Dear brothers and sisters,
recently I read the following article and it made me think a lot. I would like to hear your opinion about that. Thank you in advance.
What Non-Christians Want Christians To Hear
What Non-Christians Want Christians To Hear
July 29, 2013 By John Shore 332 Comments and 0 Reactions
By way of researching my book Im OK Youre Not: The Message Were Sending Nonbelievers and Why We Should Stop, I posted a notice on Craigslist sites all over the country asking non-Christians to send me any short, personal statement they would like Christians to read.
Specifically, I wrote, Id like to hear how you feel about being on the receiving end of the efforts of Christian evangelicals to convert you. I want to be very clear that this is not a Christian-bashing book; its coming from a place that only means well for everyone. Thanks.
Within three days I had in my inbox over 300 emails from non-Christians across the country. Reading them was one of the more depressing experiences of my life. I had expected their cumulative sentiment to be one of mostly anger. But if you boiled down to a single feeling what was most often expressed in the nonbelievers statements, it would be Why do Christians hate us so much?
Below is a pretty random sample of the statements non-Christians sent me (each of which I used in the book). If youre a Christian, they make for a mighty saddening read. Or they certainly should, anyway.
recently I read the following article and it made me think a lot. I would like to hear your opinion about that. Thank you in advance.
What Non-Christians Want Christians To Hear
What Non-Christians Want Christians To Hear
July 29, 2013 By John Shore 332 Comments and 0 Reactions
By way of researching my book Im OK Youre Not: The Message Were Sending Nonbelievers and Why We Should Stop, I posted a notice on Craigslist sites all over the country asking non-Christians to send me any short, personal statement they would like Christians to read.
Specifically, I wrote, Id like to hear how you feel about being on the receiving end of the efforts of Christian evangelicals to convert you. I want to be very clear that this is not a Christian-bashing book; its coming from a place that only means well for everyone. Thanks.
Within three days I had in my inbox over 300 emails from non-Christians across the country. Reading them was one of the more depressing experiences of my life. I had expected their cumulative sentiment to be one of mostly anger. But if you boiled down to a single feeling what was most often expressed in the nonbelievers statements, it would be Why do Christians hate us so much?
Below is a pretty random sample of the statements non-Christians sent me (each of which I used in the book). If youre a Christian, they make for a mighty saddening read. Or they certainly should, anyway.
The main thing that baffles and angers me about Christians is how they can understand so little about human nature that when, in their fervor to convert another person, they tell that person (as they inevitably do, in one way or another), Youre bad, and wrong, and evil, they actually expect that person to agree with them. It pretty much guarantees that virtually the only people Christians can ever realistically hope to convert are those with tragically low self-esteem. E.S., Denver
I feel that Christians have got it all wrong; it seems to me that theyve created the very thing Jesus was against: Separatism. T. O., Denver
I am often distressed at the way some Christians take as a given that Christians and Christianity define goodness. Many of we non-Christians make a practice of doing good; we, too, have a well-developed ethical system, and are devoted to making the world a better place. Christians hardly have a monopoly on whats right, or good, or just. C.R., Seattle
Christians seem to have lost their focus on Jesus core message: Love the Lord your god with all your heart and with all your soul, and love your neighbor as you love yourself. R.M., Tacoma
I have no problem whatsoever with God or Jesus only Christians. Its been my experience that most Christians are belligerent, disdainful and pushy. D.B., Atlanta
Whenever Im approached by an evangelist by a Christian missionary I know Im up against someone so obsessed and narrowly focused that it will do me absolutely no good to try and explain or share my own value system. I never want to be rude to them, of course, but never have any idea how to respond to their attempts to convert me; in short order, I inevitably find myself simply feeling embarrassedfirst for them, and then for us both. Im always grateful when such encounters conclude. K.C., Fresno
I dont know whether or not most of the Christians I come across think theyre acting and being like Jesus was but if they do, they need to go back to their Bibles, and take a closer look at Jesus. L.B., Phoenix
I grew up Jewish in a Southern Baptist town, where I was constantly being told that I killed Christ, ate Christian babies, and was going to hell. So I learned early that many Christians have or sure seem to have no love in their hearts at all. It also seems so odd to me that Christians think that if I dont accept their message my ears and heart are closed, because it seems to me like they have excessively closed ears and hearts to anyone elses spiritual message and experience. They seem to have no sense of the many ways in which God reaches out to everyone. As far as Ive ever known, Christians are narrow in their sense of God, fairly fascistic in their thinking, and extremely egotistical in thinking God only approves of them. B.P., Houston
I wish Christians would resist their aggressive impulses to morph others into Christians. Didnt Jesus preach that we should all love one another? M.G., Shoreline, WA
Im frequently approached by Christians of many denominations who ask whether Ive accepted Christ as my savior. When I have the patience, I politely tell them that Im Jewish. This only makes them more aggressive; they then treat me like some poor lost waif in need of their particular brand of salvation. They almost act like salespeople working on commission: If they can save my soul, then theyre one rung closer to heaven. Its demeaning. I always remain polite, but encounters like these only show disrespect and sometimes outright intolerance for my beliefs and my culture. In Judaism, we do not seek to convert people. That is because we accept that there are many paths to God, and believe that no one religion can lay sole claim to the truth or to Gods favor. Each person is free to find his or her own way. To Christians I would say: Practice your religion as you wish. There is no need to try and influence others. If your religion is a true one, people will come to it on their own. M.S., Honolulu
When did it become that being a Christian meant being an intolerant, hateful bigot? I grew up learning the positive message of Christ: Do well and treat others with respect, and your reward will be in heaven. Somehow, for a seemingly large group of Christians, that notion has gone lost: It has turned into the thunders and lights of the wrath of God, and into condemning everyone who disagrees with them to burning in the flames of hell. Somehow, present-day Christians forgot about turning the other cheek, abandoned the notion of treating others like they would like to be treated themselves; theyve become bent on preaching, judging, and selfishly attempting to save the souls of others by condemning them. What happen to love? To tolerance? To respect? S.P., Nashville
There are about a million things Id like to say to Christians, but heres the first few that come to mind: Please respect my right to be the person Ive chosen to become. Worship, pray and praise your God all you wantbut please leave me, and my laws, and my city, and my school alone. Stop trying to make me, or my children, worship your god. Why do we all have to be Christians? Respect my beliefs; I guarantee theyre every bit as strong as yours. Mostly, please respect my free will. Let me choose if I want to marry someone of my own sex. Let me choose if I want to have an abortion or not. Let me choose to go to hell if thats where you believe Im going. I can honestly say that Id rather go to hell than live the hypocritical life I see so many Christians living. D.B., Seattle
I had a friend who was, as they say, reborn. During my breaks from college she invited me to her church, and I did go a couple of times. In a matter of a month, at least ten people at her church told me that I was going to hell. The ironic thing is that I do believe in God; Ive just never found a church where I felt at ease. However, in their eyes, I was nothing but a sinner who needed to be saved. I stopped going to that church (which in the past four years has grown from a small to a mega-church), but in time, through my friend, have seen some of these people again. None of them ever fails to treat me exactly as they did four years ago. All I can say is this: Constantly telling someone theyre going to hell is not a good way to convert them. A.S., Chicago
I am a former born again Christian. Its been my personal experience that Christians treat the poor poorlymuch like the Pharisees did in the parable of the old woman with the two coins. I found the church to be political to a fault, and its individual members all too happy to judge and look down on others. As a Christian, my own fervor to witness was beyond healthy. My friends would come to me to vent and express emotions, and all I would do is preach to them. I was of no real comfort to them. I never tried to see anything from their perspective. J.S.W, Philadelphia
Once Christians know Im gay, the conversion talk usually stops. Instead, I become this sympathetic character who apparently isnt worthy of the gift of Christ. From my childhood in a Baptist church, I recall the loathe the sin, love the sinner talk, but as an adult I cant say Ive often found Christians practicing that attitude. Deep down, Im always relieved to avoid disturbing conversion conversations with Christians; discussing ones most intimate thoughts and personal beliefs isnt something I enjoy doing with random strangers. But at the same time, I feel as though Christians make a value judgment about my soul on the spot, simply because I am gay. I dont pretend to know the worth of a soul, nor the coming gifts to those who convert the masses, but I would guess converting the sinful homosexuals would merit a few brownie points. But I get the feeling that most Christians dont think were worth the hassle. R.M., Houston
Religion always seemed too personal for me to take advice about it from people I dont know. D.P., Denver
