Uncomfortable evangelism

[sawitch]

We had an open-air meeting last Sunday outside a local shopping block. Our CO was handing out leaflets, no problem with that, but then she started to talk to some Muslim children inviting them to come along to our equivalent of Sunday school. I felt very uncomfortable about this and felt that we should respect their religion and not 'evangelise'.

What do other folks think?

 

[InTheFlame]

Ummmm...

*ponder*

I think it really, ultimately depends on the parents. Muslims vary in their beliefs and faith levels just like Christians... some are OK with having their kids involved with a Christian church, others aren't. I'd maybe give them a brochure and ask them to give it to their parents, if their parents weren't with them.

Hmmm... still thinking about this one.

 

[StreetSoldier]

William Booth would do anything to evangelize to people... let's not forget that we belong to an extreme Christian movement - the second we start wondering if we should tell others about Christ or not, (for WHATEVER reason!), we pervert the mission of the movement in which we claim to be a part of!!

 

[Amisk]

William Booth would do anything to evangelize to people... let's not forget that we belong to an extreme Christian movement - the second we start wondering if we should tell others about Christ or not, (for WHATEVER reason!), we pervert the mission of the movement in which we claim to be a part of!!

What is the difference between evangelizing Muslims and evangelizing non-Christians of European descent?

Jesus said go into the world and preach the gospel to all nations, he put no age on those who we should reach, so from his point of view all people are fair game.

Also remember that many folks in our ministries have become Christians as young children and have remained Christians all their lives and won many others for the Lord.

 

[InTheFlame]

Mmmm... my concern isn't with telling kids about Jesus. If sawitch had said that her CO was talking to the kids, telling them that Jesus was God's son and died for them because he loves them... no worries. I wouldn't have an issue with that. Inviting them to Sunday School... that's something kids don't make decisions on, their parents MUST decide those sort of things for them. It seems disrespectful of the parents.

'Extreme Christian', to me, is never a license for disrespect toward others. Extreme christianity should always be primarily an inward process, not outward 'methodology'.

 

[sawitch]

Thanks for the replies. However, to put it in a different light...

How would you feel if your children were being evangelized by Muslims and were invited to Mosque school to learn about Allah and the Koran?
Personally I would feel very uncomfortable, and this is why I have reservations about doing the same to Muslim children.

 

[InTheFlame]

Thanks for the replies. However, to put it in a different light...

How would you feel if your children were being evangelized by Muslims and were invited to Mosque school to learn about Allah and the Koran?
Personally I would feel very uncomfortable, and this is why I have reservations about doing the same to Muslim children.

I thought about that I wouldn't mind a Muslim telling my kids about Allah and Islam beliefs. I would get a bit irritated if they invited my kids to their kids group without checking with me first.

 

[Athanasian Creed]

We had an open-air meeting last Sunday outside a local shopping block. Our CO was handing out leaflets, no problem with that, but then she started to talk to some Muslim children inviting them to come along to our equivalent of Sunday school. I felt very uncomfortable about this and felt that we should respect their religion and not 'evangelise'.

What do other folks think?

We are to respect the person's freedom of will to choose whether they will/will not follow the true and living God or a god of their choice. That is their God-given right.

However, i strongly disagree that we should "respect their religion", especially the Islamic religion. I'm gonna buck 'political correctness' because, for the most part, it is compromise and antichrist - i don't respect any religion that paves the road to hell and is antichrist! And, contrary to whatever anyone will tell you, Islam is NOT a religion of peace - never has been, never will be - never forget that!

Jesus said to evangelize the whole world, and the world includes children. God help us to influence these kids to the truth of Christ and His word rather than to a life devoid of Christ. I do, however, agree that the CO should have invited them but he/she should have made sure they had cleared it with their parents first. Perhaps if anyone had expressed interest, a phone call could have been made to the parents inviting their children (and them) to SS??

If enough of them had expressed interest in coming, a welcome from the pulpit and possibly an after service get-acquinted fellowship could have been held.
Only the Holy Spirit knows how many of them are hungry for the real truth!


Ray