Question for Christians?

Question

Do you think it's acceptable to try and (sometimes forcefully) convert people who are not of the same religion as you? I mean, if they are clearly not interested in converting do you believe it is your "duty" to change their minds? Where does freedom of religion come into play? If they believe in an all powerful being who is good in nature then what is wrong with that? Just because they don't call him/her God or Jesus or Allah or Jehovah doesn't mean they are evil or that they worship satan. I guess I just don't understand the bible thumping fundys. Please explain.....

Do you think it's acceptable to try and (sometimes forcefully) convert people who are not of the same religion as you? I mean, if they are clearly not interested in converting do you believe it is your "duty" to change their minds? Where does freedom of religion come into play? If they believe in an all powerful being who is good in nature then what is wrong with that? Just because they don't call him/her God or Jesus or Allah or Jehovah doesn't mean they are evil or that they worship satan. I guess I just don't understand the bible thumping fundys. Please explain.....

I am not attacking Christians as some may believe. If I say I'm not interested why do they persist? I have actually been backed into a corner by 3 people on the street with bibles telling me I was wrong and was going to hell. I did nothing to them. They asked if I believed in Jesus and I said no. Why can't they just move on? Someone said they wouldn't force but would persuade....what's the difference?

Everyone who's answered this question with the exception of maybe 2 has proven my point. Even in trying to convince me that you don't force you're religion on others you continue to say that I'm on the wrong path or bad path or am lost or misguided by the devil. Thank you for confirming you intolerance.

Answer 1

No. I think it's absolutely the wrong thing to do. People are not likely to change their minds while being haraunged about how wrong they are.

Answer 2

I rely mostly on the Holy Spirit for guidance. I will know through the Holy Spirit if I have been placed in a place where I need to minister. The bible also talks about how some people are not ready to listen. They can not understand the word. I know that God is working in their lives without my help. Just like myself, I had to go though the fire before I could truly appreciate what God has saved me from. Most importantly, you need to know where you stand. Don't be confused my everything that sounds wonderful. Satan is the father of deception. Satan has to come up with some pretty clever way to deceive some very intelligent people. Stand by the truth. We know that the only way to Heaven it through the acceptance that Jesus is our Savior and he died so that our sins could be forgiven.

I don't believe that everyone who loves Allah worships the devil.
I just believe that like myself I was once misguided. I was lost. I loved the Lord but I needed to know the way. I could not find God by force. But God did place the right people in my life at the right time because God knew when I would listen.

I hope this helps. My suggestion would be to develop a strong relationship with the Holy Spirit by reading the Bible everyday.
Then you will have the calm confidence to speak up for your beliefs when you are called to duty.

Thanks for the question.

Answer 3

God told His people to go into the world and preach the gospel to all people. To do this, Christians are SUPPOSED to follow the examples & teachings of Jesus. Jesus lived His life among the people in a way that drew people to want to know more and follow after Him. As they followed after Him, He lovingly and compassionately taught them God's Ways.
No one (Christian or other) should ever forcefully try to convert anyone. The Bible says that no one comes to the Father unless the Spirit of God draws them. In other words - God prepares a person's heart and HOPEFULLY there will be a compassionate Christian nearby to help lead them into the Truth.
No Bible thumping (OUCH!) is needed, and no one should ever try to force someone to convert.
It's a spiritual thing - not a mind thing.
Hope this answer helps.

Answer 4

Are you asking a question or are you attacking Christians? I never saw any Christians put a gun to anyone's head to convert them. What is wrong with showing someone the love of Christ, What is wrong with letting them know that Jesus loves them. What you unbelieving attackers do not realize is irregardless of what you hear or how it is said, Hell is a real place and those who do not choose Christ will be caught in it. It is a Christians place to bring others to Christ. I have also noticed no matter what a Christian says, you call them bigots, thumpers. If we preach love you hate us, if we preach about hell, you hate us. It is a good thing we live for Christ, not you. Throughout history Christians have been persecuted, and that did not stop us, your name calling will not deter us either. WE PUT GOD FIRST, and everything else comes next.

In the bible Jesus said," Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the profits which were before you."

Answer 5

You can take a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

I beleive that it is wrong for one person to try and stamp their views on another, whether it be religious or political.
If a person is interested, then they should be given the facts and allowed to make their own decision based on the facts offered. If they are not interested then that person should be left alone. (This is where I fall out with J Ws) Jesus told his diciples to spread the word to all people, not pester the life out of them and force it down their throats! Some people will listen, others will not. This is the free will we were given!
But after all said and done, there is only one true god, and whatever you choose to call him he knows you are talking to him.
I enjoy sensible and fruitful discussion, but detest lectures, especially from people who are often less knowlegable than myself, so all you bible bashers and J Ws, leave us alone, we have access to all the relavent details, we are never far away from a church or library and if we want to find out more we will, on our own, and IF WE WANT YOUR HELP WE'LL ASK FOR IT.

Answer 6

I try not to shove my beliefs down anyones throats. However, I was doing it to a man I was dating and didn't even know it. After we seperated he told me that I would preach to him!!!! I felt horrible, I didn't mean to do it. Its funny, now, I would only date a believer, someone who has the same ideas of religion that I do. I never would want to be one of those people, but, here clearly I was! Yikes! I think people will come to religion on their own free will. I just want to be available for questions and help with anyone who might need guidance. I guess when you really start to care about someone, I WANTED him SAVED!! The only way to do that, is NOT to preach, but to pray. I learned the hard way. Its been 6 months sense we seperated, and he actually calls me about religion stuff, so maybe I did create a Spark of intrest. Who knows!

Answer 7

I am obligated to tell the good news, God forgives sin through Jesus Christ. The hearer acts to their own choice.
Different religions have opposing views who God is, these are not compatible. One is offensive to another. I can't "force someone to become a Christian, God didn't force me.But I can continually proclaim want I know through experience, as a better way.

Answer 8

One man sows, another man reaps. Biblicaly, if you are a sower, you are to state the message and leave it at that. If they don't accept it, you are to wipe the dust from your sandals and move on.

If someone is clearly not interested, you're just going to piss them off and turn them against you if you persist. You can not force someone else's mind to change, you can only persuade.

Answer 9

First off, we're told in the bible to spread the word. Do you honestly know of any civilization on earth that hasn't heard about God yet? If they want to know, they'll ask. It's not our "duty" to do anything but make sure they know who He is, whether they accept Him or not isn't our call.

Answer 10

I am a christian and I never force my religion on another....now in this forum when a question is asked I have the right to answer it as I choose just as you do...as the Word says ...if you ask you will receive

Answer 11

i don't think anyone believes that it's right to force something down others' throats. the bible does command Christians to share their faith, however. also, people tend to talk about what's most important to them (grandchildren, work, etc.). therefore, if God and faith are the most important thing to a Christian, it's only natural for them to talk about it.