afterlife? ... I haven’t mentioned Jesus, God, heaven, hell, sin. ... I just want his opinion.” (25:00)

4. False Conversions & The Sinner’s Prayer

Timestamps: 19:44-24:55, 31:22-37:55

• The “sinner’s prayer” isn’t a biblical guarantee of salvation—true repentance and transformation are required.
• False converts may claim to follow Christ yet show no fruit, trivialize sin, or never experience genuine contrition.
• Ray: “If you’re not evangelizing, where’s your love? Don’t you care about unsaved people? They’re going to hell.” (07:29)

How to Test for True Conversion:

• Ask: “Do you think you’re a good person?” If the answer is yes, they likely haven’t grasped the need for repentance.

5. Is Belief Alone Enough?

Timestamps: 37:55-41:38

• Demons believe, but are not saved—true saving faith results in surrender and obedience.
• “Being a Christian is not just a matter of believing in Jesus. There are multitudes who believe in Jesus but have never obeyed him.” (37:59)
• The “straight gate” Jesus speaks of means entering through genuine repentance and submission, not just intellectual assent.

6. Evangelism Tips for Everyday Life (esp. Moms)

Timestamps: 41:38-43:48

• Use daily routines (lunch breaks, walks with the dog, errands) as opportunities to connect with people and begin spiritual conversations.
• Use simple tools (gospel tracts or “Ten Commandment coins”) to start conversations.
• Apply ingenuity—Ray used ChatGPT to find creative new questions for starting discussions about morality.

7. Addressing Different Audiences: Tailoring the Approach

Timestamps: 45:05-47:16

• While minor tailoring is needed for groups like Catholics or Mormons, Ray sticks to the core: showing sin via the commandments, then presenting grace through Christ.
• With Catholics, he specifically addresses the misconception of works-based righteousness and presents the gospel as a legal pardon, not just an example.

8. Evangelizing Family & Friends

Timestamps: 54:27-56:29

• Harder with those close to you, as social stakes feel higher and relationships risked.
• Advice: “Don’t win them with words, win them with works. Let them see your faith. Buy them gifts ... let your good works silence their ignorance.” (54:45)

9. Apologetics & The Existence of God

Timestamps: 56:29-60:12

• Ray uses simple analogies: "A building is proof of a builder; a creation is proof of a Creator."
• Addresses suffering and the limits of human understanding with trust in God’s sovereignty.
• “Faith may swim where reason may only paddle.” (58:55)

10. Gospel Remedy for a Sick Culture

Timestamps: 63:17-65:26

• Legislating morality won’t cure the root problem—only the gospel can transform hearts from loving sin to loving righteousness.
• Ray: “The gospel takes a heart that loves to sin and causes us to love righteousness.” (63:32)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On evangelism fears:
  “I get fearful all the time ... but I handle my fears by not thinking of myself, but thinking of that person.” (03:31)
• On the prosperity gospel:
  “We say, ‘Oh, God has a wonderful plan for your life.’ Well, Scripture says we enter the Kingdom of God through much tribulation.” (31:42)
• On fruitlessness:
  “I preach the gospel almost every day for 12 years and didn’t see any fruit, hardly any fruit... [But] sowing the seed of God’s word—that’s great success.” (49:58)
• On works-based religion:
  “When we forsake the law of God, those commandments, then God isn’t a judge, he’s just a man in the sky.” (60:59)
• On remedying culture:
  “The answer’s the gospel ... because the gospel takes a heart that loves to sin and causes us to love righteousness.” (63:24)

Segment Timestamps Reference

• 00:00 – The problem with the sinner’s prayer.
• 02:38 – Decline of evangelism in the church.
• 04:42 – Evangelism as a calling; overcoming fear.
• 08:47 – Ray’s personal testimony and calling.
• 11:08 – What is repentance? Role of the law.
• 19:44 – False conversions and the true test.
• 24:55 – Overcoming insecurity; practical transitions in conversation.
• 31:22 – Problems with the sinner’s prayer.
• 37:55 – Does belief alone save?
• 41:38 – Tips for evangelism as a mom/in daily life.
• 45:05 – Tailoring the gospel to different audiences.
• 47:16 – How to “land the plane” and close the conversation.
• 49:46 – Finding encouragement amid fruitlessness.
• 54:27 – Evangelizing family; winning with works.
• 56:29 – Proving God’s existence; problem of suffering.
• 60:12 – Assurance, the uniqueness of the gospel.
• 62:30 – Predestination, free will, and salvation.
• 63:24 – The gospel as culture’s remedy.
• 65:28 – Where to learn more: Ray Comfort’s resources.

Ray Comfort’s Recommendations & Resources

• Living Waters YouTube channel: For videos of street evangelism ([65:28])
• School of Biblical Evangelism (Online) & Ambassadors’ Academy (In-person): For comprehensive training ([65:40])
• www.livingwaters.com: Central site for books, tracts, and training.

Tone and Takeaways:
The episode’s tone is bold, urgent, and unapologetically focused on “raw, unpasteurized truth.” Ray Comfort’s insights challenge listeners to move past superficial Christianity, embrace the biblical model of sharing the gospel, and lovingly confront a culture in denial about sin, death, and eternity.

For Further Discussion:
Join Alex on X (@RealAlexClark) or the “Cute Service” Facebook group for respectful discussion and debate on theology and evangelism.

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