2006-06-28 06:49:19 · 16 answers · asked by indian 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life no man comes to the Father but by me.(John 14:6) If Jesus is truth and in Him is Life why wouldn't I want to tell others. He said He is the only way to God. I didn't say it read it for yourself. If what He says about Himself is true then there can't be 2 truths that are correct. He didn't say Me and Buddah are the way. He said its a narrow way through Him and the only way is through Him. You can choose not to believe but it is my responsibility as a Christian to tell you that your sincerely held belief isn't true. We have too much teaching on relativism when we need to be teaching God's truth. His truth is the only one that matters. Why be like the person who was invited to a wedding banquet and showed up in his underwear. In order to come to God you have to follow His rules. You can't make up your own and expect the same results. God's rule: you have to come through Jesus Christ to be saved and go to heaven. It is His rule not mine or any other Christians.
2006-06-28 06:59:11 · answer #1 · answered by Monique B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We cannot compel or force (as I think you are saying) others to become a Christian. That is up to whoever we talk to about it. We can present them with the choice, but you will never find any true christian using strong arm tactics to get people converted (worst case. there have been times when the church has done this in the past).
But today we do not do this. We allow the other person to make that choice.
2006-06-28 13:55:00 · answer #2 · answered by caedmonscall99 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately for many Christians they are taught that the only way to be "saved" and go to Heaven is to be a Christian...hence their obsessive need to convert everyone isn't really out of malice or a desire to be obnoxious. It stems from their completely blinding faith that the only way to get to heaven is to be like them! And even though it comes off as being superior and snotty at times I don't think its meant that way. These convert crazy Christians are just completely into their religion and think that it is the only truth in the universe. Hence the whole impression of we (Christians) are right and going to heaven and you (every other religion) are not and are not going to heaven. Some will even say that if you aren't a Christian then you will burn in hell. When they tell me that I remind them that Jesus was a jew as were all the apostles and Jesus' mother, so I think that their reasoning on that point way be flawed. Usually makes them think or go into epileptic fits. Either response suits me fine.
2006-06-28 14:16:18 · answer #3 · answered by Stephy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simply put, Christ commands us to do so. Though i don't know if we are suppose to compel in a way that implies "twist one's arm". Christians believe that Christ is who reconciles the world to God. It is only through Christ that one can be reunited to the Father, being placed in right relationship. It is because of this that Christians feel compelled to share their faith with others, in the hope of restoring others to a relationship with the Father, in a way that their faith system tells them is the only way how. It is because they care for other people and want the best for them.
2006-06-28 13:54:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, Jesus told us to tell everyone the good news, that God loves us and came to rescue us, but he only told us to tell, not convert. After people have been told, it is their choice with what they want to do with it, whether they believe or not is their own decision. You cannot force anyone to convert. I think what Jesus said about telling the good news has been understood by some people, who think they have to make converts. (Maybe that is why some people are forceful in telling about Jesus and people feel like they are being coerced into converting?) God is gentle and he respects your right to choose, even if it hurts him, and he would never force anyone to worship him or try and dominate them.
As a Christian, I truly believe that Jesus is the only way to God, I made my own decision, as I always say, God loved me back to him, and I have experienced such pure love and unconditional acceptance from him. If I and other Christians who have experienced such wonderful things from God try to tell you about Jesus, it is only out of love, not because we are trying to notch up brownie points or anything! To use the old but true analogy, if somebody doesn't realise they are in a building that is on fire you would tell them, so we are only doing it because we care, (although it isn't always appreciated!) because we don't want anyone to have eternity without God ie hell.
I know hell seems really unfair and awful. The idea of hell REALLY bugged me for years, but it is fair really. If you don't want anything to do with God, you will just get what you want, as hell is a place without God. But now I am going off at a tangent and have stopped answering your question....
All I can do is tell my story and how I have been given so much amazing love from God, not a cheesy sounding "Jesus loves me," but a love beyond anything I could have ever imagined and my heart is now alive because of it. Why I want to tell this is because it would be wonderful for other people to have the same what I have been given. This is my own personal reason for telling people about Jesus. But all you can do is listen to my story, live your own life and make your own choice and decision.
2006-06-28 14:19:53 · answer #5 · answered by monkeywoman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For some Christian, that's a fundamental part of their calling. In a way it is described pretty unambiguously in the Bible that we all should proclaim the Gospel to the world, and so they do. In fact they are quite succesful at that.
Me, as a Catholic, I believe that God reveals himself to different way to different people. that's why I don't believe that Islam or Judaism or Buddhism are "wrong" and Christianity is "correct". I believe they are all correct, therefore, I don't feel that I have to preach and convert all the non-Christian friends that I have. However if one of them is interested in learning about my faith, I'm quite happy to oblige.
2006-06-28 13:56:45 · answer #6 · answered by Eric 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We're not looking to convert anybody.
True Biblical evangelism is the effort of saving people from the Judgement to come.
If you knew airplanes were going to crash into the world trade center, wouldn't you do something about it?
If you saw a blind man walking towards a cliff,
would you not warn him?
We must all stand before God one day.
Why should I not warn people of the consequences of not being ready?
2006-06-28 14:00:12 · answer #7 · answered by quiet_guy231 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its a mind virus. dont take it to heart, its like rabies you feel like spreading it to others before you go out in a rabid froth. I am an ex christian and i know the score. I tried to convert people because i thought they needed saving. but now i realize it was just a bad program that had to be deleted.,
2006-06-28 13:53:12 · answer #8 · answered by brianna_the_angel777 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course there are a lot of reasons but one of them is that Christianity is sort of like a trampoline. Ya, wierd analogy eh? :)
Anyway, it's not about making people be exactly like you or anything like that. It's just one of those things you want everyone to experience. Haven't you ever watched a great movie and just wished that so and so was there watching it with you? It's sort of like that.
2006-06-28 14:03:16 · answer #9 · answered by brodie g 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they are "Compelling" they are wrong.
If they are inviting they are correct.
If you truly believe in something and found it to be life changing and wonderful why wouldn't you want to share it?
2006-06-28 13:55:54 · answer #10 · answered by williamzo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋