Why can't people who believe in Jesus Christ let others have their own beliefs?

Question

In no way do I mean to offend.

... and respect their decision - not try to change it.

Answer 1

they are arrogant assholes thats why..
its been the way of the church for hundreds of years and religion is not one for change.

Answer 2

Oh wow, how offensive can some of these people be?

Well, you ask a legitimate question. I will try to help you. All religions seek converts; however, their means vary.

1. For christianity, every person in encouraged to spread the message. For some religions, only the religious elite are encouraged to do so. This is why it may seem that everyone is out to convert you... we are.

2. Not all people have the same personality, everyone has a different approach. Consider those religions who have an elite caste. You only have a few views and tactics for converts. With christianity, you have millions of "ministers" each with their own methods. Therefore, you are likely to meet thousands who are overly aggresive. It only appears that we are all militants.

3. The fact that christianity is one of the only religions that values individual thought and beliefs has allowed it to spread across the world. Every person brings valuable beliefs into the faith and therefore no one should be ignored or shunned. In other words, christianity as a whole accepts anyone who believes in John 3:16.

4. Now, for my last arguement. Consider sin. It is considered a sin not to spread the "Good News". Therefore, each person that passes by is an opportunity to spread the "Good News". Therefore, each person is also a temptation to sin against God. If a person passes by and a christian says, "God be with you" or "May God bless you", then the christian has done the job of spreading the "Good News". If the christian says nothing and ignores you, it is a sin against God. That was a missed opportunity.

You may not understand these things, but understand that religious tolerance works both ways. If you want the christian to respect your beliefs, you have to respect the christians too.

Example:
Christian: "May the Lord bless you on this fine day."
Islamic: "Praise Allah he has."

The christian will probably want to convert at this point, but you have given them the "Get out of Hell free" card they need to maintain their beliefs. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

No offense taken. I can totally see where you get that idea. You know, I think in the pure form that Christians actually care about others and their lives. ANd so they want to share. BUt I think I see so much of the "ego-driven" stuff nowadays. Mine is better than yours and if you believe yours you are lost or stupid or whatever.

As for me, the best way I can witness is to let people see my own life. Let them see that I am absolutely living life to the fullest. And then when they see me serving the community with my church, it'll click that it's because of my walk with the Lord.

But I'm respectful of others and their beliefs. I don't believe that "we" have the lock on morals. I mean, #1, there are PLENTY of moral atheists. #2, take a look at some of the Goofballs who act like they are the best Christians on earth (Robertson, Falwell, etc.).

Take care and have a great weekend!

Answer 4

No offense taken...it's a good question!

Christians believe that Jesus Christ died for the sins of mankind. By believing and worshipping in the Christian way, an individual draws closer to God and leaves sin behind.

The way some Christians understand this process (of moving toward God and away from sin) is that it is abrupt and harsh. One minute you are a dirty, filthy sinner and the next moment (the one after you profess belief or get baptized) you are wiped clean. Concieving Christianity in such a way makes it like a club - you're in if you believe and you're out if you don't.

Jesus preached nothing of the sort. He understood that all people had struggles with faith and with sin - even those who set themselves as religious types. In fact, Jesus took on religious leaders directly, and often showed real empathy to those (such as youself perhaps) who voiced outrage, doubt, and dismay at the way religions are organized.

True connection to God begins with small doses of awareness. Whatever your path, it leads to the same place, as long as it is a connection to a universe bound together with love and mutual understanding. For example, you may find that efforts in helping a stranger less fortunate than youself results in the same feelings of fun and joy you may feel for someone you really know and love. See the connection? That's why they call it God's work.

And finally, if I am a Christian, and I am talking about faith and beliefs, it's not because I am "letting" you have your own beliefs. The issue is between you and God only. Joining others comes later, and can be fun and interesting, if you go in for that religious stuff.

In the US, we have religious freedom - not religious tolerance. Big difference. You are not "tolerated" by any state religion. You are free to express your own. We have expressions of faith all over our government and references to God on our coins and public buildings. But those are free expressions, and nothing is implied by them as to what faith you OUGHT to have. So if someone tells you we come from a "Christian" country, let them in on our founding fathers' philosophical nuances. They were a lot smarter about the God game than many Christians in the media give them credit for.

Answer 5

Because it is a disease they have caught and cant get rid of so they try to pass it on.

CHRISTIANITY= VIRUS OF THE MIND

 
Christianity is basically nothing more than an extremely efficient virus of the mind.

Since they emanate from humans and therefore have an organic component, all ideas have a survival instinct just like their human progenitors, and will seek to propagate themselves into as many human hosts as possible. Now of course some ideas are beneficial to their human hosts, but not all.

Christianity is one of those malignant versions. Of course, the long-term life expectancy of its human hosts is beneficial to the Christian mind virus since it allows more propagation, but ultimately the survival of its human hosts is irrelevant, as demonstrated throughout history in wars with competing religious viral "memes" (ideas).

Need proof? Just look at the evangelical nature of Christianity. Christianity drives its adherents to "spread the word" through human-to-human contact...just like a virus spreads.

And what is a "word" anyway? Nothing more than the spoken or written expression of an IDEA. The Christian Bible even ADMITS that God is nothing more than an IDEA..."In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD WAS GOD", remember?

Need more proof? Ever wonder why the Catholic Church opposes birth control and abortion? It's not because abortion is murder, because throughout history the Catholic Church has either endorsed murder (Crusades, Inquisition) or turned a blind eye to it (Holocaust). No, it's because THE MORE UNEDUCATED, POOR, IGNORANT SOULS THAT ARE BORN INTO POVERTY AND MISERY ON THIS PLANET, THE GREATER THE CHRISTIAN MIND VIRUS' CHANCES OF SURVIVAL.

Answer 6

We, in no way have any right to give someone "permission" to believe what they want. If you want to believe in w/e religion, it's fine. However, we know for a fact that Jesus is coming back to the earth to take to Heaven, those who believe on him...we also believe that when you die, if you do not know Jesus, you are condemed to hell. so our mission is to get everyone we can to accept Jesus, so they don't have to have eternal death. Believe it or not, it's true. Analogy: If you knew that a meteor was going to hit the state of Texas wouldn't you try to save as many people as you could, so they wouldn't have to die????? Read in the bible, John 3:16-19 (try to read it from a study bible, or a teen bible)

Answer 7

Because at the heart of Christianity is the command to.."Go, preach and baptize in the name of Jesus Christ." conversion/proselytizing others is part of the "Great Commission" issued by Christ to those who observed his ascent into heaven. Jesus says he is "the way"...that excludes all other ways. It doesn't allow room for other beliefs.

Answer 8

For one thing no one has the right to judge. God will give us another chance after our life mission to believe in him or not. We are given a choice by god now to believe or not. Remember God has a plan and our plan is not done yet we are still in the beginning stages. Ask a Mormon for there opinion they are absolutely amazing people with answers to questions like these. Each of us have a personal relationship with God ask him with all your heart and he will answer your questions.

Answer 9

Actually we do. Many of us know that we can't force you to make that decision. But just because we can't force means that we need to sit on the sidelines.

We offer another choice. One we see as better, but we don't force you. Anyway, we seem to get most of the flack from those of other religions more than we give it.

And no offense given.

Answer 10

Ok, we let anyone believe whatever they want to believe. We can't MAKE anyone believe anything. Do we tell others what we believe? Yes. You do, too. Everyone does. Do we think we're right? Yes. Do you think you're right? Yes. This is all just basic human nature.

Answer 11

hmmm, becuase they cant leave well enough alone, they have to stick there big noses in other poeples business and try to tell them how to live so they can have power over them. they are not happy unless they can controll unthers dont believe me, had a friend had to go to south america to "spread the word of christ" i didnt say anything, nut i though why cant u leave them alone, why do you think they care