For those who find witness/preach/whatever your particular faith calls it...?

Question

...why don't you realize that--by continued harping, preaching, witnessing, or whatever in your efforts to lead as many as possible to Christ--so many times you are actually achieving the opposite of your goal and actually causing people to stay further and further away from the church, religion, and/or God--period?

Don't you get annoyed or offended when someone repeatedly questions your own faith? Doesn't it offend you when someone of another faith tells you you're going to hell because you're not a member of their church? So, who are you to do the same to another?

And have you ever heard the phrase "less is more?"

For the record, I'm not an atheist. I believe in God, but I'm not crazy about organized religion.

Answer 1

Those who hear the voice of the good shepherd come, those who do not, at least they have heard the message. It doesn't have anything to do with my personal salvation whether or not a person converts to the message given of Christ. It would be nice. But, it is up to the individual to choose.

Answer 2

Ill be speaking on behalf of Jehovah's Witnesses -- best known for their door-to-door preaching work. I dont mean to sound mean, if it seems that way hehe :)

First is first -- It seems you have possibly overlooked the command that was given to us through Jesus Christ - Matthew 28:19, 20 "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And, look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things." Notice how it says "GO" not "wait until they come to you". Its as simple as that. When Jesus was on earth, he went around to people he didn't know and preached to them. Those who preach the good news are doing what the Bible has told them, no less no more.

Secondly, we don't cause the right people to stay further away from us. As said in John 6:44 "No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him...". This clearly shows that those who do not accept the preaching are not, atleast at this time, being drawn by God. Effectively, if someone asks us not to come back, we aren't heartbroken you know -- we've done our job. Theres nothing we can do except what God has told us to.

Finally, the preachers of Jehovah's Witnesses DO NOT question your faith. They tell you what theyve learned, back it up with a billion scriptures, and then ask if it makes sense to you. Also, Witnesses do not believe in a 'hell' therefore we do not tell people thats where they will go. The question is, who are you to assume all religions will say those things to a person.

Have you ever heard the phrase "think before you talk?" ;-)

Answer 3

Jesus told the parable of the soils. The seed which is the Word of God fell on different soils. Some got snatched away by the birds which are a metaphor for the devil. Some fell on rocky ground, some among thorn bushes, and some on good soil. I'm not going to run out of "seed" and I send my prayers along with the Word and hope that it will find some good soil to land in. For as it is written:

Romans 10:13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

If people get annoyed, that's their hang up. I'm not twisting their arms to move the mouse and forcing them to read what I post. As many on here are fond of saying "It's a free country and as long as I'm not hurting anyone why should it bother you?"

Answer 4

In my everyday life I lead by example and I share my faith only when I am asked or I see a way to do it with without making people feel uncomfortable. You can witness to people without screaming Jesus every few seconds. If you are kind to people you can always find a way to work your faith into a conversation.I am a Christian, but even I am troubled by over zealous people with no tact. On this site however, since we are discussing religious issues you've got to realize we will all be vocal... Christians, Atheists, etc... We are all sharing our opinions so if you use this site you have to be able to accept the answers you receive.

Answer 5

Good gracious, sweetheart, who yanked your chain tonight? I am assocoiated with Jehovah's Witnesses, and yes, we understand that probably 75% of the time, people don't want to hear what we have to say...but we aren't worried about pleasing a person. It's God we try to please, and it pleases Him when we make the effort to speak to those who are not familiar with our religion. Our concern is the 25% who WANT to hear what we are talking about! How will we find them if we don't weed through the ones who could care less? The Bible says there will be those who will turn aside from our message, so it's ok that so many have your attitude. I apologize for anyone in our organization who may have caused your anger and resentment, but we are trying to please a higher authority!

Answer 6

When I was inactive in my Church I did get exasperated with people who were trying to get me to go back. I wasn't ready until I was ready. I went back in the Lord's time because He put me on my knees and brought me to realize that I was making a big mess of my life the way I was living it. It was too painful to continue without Him in my life anymore. I believe everyone has their time to come to know the Saviour and the Father. If you're not ready, then you aren't and can't be forced.
I don't really get upset when someone questions my faith because I know that I believe in the only true and living Church on the face of the earth. No-one can change my testimony of that. I have proved it for myself over and over and over again.
Heavenly Father loves us all. We disappoint Him all the time, but He still loves us. When are we going to show Him that we love Him too?

Answer 7

I understand you i think that ppl do it rong and they seem like a bunch of hypocritcol bissy botty old ladies that look down ther noses at every one i use to work in a factory and it was very small family place and they were all christians and me as a single mother was out casted and the daughter of the floor supervisos was a tottle sut and hit on the old men but because she whent to church with her family she was "better"than me

Answer 8

They don't get a choice in the matter, The church always wants more money, The only way to get more money is to get more members.
The sheep are instructed that if they do not preach to others and get more recruits then the magic man in the sky is going to be really angry and send them to hell.

Answer 9

Actually I fing most Christians to be unobtrusive and easy going in the way they preach. Of course, the pushy loud mouth ones are the ones we make note of.

BTW, I find the Athiests to be far far more ignorant generally.

Answer 10

i wish you were right, but i don't think you are. people become more and more likely to believe something the more that they hear it. lots of people might get annoyed at christian preaching, but if a loved one of theirs dies 10 years later, then all that preaching comes back to them. and if they're weak enough, they'll buy into it. planting seeds really does work. that's why it's so important that secularists fight fire with fire.