Converting other christians

[CaliforniaJosiah]

What are your thoughts about christians trying to convert other christians? This is something I have never understood the point in doing.

My thoughts...


1. ALL who have faith in Christ as Savior and Lord are Christians. IMO, they don't need to be converted to Christianity - they are already Christians, equal members of His royal household, His Body. Equally, fully, unseparated brothers and sisters in Christ.


2. We can certainly encourage our full brother in Christ should he be lax in His discipleship - we are called to do such. We can lovingly share with him should he be embracing a false teaching - we are called to do such. We can embrace a full brother or sister in Christ and invite them into our associations (youth group, Bible study, congregation) if they are not actively involved in their own - or even if they are, not unlike how we tell others of a great coffee house we've found. Lovingly embracing, encouraging, including, inviting each other are all fine, IMO. This, however, IMO, is not "converting."


3. I've been to LOTS of congregations. For 5 years, I was about equally involved in a Protestant and a Catholic congregation, And my homeschool group friends often invited me to other churches - usually fundamentalist, conservative, and/or Pentecostal type churches - and a couple of huge nondenominational ones. No one ever tried to "convert" me - even in my Catholic Information Membership Class. They shared their views, extended their invitations and embrace, related to me as a fellow Christian. I did the same. Still do. I believe we are Christians by faith - not by membership in an institution, and that there IS one holy catholic and apostolic church to which all Christians belong. As such, it's natural to embrace all my brothers and sisters.



MY $0.01...


Pax.


- Josiah



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[A. believer]

About the Roman Catholic Church, hoser writes,

The point of this is many Christians have some truth. But most outside of the Church that Jesus founded do NOT have the fullness of faith that ONLY His Church can provide. It is important because we are then rejecting part of Jesus if we reject His Church.

And about the Eastern Orthodox church, Asinner writes,

There may be bits and pieces of the truth scattered throughout the world; however, the Orthodox Church, holds the FULLNESS of the truth.

LOL

 

[Soon Rev 22:11-12]

What are your thoughts about christians trying to convert other christians? This is something I have never understood the point in doing.

Many who claim to be Christians are not. They think that they (or their church) can continue in known sinning and still be rewarded with immortality. This is not so. Or, they think their false doctrine has no consequences. Not true, again. Repent!

 

[charityagape]

Many who claim to be Christians are not. They think that they (or their church) can continue in known sinning and still be rewarded with immortality. This is not so. Or, they think their false doctrine has no consequences. Not true, again. Repent!

So, what false doctrine does your church hold too?

 

[MoodyBlue]

Many who claim to be Christians are not. They think that they (or their church) can continue in known sinning and still be rewarded with immortality. This is not so. Or, they think their false doctrine has no consequences. Not true, again. Repent!

Yet another who thinks their church is the only "true church", and that every other church is filled with people who are not "true Christians". The absurdity of it all.

 

[Albion]

The point of this is many Christians have some truth. But most outside of the Church that Jesus founded do NOT have the fullness of faith that ONLY His Church can provide. It is important because we are then rejecting part of Jesus if we reject His Church.

Well, we already know what church Christ founded. It's Christianity.

The question about converting someone from one branch of it to another is worth thinking about, though. I am inclined towards a middle way view.

There probably is little reason to convert someone from one Bible-believing church to another. But there are several major "divides" within the array of Christian churches today, and being on the right side of those faultlines can't be wrong.

First, the liberal churches. Any of those mainline types that teach basically whatever society and politics think a good idea at the moment. They betray their people and deliver no spiritual food to them, even as they are starving for it. They merely ask members to be thoughtful and kind (meaning politically correct). Christ did not come to be a teacher of ethics but to save the world from sin.

Second, those churches that stress that the members are to save themselves through obedience to regulations, etc.. Because the whole of the New Testament and Christ's ministry is to rescue those who will believe in him from the impossible task of earning enough favor from God through ritual and obedience, this is a trap that breeds hopelessness or indifference, given enough time.

Third, the Bible-oriented churches that, whatever their differences on minor points, continuously preach that in Christ we may be saved, that this is not through our own goodness, and that it is the Word of God and not the ideas of theologians that we can trust ultimately.

 

[Leah]

Although I appreciate everyone's replies, I need to clarify my OP a bit more.

What I meant was that I don't see the point in trying to convert an already born again christian to a different donmination. And as I read more and more in this forum, seen ALOT of that running rampant all UP in here. Why is that? Who is anyone to decide what's best for your life and then try to base it all on a denomination? Since when did God leave that up to any man, period??

God is in control and running the show, not you. No matter if your baptist, catholic, protestant, methodist, ect and no matter how much you know; if you don't have the love of and for God, you are nothing.

 

[Lynn73]

The point of this is many Christians have some truth. But most outside of the Church that Jesus founded do NOT have the fullness of faith that ONLY His Church can provide. It is important because we are then rejecting part of Jesus if we reject His Church.

No Christian is outside the church Jesus founded because the church Jesus founded includes every single believer. Being saved automatically makes me a member of His church. And, yes, despite your constant proclamations to the contrary, we do have the fullness of truth and faith. It's found in the Bible and the indwelling of the Spirit which is available to every Christian. We are His church. My church is Christ's church, the Bible believing church down the road is Christ's church. It's too bad Catholics can't recognize that and keep dogmatically insisting that the rest of us who belong to Christ are lacking in fullness of faith and truth. You are wrong.

Second, those churches that stress that the members are to save themselves through obedience to regulations, etc.. Because the whole of the New Testament and Christ's ministry is to rescue those who will believe in him from the impossible task of earning enough favor from God through ritual and obedience, this is a trap that breeds hopelessness or indifference, given enough time.

Third, the Bible-oriented churches that, whatever their differences on minor points, continuously preach that in Christ we may be saved, that this is not through our own goodness, and that it is the Word of God and not the ideas of theologians that we can trust ultimately.

Amen.

 

[Albion]

No matter if your baptist, catholic, protestant, methodist, ect and no matter how much you know; if you don't have the love of and for God, you are nothing.

Yes, but what I think others here have been trying to say to you, each in his own way, is that although "if you don't have the love of and for God, you are nothing," there are instances in which the person involved does have all that and still is in church that is teaching seriously wrong beliefs and practices. The ordinary "man in the pew" is not always alert to this and so can be in some danger no matter how deeply he loves the Lord.

Not that switching from some churches to some other churches would be good to do, but there still are certain situations in which it would be adviseable. No blanket answer covering all cases can be given.