Missionaries

lolhaha said:

Hi there ,

I have nothing against christianity as such - you have your religion , I have mine.I can live with that.I'm a polytheist.


But it is your religion that actually began one of the greatest scourges in history - missionaries.

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And yet, if we didn't send missionaries, then you'd be asking why we're not doing anything to help people who are starving or victims of natural disasters.

Missionaries invaded lands unknown and shattered the faith and social systems of continents.Destroying their original systems and converting either by bribing them with aid or by force.

Even in lands such as india , there have been instances of missionaries indulging in forceful conversion.

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Actually, that's not conversion. That's coercion.

Now I ask you-how can THIS be the work of god?

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God is God. Missionaries are missionaries. While it's true that God calls us to send out missionaries to preach the Gospel to the lost, there's nothing to say that missionaries can't do bad things.

However, that's the fault of the missionary, not God's command to send out missionaries.

lolhaha said:

Hi there ,

I have nothing against christianity as such - you have your religion , I have mine.I can live with that.I'm a polytheist.

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That's not the way it works. Our religions teach vastly different doctrines. They can't both be true. We believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation, and that polytheism (or monotheism devoid of Jesus Christ) will surely lead to condemnation. No one can force you to believe in Jesus, but Christians can't simply acknowledge that there is any positive value to your faith. It's based on falsehood. We do, however, place much value in you as a person, and earnestly desire for you to be saved.

lolhaha said:

But it is your religion that actually began one of the greatest scourges in history - missionaries.

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All the missionaries I know are people of whom the world is not worthy. They selflessly lay down their lives, abandoning their homes and careers, to preach the Gospel to those who need it. And at the end of it all they joyfully say that they never made a sacrifice for Jesus.

lolhaha said:

Missionaries invaded lands unknown and shattered the faith and social systems of continents.Destroying their original systems and converting either by bribing them with aid or by force.

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What missionaries did this? And on what continents? Missionaries aren't soldiers. Even when King Charlemagne conquered Europe, missionaries only preached in conquered lands after the invasions (and if I recall my history correctly, many were killed). You're referring quite specifically to European Christian monarchies, some of which were Christian in name only.

lolhaha said:

Even in lands such as india , there have been instances of missionaries indulging in forceful conversion.

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I'll take it on faith that this is true, because I know of no such thing either firsthand or from credible sources. You'd think I might here about something like this, being Indian and all. I know of missionaries who have been to India, and there is no "forceful conversion." Such a conversion is no conversion at all, and wouldn't result in salvation. In any case, it's absolutely necessary for missionaries to preach the Gospel in India as well as in other pagan lands such as America and Europe. Would you really believe that God is the God of Western Europeans only? No, he is also the God of Indians, and will justify both groups by faith in Jesus Christ.

lolhaha said:

Now I ask you-how can THIS be the work of god?

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Whatever (possibly hypothetical) bad behavior you're describing is not the work of God. The work of God is for people to believe in his Son Jesus Christ.

What type of forceful conversion are you referring to? Can you be more specific by giving us some instances where this happened and was recorded (besides the Spanish inquisition)?

lolhaha said:

Now I ask you-how can THIS be the work of god?

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well, we have seen God in biblical history destroying false religions all along.

lolhaha said:

Hi there ,

I have nothing against christianity as such - you have your religion , I have mine.I can live with that.I'm a polytheist.


But it is your religion that actually began one of the greatest scourges in history - missionaries.

Missionaries invaded lands unknown and shattered the faith and social systems of continents.Destroying their original systems and converting either by bribing them with aid or by force.

Even in lands such as india , there have been instances of missionaries indulging in forceful conversion.

Now I ask you-how can THIS be the work of god?

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Hi, Welcome to CF!

You are doing what many do in error. Judging God perhaps by what Christians do.

One can not do so really as all are sinful and God in no wise is like we are as we sin.

What a Christian does or is like does not equate into who God is or what God is like. However, Christians do strive to be like Jesus and when we are, then we are a reflection of God in that sense, but next day we can do something which can muck that all up.

So, point is, never look at Christians to see what God is like. If desire to see what God is like, read the new testament, starting with the gospels and read of Jesus.

As to some missionaries, many have tried to make another's culture in the image of what the missionary believes is right to them. Of course, is not cool to do so.

Same occurs in America today. Christians trying to impose on usa, which is not a Christian nation and never will be, nevr was, but trying to impose what Christians, some, desire it to be like.

So, all mess up and again, look to Jesus to see what God is like, as He is God.

blessings,
tapero

lolhaha said:

Hi there ,

I have nothing against christianity as such - you have your religion , I have mine.I can live with that.I'm a polytheist.


But it is your religion that actually began one of the greatest scourges in history - missionaries.

Missionaries invaded lands unknown and shattered the faith and social systems of continents.Destroying their original systems and converting either by bribing them with aid or by force.

Even in lands such as india , there have been instances of missionaries indulging in forceful conversion.

Now I ask you-how can THIS be the work of god?

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Forceful conversion is not the work of God. But it's necessary for the good of all creation that humanity worship the true creator. So Christian mission is non-negotiable, but it should be done by telling people the good news, not forcing them to sign on the dotted line.

There were murderous Hindu missionaries, and murderous Roman missionaries, and murderous pre-Columbian American missionaries, long before Christ. And Christ hates all sin, including bribes and forcible coercion; evildoers pasting the name of Christ upon themselves are simply repeating the errors of unbelievers.

J.E.B.

The converts like the missionaries well enough. The medicine, the technology, the vocational training, and most of all the Good News.

If it's forced conversion (i.e., convert or I will kill or torture you), then yes, everyone should be upset about that. But this is not normal, nor is it even typical. What is far more common though, is unjust violence against Christians who try to peaceably spread the Gospel.

This isn't the work of the one true God - Jesus. God IS Love and people arn't forced into heaven. If they call themselves christians - they arn't but just have the christian label. I know also in India - that christians are killed because I have a friend from India who tells me these things plus I subscribe to a christian persecution website.

Jesus told us to do the Great Commission by sharing and loving others. Violence isn't from the God who made the universe.

The U.S. was started by the judeo-christian value system. Since the church has fallen asleep - most of it- the secularist are trying to take over and we have a culture war going on today. If the church wasn't sleeping but started to in the 1950's, we wouldn't be discussing abortion, etc. There is a remnant of christians today fighting for their roots of their country the u.s. My nephews who are 11 years old don't even know what the Mayflower, Santa Marie, etc. is. This is how our christians immigrants came over- this was mandatory when I went to the public school growing up. Its like they are trying to defranchise children from our true history somewhat. The educational system is suppose to teach math, english, etc. like it used to - not indoctrinate children like it does more today.

The U.S. was started by the Judeo-Christian value system? I don't think so. Without the ethic of theft of land and killing of resistant owners of said land, there would not be a U.S.A. Theft and materialistic control of land and wealth was the first ethic upon which the U.S.A. was built; all else was built on top. And in these days, the ethic of materialistic control of land and wealth is being exposed for what it is, and the churches which fell into that ethic over the last two hundred years or so, are weakening...and other churches are starting to form for those and by those that the Lord has made to see.

J.E.B.

When I read what u wrote, I have to say it hurts. Personally pressering someone to change there religion is horrible, i believe that people can make their own choises. God gave us the ability to decide our way of life. I'm terribly sorry that you feel that way about missionaries, because I am one myself even at my young age. Not every missionary will pressure you to change. I personally think that maybe they don't understand the complete meaning of Matthew chapter 29, verse 19. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing then in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," Some people seem to think that you need to take an agressive front and 'attack' people with the gospel, but I don't believe that because (1) Jesus was never cruel with out compassion or hurt, when he stormed the temple it was out of saddness, and (2) would God like to see us cutting others down with our words? Not at all he would be upset. Sorry for the speach God bless...!

jonathanbrickman0000 said:

The U.S. was started by the Judeo-Christian value system? I don't think so. Without the ethic of theft of land and killing of resistant owners of said land, there would not be a U.S.A. Theft and materialistic control of land and wealth was the first ethic upon which the U.S.A. was built; all else was built on top.

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Really? Do you have some evidence of this? Perhaps some sample from our founding documents?

TwilightSol said:

When I read what u wrote, I have to say it hurts. Personally pressering someone to change there religion is horrible, i believe that people can make their own choises. God gave us the ability to decide our way of life. I'm terribly sorry that you feel that way about missionaries, because I am one myself even at my young age. Not every missionary will pressure you to change. I personally think that maybe they don't understand the complete meaning of Matthew chapter 29, verse 19. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing then in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," Some people seem to think that you need to take an agressive front and 'attack' people with the gospel, but I don't believe that because (1) Jesus was never cruel with out compassion or hurt, when he stormed the temple it was out of saddness, and (2) would God like to see us cutting others down with our words? Not at all he would be upset. Sorry for the speach God bless...!

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You say you're a missionary?

What organization sent you out? What church sponsors you?

Do you believe that all religions are true?

WarEagle said:

You say you're a missionary?

What organization sent you out? What church sponsors you?

Do you believe that all religions are true?

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She's probably part of a missionary family, and I don't see how the third question is relevant at all.