Bad conscience when praying for the conversion of atheists

Here is how Born-Again believers frame that issue.

Jesus said (in the Parable of the Wedding Feast),
"Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." Luke 14:23 NKJV

We are told to nag people into Heaven...!

When someone's "personal convictions" are based on ignorance of the truth, it is a service to them to introduce them to the truth. This is true in any area of human knowledge, but especially in matters that may determine their eternal salvation.

Christian Neoplatonist said:

Dear Christian brothers and sisters, did you ever experience something like described above? Sometimes I feel disrespectful when I pray for others, even though when I intend them to be saved... it's something that really goes against their personal convictions, and I wonder whether this trespasses a boundary of personal dignity. Am I the only one who feels like that?

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Can you give an example of a short prayer for someone outside of your faith?

Hello @Christian Neoplatonist, we are to be Christlike in all things, not only in our general treatment of unbelievers .. Matthew 5:43-45; 7:12; 1 Peter 3:15, but in our approach as well. Imagine what would have happened to us if God had waited for us to come to Him (cf Romans 3:10-12)

We're the ones who must choose to share the words of life with others who do not know them yet by speaking the truth to them, in love .. Ephesians 4:15, even though it may well make both the person we are talking to AND us feel uncomfortable in the moment .. cf Romans 10:13-15, 17.

God bless you

--David

Christian Neoplatonist said:

Dear Christian brothers and sisters, did you ever experience something like described above? Sometimes I feel disrespectful when I pray for others, even though when I intend them to be saved... it's something that really goes against their personal convictions, and I wonder whether this trespasses a boundary of personal dignity. Am I the only one who feels like that?

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Well let me ask you this. If someone was driving their car down a road and you know a sink hole developed up ahead that would swallow them up are you saying that just because they sincerely believe the road up ahead is fine that you wouldn't say something? Would you say well they have their conviction and I certainly don't want to trespass their personal dignity? If we took this to a vote with 100 people in a room what do you think they'd say to you? I think you'd know they'd ask, "Are you crazy man?"

Christian Neoplatonist said:

Dear Christian brothers and sisters, did you ever experience something like described above? Sometimes I feel disrespectful when I pray for others, even though when I intend them to be saved... it's something that really goes against their personal convictions, and I wonder whether this trespasses a boundary of personal dignity. Am I the only one who feels like that?

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Sometimes I sense myself going down the path of a prayer like this: "Dear God, please help Bob to see how I'm right and he's wrong." On those occasions, I change my prayer to be more general, and to be a prayer that could be offered for anyone, including myself, something like "Dear God, love Bob, and let him know your loving presence. Reveal the truth about yourself to him, and bring him to a deeper understanding of truth." I myself would like to feel God's loving presence more, and to understand God more fully, so it seems all right to offer that prayer for Bob.

Christian Neoplatonist said:

Dear Christian brothers and sisters, did you ever experience something like described above? Sometimes I feel disrespectful when I pray for others, even though when I intend them to be saved... it's something that really goes against their personal convictions, and I wonder whether this trespasses a boundary of personal dignity. Am I the only one who feels like that?

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Only when praying across denominational lines.

I try to approach it from a sense of hope that they will find the desire to follow God on their own. I don't think it's fair to ever pray that someone is forced into a belief. Instead, its best to pray that their eyes, ears, and hearts are opened to receiving the truth of the Word and that it impacts them in a way that makes lasting change of their own choice.

Christian Neoplatonist said:

Dear Christian brothers and sisters, did you ever experience something like described above? Sometimes I feel disrespectful when I pray for others, even though when I intend them to be saved... it's something that really goes against their personal convictions, and I wonder whether this trespasses a boundary of personal dignity. Am I the only one who feels like that?

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What are you praying for?
That like Paul they will see a blinding light and hear a voice!
That suddenly the gospel makes sense!
That they will be compelled to attend church!

That you will have opertunities to talk with them about Christianity or be able to do a Bible study with them and that through this they will become Christian.

If you are praying for the last you should have no worries, if praying for any of the others then yes you should be concerned.

Christian Neoplatonist said:

Dear Christian brothers and sisters, did you ever experience something like described above? Sometimes I feel disrespectful when I pray for others, even though when I intend them to be saved... it's something that really goes against their personal convictions, and I wonder whether this trespasses a boundary of personal dignity. Am I the only one who feels like that?

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1Ti 2:1-4 First of all, I ask you to pray for everyone. Ask God to help and bless them all, and tell God how thankful you are for each of them.... God wants everyone to be saved and to know the whole truth, which is,

When the people of Israel sinned, God was angry with them and would have destroyed them. But Moses pleaded with God to save them. God listened to Moses. We may feel atheists will not be saved but plead for them before God. Plead mercy, don't give up praying.

I don't know of any verse where Jesus told us to insist on praying for atheists until they convert. Quite the opposite, actually.

St_Worm2 said:

Hello @Christian Neoplatonist, we are to be Christlike in all things, not only in our general treatment of unbelievers .. Matthew 5:43-45; 7:12; 1 Peter 3:15, but in our approach as well. Imagine what would have happened to us if God had waited for us to come to Him (cf Romans 3:10-12)

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Jesus told us to pray for our enemies, not for anyone who disagrees with us and certainly not until they agree with us.

Bobber said:

If someone was driving their car down a road and you know a sink hole developed up ahead that would swallow them up are you saying that just because they sincerely believe the road up ahead is fine that you wouldn't say something? Would you say well they have their conviction and I certainly don't want to trespass their personal dignity? If we took this to a vote with 100 people in a room what do you think they'd say to you? I think you'd know they'd ask, "Are you crazy man?"

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Telling them once to inform them is different from yelling at them until they listen to you. Check out Matthew 10:14.

Sabertooth said:

Jesus said (in the Parable of the Wedding Feast),
"Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." Luke 14:23 NKJV

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My understanding is actually the opposite of what you are inferring. You are overlooking the following verse, Luke 14:24. Jesus is saying that he'd rather compel complete strangers to come to dinner rather than insist to persuade invitees who are finding excuses not to attend. Matthew 10:14 also applies here.

Vlo said:

Telling them once to inform them is different from yelling at them until they listen to you. Check out Matthew 10:14.

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Yeah so what? That wasn't the point brought up in the OP. The point was should they say something that goes against another's personal convictions. There's no indication the person was already told.