Regarding conversion of non-christians.

[Bipedal]

I'm am atheist. Take that to mean what you will. I've run into some issues all over the place. Across the internet, in my school, et cetera. Issues with theists trying to convert me to their religion of choice. Not to say that everyone in a specific religious group will do this, and not to poitn any fingers, but it's usually some flavour of christian trying to bring me over to their side. I've yet to see a muslim do the same thing.

What I'm asking is what the reason is behind all of this. Mission trips, the handing out of the pamphlets and booklets and shirts and so on. Does your god want you to make as many people into christians as possible or what? I just need some definitive answers from a christian or two. Obviously, the christian forums would be the place to get an answer like that, no?

 

[seebs]

There are no fewer than three answers.

Exclusivists, who believe that non-Christians will go to hell, may be acting out of a desire to spare people from unnecessary suffering.

Some Christian groups do this because the Bible says to do it, and that's reason enough.

Some Christians try to spread what they perceive as "the good news" because, well, it's good news. If you knew someone who thought her son had died in an accident, and you found out he was alive, you'd call her, right? If you knew people who thought God hated them, and you found out God loved them, you'd tell them, right? Same thinking.

There's more. We don't all do it for the same reasons, or agree, or anything.

 

[Bipedal]

Okay. Then why is it that people still persist, even when told "no." Again, I'm not saying this is all of you, but I can think back on multiple times when I've told someone "No, leave me alone," but they've just kept on coming at me.

 

[seebs]

Okay. Then why is it that people still persist, even when told "no." Again, I'm not saying this is all of you, but I can think back on multiple times when I've told someone "No, leave me alone," but they've just kept on coming at me.

I honestly don't understand that one myself.

I've mostly seen it in younger folks, especially recent converts. They're SO sure that if you'd just listen you'd love the message so much, so if you don't seem receptive, it feels to them like you haven't understood them, and they can find it very frustrating.

I'm not saying that makes it okay, it's just my best guess as to how a person who isn't normally an utter jerk would end up acting like one.

 

[Bipedal]

See, here's the thing. There are at least 20 different churches within 20 miles of my house. Apparently every one of these churches has independent 'convert every heathen non-believer you see' orgies. After the second person coming to me and saying 'dude, jesus died for you, here's a poorly put together pamphlet so you can come give our 50 thousand square foot church 10% of your income,' I get pretty tired of it. How do I label myself as someone who simply isn't interested? Is there not a universal '[bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] off' symbol that all christians everywhere will see and be like 'oh crap, hey johnny, maybe we shouldn't go try and take this guy over to the light side,' to which johnny would reply 'you're right. forget him, let's go bash some gays or something.' Anything like that? I know it sounds like I'm being hostile but I'm not. I'm just trying to get my point across quickly and forcefully.

 

[seebs]

Hah! I know what you mean.

I don't know what to suggest. We get very few people proselytizing around here, so I'm not sure what's going on in the areas where it gets to be a problem. You could ask them. You could just say "hey, you know, I get a lot of people coming to me about this, and I'm really finding it very intrusive. Do you have any kind of list of people to leave alone, or anything?"

Apart from that, the art of a polite but firm refusal is worth developing and will serve you well in life.

 

[Bipedal]

Leaving me with one final problem. In real life situations I never encounter people as understanding as you are. Thanks for what it's worth.

 

[seebs]

It gets better as you get older, I think. You encounter more mature people, and they are less likely to assume you're not competent to know that they're not telling you anything you haven't heard.

 

[Adstar]

I'm am atheist. Take that to mean what you will. I've run into some issues all over the place. Across the internet, in my school, et cetera. Issues with theists trying to convert me to their religion of choice. Not to say that everyone in a specific religious group will do this, and not to poitn any fingers, but it's usually some flavour of christian trying to bring me over to their side. I've yet to see a muslim do the same thing.

What I'm asking is what the reason is behind all of this. Mission trips, the handing out of the pamphlets and booklets and shirts and so on. Does your god want you to make as many people into christians as possible or what? I just need some definitive answers from a christian or two. Obviously, the christian forums would be the place to get an answer like that, no?

We are called upon by God to give the news of Jesus and the salvation that Jesus brings to all people. We want all people to be saved. We do our best to give the good news of Jesus to all people. It’s up to them if the accept or reject the Message we give.

All Praise The Ancient Of Days

 

[salida]

Bip-

Christians are witnessing to you because those that don't believe in Christ will eternally be separated from God forever. If you thought this like they did, you would say something or should sometime.

Its not a matter of "their denomination or their denomination - but a matter of accepting Christ or not.

 

[heron]

People can get awfully insensitive. But I think these abrasive confrontations are from personality issues more than church directives.

When the apostles went outward to inform people about the news of redemption, they did it in a socially-accepted way. They lived in an era of open forums, where cities set up platforms just so people could philosophize and debate. We don't see many impromptu street speakers in western culture; they're often considered too flighty to rent their own conference room.

The internet forum is probably a closer equivalent to what the apostles did. They reasoned with people. They ate meals and stayed in homes with those who wanted to discuss questions. Sometimes they stayed half a year in one place. They were not desperate to cinch the deal.

Look at how Jesus evangelized. He roamed through the city and talked about whatever came up. People came to him -- he didn't hunt people down.

Just in case you're wondering...

1. Church members don't benefit in any way from collecting bodies.

2. There are no heavenly promises for brownie points per soul dragged in.

3. No one is punished for not convincing strangers to change their lives.

4. "The last will be first, and the first will be last," so idealogically there's no competition within the family of God (ha ha.... hahaha..... in our dreams.)


I agree, most of the people who pressure you are being immature about it. They are unknowingly setting up a you-are-wrong-we-are-right scenario. I don't think they're trying to be as savage as it appears, but they are probably just trying to do what they think is best.

As others said above, they are offering you something.

Salvation is a gift, and Christianity is a big help to our daily lives. Telling others is like giving someone a self-help tape, or suggesting a book that meant a lot to us, or offering business solutions that really helped our profitability. It might be unsolicited advice, but it doesn't come with a demand for body-snatching.

 

[Merlin]

Our God wishes everyone to be given the good news.
The news that Jesus did what is necessary for each person to have a personal relationship with Him.
He has encouraged us to share that news.

 

[randompalindrome]

I understand what this guy is saying. There is less of that over in the UK but the christians are the only religious group to go out and annoy people looking for new members. Why not muslims; there are loads of those but they don't go around doing what some cristians do. I wonder why.
I wonder if they know that we (potential convertees) already know everything they are going to say? If so why do they do it at all.

 

[WashedClean]

I understand what this guy is saying. There is less of that over in the UK but the christians are the only religious group to go out and annoy people looking for new members. Why not muslims; there are loads of those but they don't go around doing what some cristians do. I wonder why.
I wonder if they know that we (potential convertees) already know everything they are going to say? If so why do they do it at all.

Most Muslims (non-radical) don't believe all non-Muslims are headed for hell. Jesus commands us to spread the "good news". We are following a commandment and doing it out of love.

But Jesus also said if you come to a city and they don't accept your message, dust off your feet and move on. This applies to people as well, although we shouldn't give up on people. I agree that pressure does not work. However, look at it this way... if you had the cure for cancer and someone you knew had cancer, wouldn't you do everything you could to make them take it?

 

[whatfor]

I try not to push the word on people.
One thing I find is they enjoy stirring me up because I am a Christian.
This used to bother me but now I use it to answer their questions, they bring it up not me.

 

[heron]

There is less of that over in the UK but the christians are the only religious group to go out and annoy people looking for new members.

Don't you have Krishna and Jehovah's Witnesses approaching people? Scientologists raving about their life changes... New Agers talking about their unusual missions and pasts?

Where I live, most Christians are cautious and quite timid about evangelism. I think I've only been approached by one Evangelical in the last ten years. On the other hand, I have a devoted JW visiting my house every week.

Some groups want outsiders to feel welcome. Think about your perception of walking into a service of any religion -- you'd be afraid you were intruding, no? Christians want people to feel like others can walk in at any time.

 

[talitha]

.....it's usually some flavour of christian trying to bring me over to their side......
What I'm asking is what the reason is behind all of this. Mission trips, the handing out of the pamphlets and booklets and shirts and so on. Does your god want you to make as many people into christians as possible or what?

Yes.

That's the short answer.

Jesus told His disciples just before He left the planet to go to all nations and preach the gospel, making disciples of every creature!

As Heron said, most Christians are very "cautious and quite timid about evangelism" - sooo many of the ones who do preach the gospel are motivated by guilt for not doing it more - guilt because they feel it's their fault every time someone they know goes to Hell. I have found that when I preach the gospel with a motivation of guilt, it's the "spirit of guilt", if you will, that speaks louder than my words. The intended recipient of the gospel winds up feeling "guilted" by me, and most people don't respond well to that. End result is that I probably personally don't preach the gospel as much as I should.

My motivation for sharing is often that I do not want the Truth to be trampled underfoot. So I come across sometimes as angry. Even though I'm not angry at the "intended recipient", it seems that way, and most people don't respond well to that.



All we want is - Hell empty, Heaven full.
(I got that from Reinhardt Bonnke)
And I'm not angry at you, for the record.

Is there not a universal '[bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] off' symbol that all christians everywhere will see and be like 'oh crap, hey johnny, maybe we shouldn't go try and take this guy over to the light side......

Sorry, no there's not the more hostile you are to the gospel, the more sure we are that you need it. Seriously.

blessings
tal

 

[Aceybee]

In the same breath, apologies for all the bullhorns out there who think that bellowing it loud enough and long enough in your face will magically produce a change of heart. We don't often go about it in the right way, and some of us cringe around those people too.
I suppose the bottom line for me is that having God in my life is important, gives me purpose and something that loves me that I can go to at any time, even if I just want to scream at him, and he won't forget or leave me. When there is so much hurt in the world, it makes me want to get out there and try and make a difference. When Jesus was on earth, he did very little preaching and a lot of doing and helping people.
I'm more into- don't want to impose my truth on you, but I want you to know what it feels like to have a God who cares.. Facts never change people. When we get to know God more, we start to feel some of the things he is feeling, and losing people he treasures is one thing that hurts him. I can't bear the thought of the people who decided that they didn't want God being destroyed.. people are valuable things, and its going to be hard to start with looking around and seeing all the people who would have loved it here, but didn't want to come and I guess you feel their absence. Thats why its important to us. But I know its not simple, and I know some people are annoyingly pushy. While Christians should persevere, doesn't mean they just need to continually ram it down your throat till you give up and swallow to make them go away. There are other ways of giving you what you need to know so you have the choice.. and the choice should always be yours.

 

[heron]

We're probably overreacting to the comment -- inside ourselves, anyway, because we hear the criticism about evangelizing so often.

But honestly, I have seen Christian evangelism a hundred times more on comedy television than in real life... probably even a higher ratio. Public perception is based a lot more on what people are satirizing than reality, in this case.