Is religious conversion moral?

[morningstar2651]

I don't think it is -- I see it as religious bigotry.

I don't even really think it's a part of Christian doctrine...isn't Christianity about personal salvation through Christ?

 

[kdet]

No, that isn't what it is all about.
The Great Commission
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.


Matthew 28:19, 20 RSV

 

[hernyaccent]

No, that isn't what it is all about.
The Great Commission
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.


Matthew 28:19, 20 RSV

How does it make it morally correct?

 

[kdet]

How does it make it morally correct?

He said..." I don't even really think it's a part of Christian doctrine...isn't Christianity about personal salvation through Christ?"

and I said...."

No, that isn't what it is all about.
The Great Commission
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.


Matthew 28:19, 20 RSV
Understand??

 

[hernyaccent]

He said..." I don't even really think it's a part of Christian doctrine...isn't Christianity about personal salvation through Christ?"

and I said...."

No, that isn't what it is all about.
The Great Commission
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.


Matthew 28:19, 20 RSV
Understand??

Understood.

However, the first and only aspect of christianity that is 100% need is to believe that Christ died for your sins( beliving in and loving him) .

Jesus taught a message of love. The love of his father. It was his love that drew people to him . Do you consider trying to force people to convert a way of showing love? Wouldn't a better tactic be to spread the Gospel through loving actions?

 

[kdet]

Understood.

However, the first and only aspect of christianity that is 100% need is to believe that Christ died for your sins( beliving in and loving him) .

Jesus taught a message of love. The love of his father. It was his love that drew people to him . Do you consider trying to force people to convert a way of showing love? Wouldn't a better tactic be to spread the Gospel through loving actions?

I didn't see anything about force in his post. Missionaires help meet the physical needs of people along with trying to meet their spiritual needs, there is no force involved. We are suppose to bring others to Christ, that is our great commission.

 

[hernyaccent]

I didn't see anything about force in his post. Missionaires help meet the physical needs of people along with trying to meet their spiritual needs, there is no force involved. We are suppose to bring others to Christ, that is our great commission.

What about those who are just not interested in the message. Should that be respected?

 

[morningstar2651]

What about those who are just not interested in the message. Should that be respected?

I'd love to go at least one day without being asked "Have you found Jesus?"

 

[hernyaccent]

I'd love to go at least one day without being asked "Have you found Jesus?"

You & me both.

 

[Thirst_For_Knowledge]

I don't think it is -- I see it as religious bigotry.

I don't even really think it's a part of Christian doctrine...isn't Christianity about personal salvation through Christ?

To me, it is morally wrong. I would never try to convert someone else, to believe what I believe. I wouldn't expect anyone else to do the same. That would diminish people's respect for each other's beliefs, which would hence diminish them as a person.

So yes, immoral.

 

[kdet]

You know in 42 years I have never had anyone ask me that...and you two claim that you are asked that every day??? Wow.
To answer your question I refer you to this verse.
Mat 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, as ye go forth out of that house or that city, shake off the dust of your feet.

 

[kdet]

To me, it is morally wrong. I would never try to convert someone else, to believe what I believe. I wouldn't expect anyone else to do the same. That would diminish people's respect for each other's beliefs, which would hence diminish them as a person.

So yes, immoral.

How is doing what God has told us to do immoral??

 

[kdet]

"Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." --James 5:19, 20.

 

[Thirst_For_Knowledge]

How is doing what God has told us to do immoral??

Different set of morals..

 

[hernyaccent]

You know in 42 years I have never had anyone ask me that...and you two claim that you are asked that every day??? Wow.
To answer your question I refer you to this verse.
Mat 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, as ye go forth out of that house or that city, shake off the dust of your feet.

Maybe it's location or maybe you should get out more. I live in New York City and ride the subway to school and work everyday and almost everyday or every other day there is some christian trying to preach to the whole train or station about how they need to be saved.

You scripture says it exactly - shake the dust of your feet ( move on). If people don't ask that means they don't want to know so move on.

 

[kdet]

Doing some reading I ran across this...

The Bible teaches that evangelism is sharing the message of Jesus Christ with a lost and dying world in need of a Savior. A statement by the late Dr. Walter Martin, who was a Christian apologetist for the faith said the following: "Are we willing to do for the truth what the Cults do for a lie?"

http://www.afcministry.com/What_does_the_Bible_teach_about_Evangelism.htm

 

[morningstar2651]

You know in 42 years I have never had anyone ask me that...and you two claim that you are asked that every day??? Wow.
To answer your question I refer you to this verse.
Mat 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, as ye go forth out of that house or that city, shake off the dust of your feet.

Yes -- this does happen everyday for me. I wear an eiwhaz necklace and am openly Pagan. Even my own parents would try to convert me given the chance.

Christianity is not the religion for me -- I used to be a Christian, I know that it's not for me.

 

[hernyaccent]

"Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." --James 5:19, 20.

I looked at a few translations of this
19My friends, if any followers have wandered away from the truth, you should try to lead them back. 20If you turn sinners from the wrong way, you will save them from death, and many of their sins will be forgiven

or
19My Christian brothers, if any of you should be led away from the truth, let someone turn him back again.

20That person should know that if he turns asinner from the wrong way, he will save the sinner's soul from death and many sins will be forgiven

A non believer isn't a follower nor a christian brother to you therefore it doesn't apply. You are instructed to bring your own back.

 

[kdet]

"The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed" -- Hudson Taylor

"We are debtors to every man to give him the gospel in the same measure in which we have received it" -- P.F. Bresee, founder of the Church of the Nazarene

"Lost people matter to God, and so they must matter to us." -- Keith Wright

 

[kdet]

"I have but one passion: It is He, it is He alone. The world is the field and the field is the world; and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ." -- Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf