Views on Evangelism

I suppose for me the bigger issue now is "stopping the bleeding" so to speak. I try to point out as much as I can to nonbelievers and fundamentalists the idea of Jesus as a rebel and lover of outcasts and the mistreated. How its about love and being nonjudgmental.

Now I won't go out of my way to force my views on others. For instance, I don't go into other forums here and tell everyone they are wrong. I just kind of think that does more harm than good.

gallagation said:

Hey all,

Just looking to hear a variety of views on how people look at our role as Christians in spiritual conversation and you personally go about engaging in those discussions.

I've been "trained" in evangelical sharing of the Gospel, and I'm curious as to whether this is a priority to those who post in this forum. If so, what ways do you prefer to practice it? If not, why not?

Thanks for your posts!

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I personally feel my purpose is to help shine the light on many of the errors in traditional views of Christianity. When I first became Messianic, I was heavily influenced by conservatives and became conservative (fundie to be exact) myself. I was unfortunately judgemental, hypocritical, and self-righteous. I rejected evidence in favor of blind faith, and refused to listen to anyone who dared challenged my views.

After very very painful and difficult teen/young adult years, where I almost didn't survive due to self-destructive behavior, I feel like God kept my around. Maybe to be an example to others of the errors of conservative Christianity, and how God is about love, not condemnation and discrimination. I could be wrong, but I believe God kept me alive for some reason, despite me not wanting him to.

However, I'm not the type of go out and be pushy about God and faith. I won't walk up to someone and say, "Have your accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior yet?!", I find that rude and entirely ineffective. I try to live as moral a life as I can, and let people see God through other means. For example, I don't cuss. Aside from accidently saying a couple bad words when I was younger, I've barely cussed for almost 30 years. That's a common talking point when people find out (and brings with it a bit of teasing), but it makes people go "hmm, interesting". It's often followed up with, are you religious? Which can spark a little interest in others, even if nothing comes out of it.

That's my method. Stand up against ignorance and discrimination, and let others view God through my actions, not my preaching.

I was raised Southern Baptist, and thus was taught to witness to people in the street. Think Kirk Cameron, yes I was that bad LOL Fast forward a decade or so later and I began to have serious doubts about my faith. These doubts led me to study issues and doctrines myself, and that resulted in having a more open mind to religion in general. Now I am a happy agnostic though I still consider myself a follower of Jesus of Nazareth. If someone tells me that they know everything about God, heaven, hell, religion, etc. then I immediately know that they are trying to sell me something.

With few exceptions I tend not to get into religious discussions or debates with others. I prefer to read books and logically work out the issues by myself, and I firmly believe that each person's spiritual path is their own responsibility. We all walk our spiritual path alone. It is kind of like pregnancy. A pregnant woman walks apart from her husband as she is the one who bears and gives birth to the child.

Just my humble opinion, but I also was brought up that you were really supposed to have those conversation with people at every opportunity, but aside from the fact that I was mortifyingly shy (would you believe it ), I sensed that it was also utterly useless and more likely to do harm than good.

Looking back and analysing why, I think that for one thing, our modern society is completely different to the society Jesus and disciples were operating in - it was all fresh news to people then, and it was also a society where everyone worshipped some god or other. In contrast, today, God, Jesus and christianity come with a load of baggage and connotations, so when the topic is brought up, there is that to contend with. It's also a society based on logic and science, which has obviously tended to sideline religion in people's minds - obstacle two. So we can't approach people in the same way Paul did in the Bible.

So I haven't really known how to approach the subject under those circumstances, except to try to live by Jesus basic rule of love - being fair and kind and accepting.

Another big informer of how I approach it personally is that I am a universalist in that I think death is not the end of being able to be reconciled to God. Which to me is not only logical, but frees us from desperately trying to 'save' people, which in light of what I said before, seems a losing battle - you can't force people to believe, even for their own good, and they can't pretend either. Like Diane, I really think people have to find their own way on their spiritual journey, and if by being kind to them you can show them a God who really loves them, and they find peace in that, then that's all we can do.

Hm, contraversially, I also think churches can do more harm than good, so I must admit I would be hesitant to encourage a searching person to attend a church as part of their spiritual journey, unless I knew that organisation was not going to hurt them in one of many ways.

There's evangelism and there's evangelism. I think liberals should do many things that you might call evangelism. This includes:

* Making sure the people around you know you're a Christian, and are open to talking about it if they are interested.
* Inviting people who might be interested to join you in some Christian activity.

Churches should

* Make sure that they are welcoming to new people. This requires some thought. Many churches that do a good job of supporting each other still don't do a good job of welcoming visitors.

* Have a plan to involve new member and keep existing members involved.

Christianity is too important to leave it to the legalists.

I was raised (and am still a part of) the CMA church, and at least my local church has never overtly emphasized typical evangelical methods. I do know many who have shared the gospel verbally, and more so in recent years. But I know in my junior high high school an college years there was a large emphasis on service and, as my youth pastor put it "being Jesus with skin on".

I'm not very fond of "street preaching" or any method that's in-your-face. Instead, I think St. Francis of Assisi said it best: "preach the gospel and if necessary use words."

Action/service, yes that's the one

When I was a Christian, my speech impedimency turned me into Moses. Some moments I would be great, and maybe even helping people out and even one time walking up to a man in a wheel chair and asking him if I could pray for him. Others, a stuttering moment would silence me, especially in a public circle of prayer.

Now that I am a non-believer...yea. The outcome is obvious. Grant it, I am planning on going to the Unitarian Church tomorrow at 10am. I want to be active in helping people. Why this is becoming an issue for me? I honestly don't know. Build up some community like connections. I guess this desire comes up because I have moved around a lot in my short of 29 years of living. I like the local Unitarian Church's programs for outreach and how they have a diverse welcome mix of non-believers, Buddhists, various types of Christians etc. The only way I will ever believe again is in the midst of some social outreach program that I join up, through that church, Habitat for Humanity that I had to bail on this morning due to concerns of gas and payroll problems with my work, maybe volunteering, who knows, but in that moment some mythical experience beyond my guessing, but until then...I would like to be a part of something that at least, aim, to help other people out. Action is the only thing worthwhile and really, at the end of the day, I got so tired of this distinguish between believer and non-believer. We are of one species and if I can find a group of people, mixed with various of types of world views from all types of paths of life to become a small part of helping to reach out to people in need...maybe it is time to join in. I am good at focusing all on myself...I need a break...

hedrick said:

Churches should

* Make sure that they are welcoming to new people.

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I agree with that. My experience of visiting churches, several were friendly places to visit, some were no so much so.

A lot of people are excluded in today's society, being welcoming and friendly to them is a great Christian witness.

Why stand on the street preaching or tracting if when people come into the church as visitors they are ignored?