How to convert people to Christianity?

[Neogaia777]

I wanted to open up this forum to give people a chance to describe their ideas on how they would try to convert other people to Christianity?

By other people, I mean non-believers, people of other faiths, atheists, use your own example, I am currently trying to convert a Wiccan, any ideas?

Help? Advice? Comments? Ideas? Suggestions?

God Bless!

 

[Andry]

I think that's part of your problem, you're still trying to convert people.

 

[Neogaia777]

I think that's part of your problem, you're still trying to convert people.

Are we not commanded to try? If we truly care about them?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Yahshua came to seek and to save those who are lost; those (only those) who the Father Yhvh ABBA gives to Him; those crucified with Him since before the creation of the world(as it is put in Scripture, in Yhvh's Perfect Plan).

before anyone can be converted, the Father must permit it and grant it from heaven. the flesh and everything that originates in the flesh is futile and profits nothing.

wiccans, buddhists, republicans, democrats, etc etc etc have no one to turn to unless the Father sends someone to them, specifically, individually, or in a group - divinely appointed, with the Good News, and they receive it (the Good News) with the response of Godly Sorrow that leads to true repentence (no religious conviction or experience or mental assent) and immersion in the Name of Yahshua for the forgiveness of sin.

so much that cannot be summed up accurately here ..... ..... but if they or anyone willingly seek Yhvh the Creator to become His and to turn away from sin once for all and trust Yhvh to accomplish through Yahshua the healing of their lives according to His Word and His Instructions then they will find Him as He Has Promised in His Word.

 

[Andry]

Are we not commanded to try? If we truly care about them?

Well, how did Jesus do it? I see that when someone needed comforting, he was comforter. When someone needed healing, he was healer. When someone needed forgiveness, he forgave. When someone needed mercy, he gave them mercy, and grace. Then he walked with, became friends with, and was involved in the lives of a bunch of guys for 3 1/2 years who hadn't a clue what it was all about, who weren't even "saved" in the way we understand it today. In fact, one would betray him, and one of his closest, denied him. Three times. In one night.

Instead of thinking about "converting", how about thinking about being involved in the lives of the people that God gives you the opportunity to come your way? Be their friend, and become a part of their lives. And if the kingdom of God is really within you, allow that to manifest from your life, and that'll naturally impact others around you.

 

[Neogaia777]

Well, how did Jesus do it? I see that when someone needed comforting, he was comforter. When someone needed healing, he was healer. When someone needed forgiveness, he forgave. When someone needed mercy, he gave them mercy, and grace. Then he walked with, became friends with, and was involved in the lives of a bunch of guys for 3 1/2 years who hadn't a clue what it was all about, who weren't even "saved" in the way we understand it today. In fact, one would betray him, and one of his closest, denied him. Three times. In one night.

Instead of thinking about "converting", how about thinking about being involved in the lives of the people that God gives you the opportunity to come your way? Be their friend, and become a part of their lives. And if the kingdom of God is really within you, allow that to manifest from your life, and that'll naturally impact others around you.

I can be friends with them and console them and give them comfort, but our differing belief systems, naturally come up and become part of the conversation, at those times, what should I do?

 

[CryOfALion]

You can't convert anyone. You didn't convert yourself; the Holy Spirit did.

We drop the seed, and let it try to grow. And, planting the seed doesn't mean pounding in hellfire, pathetic sin nature and the overall disgusting nature of man. It also doesn't mean pounding in feel-good, gum drop and rainbow theology. It is like a war debriefing to someone you pass on a battlefield: give the information - even provide weapons. It is their choice to defend, shoot, and fight for any side.

 

[BryanW92]

I wanted to open up this forum to give people a chance to describe their ideas on how they would try to convert other people to Christianity?

By other people, I mean non-believers, people of other faiths, atheists, use your own example, I am currently trying to convert a Wiccan, any ideas?

Help? Advice? Comments? Ideas? Suggestions?

God Bless!

I was an atheist for 30 years. Many well-meaning (and some not-so-well-meaning) Christians tried to convert me. They all failed and most of them hardened my heart as their initial stories of love turned into threats of eternal damnation if I didn't convert and do it right now!

My conversion came one day when I was alone in my living room. Just me and the Holy Spirit.

Spread the gospel but keep your touches light. Don't get upset when they don't respond. Threatening them with hell doesn't do any good because they don't believe in hell. Most of all, don't make it complicated as many people on this forum make Christianity out to be. Salvation isn't found in a denomination, or in the lack of a denomination, or in the "correct" name for Jesus, or in one side of the Calvinism vs Arminianism debate, or in the words you pray, or in the type of baptism you recieve, or in the complexities of Paul's epistles.

 

[AntiVillain]

What everyone else said: you need to find the right "seed."

 

[abysmul]

Be known by your fruit. Live a Christ filled life in front of them. Be Christ like.
Answer questions they have, and if you can't find the resource or person that can.

 

[CryOfALion]

Be known by your fruit. Live a Christ filled life in front of them. Be Christ like.
Answer questions they have, and if you can't find the resource or person that can.

I have heard more atheists respond to "what s/he has" - the visible peace of a non-assuming, kind, loving and gentle believer - than hell fire and damnation no matter how rational it seems.

 

[Free at Calvary]

Hey Neogaia, if holodecks were real you could program a snare of the devil for him to fall into. When his soul is desperate to live, he'll turn to God with a true heart.

Or, you could just wait and pray for mercy, as your friend may be headed there by himself, since he is a practicing wiccan.

I think if you could convince him by your words, you would only be converting him to religion and not a new creature in Christ.

I can imagine the debates you guys have, which sounds like fun unless you have an agenda. Then it would be frustrating.

 

[RDKirk]

Yahshua came to seek and to save those who are lost; those (only those) who the Father Yhvh ABBA gives to Him; those crucified with Him since before the creation of the world(as it is put in Scripture, in Yhvh's Perfect Plan).

before anyone can be converted, the Father must permit it and grant it from heaven. the flesh and everything that originates in the flesh is futile and profits nothing.

wiccans, buddhists, republicans, democrats, etc etc etc have no one to turn to unless the Father sends someone to them, specifically, individually, or in a group - divinely appointed, with the Good News, and they receive it (the Good News) with the response of Godly Sorrow that leads to true repentence (no religious conviction or experience or mental assent) and immersion in the Name of Yahshua for the forgiveness of sin.

so much that cannot be summed up accurately here ..... ..... but if they or anyone willingly seek Yhvh the Creator to become His and to turn away from sin once for all and trust Yhvh to accomplish through Yahshua the healing of their lives according to His Word and His Instructions then they will find Him as He Has Promised in His Word.

You can't convert anyone. You didn't convert yourself; the Holy Spirit did.

We drop the seed, and let it try to grow. And, planting the seed doesn't mean pounding in hellfire, pathetic sin nature and the overall disgusting nature of man. It also doesn't mean pounding in feel-good, gum drop and rainbow theology. It is like a war debriefing to someone you pass on a battlefield: give the information - even provide weapons. It is their choice to defend, shoot, and fight for any side.

I was an atheist for 30 years. Many well-meaning (and some not-so-well-meaning) Christians tried to convert me. They all failed and most of them hardened my heart as their initial stories of love turned into threats of eternal damnation if I didn't convert and do it right now!

My conversion came one day when I was alone in my living room. Just me and the Holy Spirit.

Spread the gospel but keep your touches light. Don't get upset when they don't respond. Threatening them with hell doesn't do any good because they don't believe in hell. Most of all, don't make it complicated as many people on this forum make Christianity out to be. Salvation isn't found in a denomination, or in the lack of a denomination, or in the "correct" name for Jesus, or in one side of the Calvinism vs Arminianism debate, or in the words you pray, or in the type of baptism you recieve, or in the complexities of Paul's epistles.

These are important points.

Presuming you are gifted, trained, and commissioned to evangelize (according to the model provided in Acts), and you are evangelizing to the people the Holy Spirit has commanded you, remember this:

Those who will accept the Gospel are known to Jesus. Their names are in His Book of Life, written there before creation. They are His lost sheep. You are preaching the good news to people that Jesus already knows are His.

For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. John 12

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. -- John 10

Therefore, it is important to speak in Jesus' voice using His words. So many well-meaning evangeliststhink it is their job to "convict the sinner of sin." No, that's the role of the Holy Spirit.

And when He [the Counselor] comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. -- John 16

It is important to sound like the Good Shepherd, not like the roaring lion. What does the roaring lion sound like?

For the one who accuses our brothers, who accuses them day and night in the presence of our God -- Revelation 12.

When an evangelist cries "You're going to hell!" to the people the Holy Spirit has sent him to, he is using the words of the roaring lion, and he's lying to the lost sheep. Those particular people are not going to hell. Their names are in the Book of Life--that's why the Holy Spirit has made them a divine appointment with the evangelist.

So we have to make sure we sound like the Good Shepherd calling His own lost sheep, not like the roaring lion who would devour them. If we sound like the roaring lion, they will run away.

 

[Christownsme]

I wanted to open up this forum to give people a chance to describe their ideas on how they would try to convert other people to Christianity?

By other people, I mean non-believers, people of other faiths, atheists, use your own example, I am currently trying to convert a Wiccan, any ideas?

Help? Advice? Comments? Ideas? Suggestions?

God Bless!

Live by example, always be ready to defend the faith for those who ask. Let the Holy Spirit convert souls, though.

 

[malvina]

Only God can convert people we pray for them and only speak if the spirit guides.
I find the best way to speak to atheists is by our actions and love towards them

 

[1watchman]

Converting a soul to Christianity is not the object, but pointing souls to Christ is a good work. It must be understood as preaching salvation in the Lord Jesus as the only way given by God for eternal life in Heaven and joy and peace in this world by being "born again" (John 3). Certainly our manner and showing the love of God will make it real and of value to one.

Pressing the values of Christianity will only get false professions of those trying to follow God and the teachings of Jesus, rather than receiving Him into their heart for life. God says: "He that has (possesses) the Son has eternal life, and he that has not the Son has not that life" (1 Jn. 5:10-12). It is a choice the honest seeker must make individually. Preach Christ and pray is the work of faithful believers.

Once a believer introduces one to the Gospel truth (as in the Gospel by John and much of the Epistle to the Romans) it remains up to the individual seeker to read the Word and come to God in faith and trust the Lord Jesus. God will help the truly honest and sincere seeker. Religion will save no one, but Christ has saved many for all eternity.

 

[BrokenWarrior]

Indeed,look at it this way.

Don't try to "convert" people.

Religions "convert" people,and indoctrinate them with falsehoods. Religions are just evil men's excuses for their ungodly actions.

We are not a religion,we are the living Truth.

We are reality.

Believers in what has,does and will happen.

So don't "convert" people,try to show them the Truth.

Show them God exists,then explain the position they're in with God thanks to their sin. Get them to comprehend the severity of their sins.

Then explain that God can legally justify you in His sight by the payment of your sins that He Himself paid by manifesting Himself as the man Jesus of Nazareth. Living to be blameless,dying as our sacrifice, and rising up as our hope. And that to be saved,they just need to trust Jesus when He says to believe in Him. That His one condition is that you Believe that by Believing Christ will forgive you,cause He said He would,that you are indeed saved.

So don't "convert" them or indoctrinate them... show them the Truth.

Cheers

 

[Stabat Mater dolorosa]

What about living the gospel and let your sainthood move their hearts ?

 

[joshuanazar]

I like what the people are saying about It being the Spirit's job to change people that we just show them God's love. Has anyone here ever been changed by threats of hell? Or have they ever been changed by the church telling them about their sins? The Bible is clear it is the goodness of God that leads to repentance, not the threat of hell or the knowledge of sin (which is the law). Jesus never told anyone about their sins (except the hard hearted religious group). He walked with them became their friend and showed them love to where he sacrificed everything. To show people his love we need to sacrifice, not out of need, but out of our desire to place others before ourselves. We must see them the way God sees them, without sin. It isn't about what they do wrong but whether or not they love God. But first they must see his love.

 

[RDKirk]

I like what the people are saying about It being the Spirit's job to change people that we just show them God's love. Has anyone here ever been changed by threats of hell? Or have they ever been changed by the church telling them about their sins? The Bible is clear it is the goodness of God that leads to repentance, not the threat of hell or the knowledge of sin (which is the law). Jesus never told anyone about their sins (except the hard hearted religious group). He walked with them became their friend and showed them love to where he sacrificed everything. To show people his love we need to sacrifice, not out of need, but out of our desire to place others before ourselves. We must see them the way God sees them, without sin. It isn't about what they do wrong but whether or not they love God. But first they must see his love.

I know of at least one case in which a former prostitute's testimony (I personally knew her and the street preacher who spoke to her) indicates that the ardent intentions of previous preachers to "convict her of her sin" actually had reverse unintended consequences.

I've related her testimony on these forums before. Previous street preachers had condemned her, "You're dead in your sins!" with such vigor that whatever they may (or may not) have said about forgiveness was buried under the condemnation. So she had concluded, "My sins are too great. Okay, I'm just going to hell," and had stopped listening to them.

But in fact, the Holy Spirit was working on her. It was just that nobody had actually preached the gospel.

So when a street preacher finally led his sermon with: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! It snagged her! This wasn't just being "forgiven" and still dragging the weight of all her past sins around (which is how humans "forgive"--that is, even we Christians say, "I'll forgive but I won't forget"). This was the first preacher she'd heard talking about "blank slate," "redo," "start afresh."

She had actually walked up to him and demanded, 'Is that true?" She hadn't heard that before.

This is the thing:

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. -- John 3:17

For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. -- John 12:47

For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. -- Revelation 12.

Words of condemnation are not the voice of Jesus, but the voice of Satan.