Some Evangelical Christians evangelizing in predominantly Christian countries

[Dorothea]

Why do some Evangelical Christians go to such countries that are predominantly Christian, such as South America, Greece, or Russia (for examples) and try to preach the word of Christ and such when these people are already Christian? Why not go to other countries who have not heard the gospel or are of different religions, such as Muslim, Hindu, etc.? Doesn't make sense to me.

 

[boswd]

It's disgusting

 

[mont974x4]

America is considered a Christian country, should we stop evangelizing here?

 

[boswd]

Its Christians evangelizing Christians.

What would be your reaction if someone was evangelizing Christians in your parish to come to their denomination and preach how wrong your Christian Faith is?

That is what these Evangelicals are doing abroad.

 

[mont974x4]

That is what you assume is happening. That is not what the OP is asking.

 

[mont974x4]

BTW, if you are really outraged then you should leave CF, because what is really happening is what occurs on CF everyday. People discuss faith and examine doctrine. You better live in a bubble too.

 

[the_Abbot]

I read a manual one time I think from a Baptist church on how to convert the Orthodox in Russia to the Baptist religion. I think it was Baptist, but I am not sure as it was a long time ago that I seen it.

 

[boswd]

so if people were trying to evangelize people of parish you just be like ehh, whatever or would you be outraged?

 

[chrisnu]

I read a manual one time I think from a Baptist church on how to convert the Orthodox in Russia to the Baptist religion. I think it was Baptist, but I am not sure, as it was a long time ago I seen it.

You're right. Archbishop Lazar Puhalo created an extended video series on YouTube in response to this. Here's the beginning.

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It's quite sad.

 

[Livindesert]

Its Christians evangelizing Christians.

What would be your reaction if someone was evangelizing Christians in your parish to come to their denomination and preach how wrong your Christian Faith is?

That is what these Evangelicals are doing abroad.

That happens all of the time. Unlike countries that have state supported churches like Russia. We have religious competition in the U.S. Right down the street is a Baptist church with a Pentacostal church next door. A little further down the road is a Presyterian, Episcipol, United Church of Christ and Methodist church on pretty much the same block. We have both ELCA and LCMS lutherian churches in town. We even have two Orthodox churches one Russian or Ukrainian(I can't remember off hand) and the other a Western rite schismatic Orthodox church.

If Evangelicals have to stop going to other countries than I expect all non-protestant churches to be withdrawn voluntarily from the U.S.

 

[MrPolo]

Why do some Evangelical Christians go to such countries that are predominantly Christian, such as South America, Greece, or Russia (for examples) and try to preach the word of Christ and such when these people are already Christian? Why not go to other countries who have not heard the gospel or are of different religions, such as Muslim, Hindu, etc.? Doesn't make sense to me.

Do you have some articles in mind I could read?

 

[Livindesert]

I read a manual one time I think from a Baptist church on how to convert the Orthodox in Russia to the Baptist religion. I think it was Baptist, but I am not sure as it was a long time ago that I seen it.

If you have a link send it too me. I would love to have that.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

The area between China and Jerusalem have over 90 % Muslum/atheist and Hindu. It's the darkest area of the world as far as christianity is concerned. The house churches work under communist threat constantly and as part of their training falls from 2nd story windows in handcuffs to avoid life in hard labor is prerequisite. Ther goal is to bridge the gap. Watchman Nee's vision said that was the final journay before christ returned.
Yhe book "The Heavenly Man" is about that.

 

[Hentenza]

If you have a link send it too me. I would love to have that.

There was a thread about it in GT a while back. I don't really remember the title. The manual is one that I have never seen nor is it in the SBC website that I can find.

Maybe LLOJ can find the thread.

 

[the_Abbot]

If you have a link send it too me. I would love to have that.

I will take a look around to see if I can find it.

 

[Livindesert]

If you all look at this thread http://www.christianforums.com/t7433132/ you will see that a certain Orthodox person on this thread supports having the State control your religion and force their religious values on other peoples children.

I am glad to live in a country where we have competition and freedom of religion.

 

[kenblaster5000]

Why do some Evangelical Christians go to such countries that are predominantly Christian, such as South America, Greece, or Russia (for examples) and try to preach the word of Christ and such when these people are already Christian? Why not go to other countries who have not heard the gospel or are of different religions, such as Muslim, Hindu, etc.? Doesn't make sense to me.

Some in Islam want to have Christians killed as infidels. Those countries such as Russia, Greece, and South America have had an open door. God will find ways to open doors in the future. Nothing is impossible with God.

 

[the_Abbot]

Here is a thread talking about it I think. The link will not open for me though.

http://www.christianforums.com/t7116976/

 

[PilgrimToChrist]

Someone from my mom's Evangelical (Free Methodist) church was injured in the recent earthquake in Haiti, where she was working as a missionary. But it got me thinking...

Haiti is 80% Catholic and 16% Protestant (and, some would say, 100% vodou...). So are they going there to convert Catholics? Perhaps they are just going there because Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere (GDP per capita: US$1,900 -- compare to US' $47,000!). If they are going there to help jumpstart business and build infrastructure through donations, that's good, right? But if they are going there to try to convert people to their particular brand of Protestantism, they should start in the US.

When I think of missionary work, I mostly think of building houses and bridges and such and community organizing. A Maryknoll priest visited a local parish to solicit donations and told a story about bringing a community together. It seems that many of the Catholic missionaries these days actually primarily focus on evangelizing Catholics -- getting people to rediscover their faith, go to Mass and Confession -- rather than converting Protestants or non-Christians.

However, there has been work by Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox in countries that are not primary Christian (or post-Christian), that is among Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists as well as in China. But I know many people realize that the most needed place for evangelization is the post-Christian West!

So, I would say there is a distinction between evangelization and broader missionary work. I think most missionaries are focused on economics these days.

 

[Dorothea]

If you all look at this thread http://www.christianforums.com/t7433132/ you will see that a certain Orthodox person on this thread supports having the State control your religion and force their religious values on other peoples children.

I am glad to live in a country where we have competition and freedom of religion.

That is not what I said. What I said was that Russia isn't the U.S., so therefore their laws and government are different than ours. I'm sure people will read that and figure it out.

What I was saying about the Russian government's banning of other Christian sects coming in and evangelizing is the Russians have a right to teach their children their faith without being pressed into converting to whatever Evangelical sect the group is preaching to them.