Question for Christians: Why do you try to convert others?

Question

I'm asking in utmost respect. I'm curious as to the reasoning. I'm not ignoring the other faiths, it just seems the majority of the people trying to convert others is Christians.

uh, nios... what is the asterisk part about? i don't get what you're saying. are you talking to me? i didn't say anything about catholics.

never mind nios, i figured it out after reading more replies. :)

and no, thank you, i already converted from christianity to wicca, and i have no intention of swaying from my currently content path.

by the way, i appreciate the respectful and honest and thorough answers. i really was curious, and i'm getting lots of good answers. i have no problem with christians at all, in fact my grandfather is a Reverend, and I have lots of curiousity for the different faiths of the world.

If I spread the word about my faith on here, would it be greeted harshly?

Answer 1

*others are christian

typos bother me...

people sometimes care and worry for others so they might try to convert them to "save" them. others seem to think of it as their duty. and others may just think how you're living is wrong and you need help.
I really have to believe in the best of people and say that they're thinking in someone else's best interest, just not neccesarily in the one's they're trying to help.
I think catholicism tries to keep people from doing that too much, just my religion, what can i say.

p.s. I don't
blessed be (i don't know if i used that right, it's a wiccan thing right? idk *shrug*) peace to ya witchy woman!

Answer 2

For now forget the two reasons given by an unchristian to a question asked to christians "Doing the work of God" and "Getting to Heaven". I would like to give you the "compelling reasons that drive a Christian to spread the word" taking into account.
1) History
2) Science
3) Human Experience

The Bible unlike any other religious book has been very true about all historic facts it mentions infact about everything it says. Our studies about the past by means of archaelogy, ancient historical manuscripts etc have only added more proof to whats already stated in the Bible. An objective study has never disproved anything. Each day there is compelling new evidance that it is true. If you really keep your eyes open you will see.

The same holds true for all KNOWN facts of science. I'm not talking of theories. More and more people from the scientific community are starting to believe that there is 'Intelligent Design' is everything around us. This is a vast subject .. kind of 'out of the scope' to your question.

What God has been doing in our lives is "unmerited favour" aka Grace. We know we DONT deserve it any more that anyone else. It has been His infinite mercy and love that has paved a way for the lost man to return back to God. So it would be selfish on our part NOT to speak out of the great things God is doing to us.

Bible is not just history & God's rules. It also contains shocking prophesies that are being fulfilled even today in Lebanon and Israel.

A lover or humanity cannot but spread the good news once he comes to know so much. Christianity is about knowlegde of God, universe, history and our eternal future. So it needs to be spread unlike other religions where there is utmost a bunch of rituals based on some blind belief.

Answer 3

It has nothing to do with thinking it will get us into Heaven as the first guy said. And it is not selfish. Christians know that the only way that we will get into Heaven is by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. It is not by how many points we score, converting others to Christianity. Whoever (I dont mean you at all) who says that is why Christians do it, is ignorant of our beliefs, and shouldn't tell others what our beliefs are when they really have no idea.
The reason we do this is: #1) It is told to us in the Bible that we are to spread Gods word in the world. That is why you see so many Churches, missionaries, and religious get togethers. It is because we believe what the Bible teaches and it does say that we are to spread his word. Matthew 28:18-20 is one of the places it tells us to do that. So we are simply following what we believe God commanded us to do.
#2) It actually is a completely unselfish act. We do not win a ticket into Heaven by converting others. If someone thinks that this is the way into Heaven, they are seriously confussed. Christians, though some may false in their actions, are showing love for their fellow man, by wanting to save that persons soul from Hell, by leading them to God. If they were selfish people, they would leave an Atheist or non-believer to their demise. It truely is out of the desire to not see anyone go to Hell (which we completely belive is a real and horrible place, and that our Bible teaches is where anyone who rejects Jesus and God, will go to). Well, I know there are going to be those who disagree with me, but that is how me, my family and my Church family believe.

Answer 4

It says in the Bible that the Harvest is many but the workers are few. In other words, there are many to be saved, but few people to go out and gather the people needing to be saved. I do it because I wish for no one to be left behind and suffer the Tribulation, and worse yet, eternal damnation in hell. I have a love for my fellow human beings. I am not trying to say that anyone is bad or any thing like that, its just that everyone has sinned and has been born with sin. Until you ask for forgiveness and accept Jesus Christ as your savior, no matter how much good you do, you will not be in heaven for eternity. It is out of love, not out of any hatefulness or self serving act. I know some who call themselves Christians come off the total opposite, but that is not what is suppose to be. That is a indicator of their motives from their true heart. I hope this helped answer your question.

Answer 5

Christians CARE about the well being and salvation of our fellow man. The Bible tells people to do such things What's wrong with helping others? If a person of a given religious denomination..lets say Lutheran, talks to someone about salvation it doesn't necessarily mean that that person has to join the Lutheran church. They are free to join any denomination but as long as salvation through Gods grace by faith...Jesus sacrifice on our behalf, is the basis for their testimony, then the will of God is done. Gods will is that all people will be saved-go to heaven. Nothing wrong with helping a person know that and hopefully be saved. .

Answer 6

Personally I don't try to convert people. I just tell them what happened in my life to change my faith to Christian. I was Catholic but prefer the Christian religion. I will admit there are a lot of people I know like that. Like for example I was asked without expecting it,"When did you accept Jesus as your Lord & Savior?" I got nervous cause I've never been open enough to go into great detail how it happened to me & they expected this long explanation. You have to just deal somehow with the people like that. They just want you to feel the happiness in their hearts as I do too.

Answer 7

there are those that take it too far and once the line is crossed where they are condemning someones behaviour thats bad. some interpret "the great comission" to be ramming it down someones throat and telling them how screwed up they are and they need to change their evil ways .... this is NOT the great commision this is ignorance of Gods word and teaching and it alienates people. Im a Christian and i wouldnt try to convert u, i would try to be ur friend and a good example for my beliefs. Then again, there is alot of intolerance to Christians just for being what they are and for what they believe ... dont misconstrue that as me trying to convert u ... if somthing is tugging at ur mind and making u question urself inside its not me :)

Answer 8

Witchy_Woman_07,
D. Rocker is wrong about what (s)he said.

Christians are not to think that anything they do gets them into heaven, other than trusting God.

The reason why some try to convert others is that they think it is their duty. "Trying to convert others" is not their job though. What they are supposed to do is present the word of God, preach the Good news ( the Gospel) so that those that God has been working on know what to respond to.

So all people are not those that God had been working on. He does not want everybody, though He paid the price for everybody.

Sorry that we cannot be that discerning. I suppose that you might know witches that lack discernment. It's the same thing here.

Answer 9

let me put it this way, we dont get paid for doing this, and not everyone calling themselves christian is a christian. but lets say you were on a street within the vicinity of a bridge that had given way(broken) and there were no warnings for anyone crossing that bridge other than you and two hand flares you had, any rational person would be screaming at the top of thier lungs to save lives, now inevitably some drivers would call you crazy, try to run you over for getting in thier way, etc but some would believe you and help you save others,. my friend .....christians are that person with the flares, that broken bridge is sin and the river is hell. we are obeying Gods command of trying to keep people out of it. its the reason Gods Son died on a cross to prevent you from going there

Answer 10

It has a lot to do with our enthusiasm for the way we live our lives.

Hey, I'm enthusiastic about the show "The Office" and won't shut up about that either.

Seriously though, a lot are overzealous. After all, this is religion we're talking about, not a set of encyclopedias. People should lay off the sales pitch.

Answer 11

Part of the commandments of the Christian faith is to "go forth and make disciples of all the nations" and to share the good news with others. We believe that God has commanded us to the process of Evangelism.

Why else? Well, because we truly love all people and we believe that Heaven is real and that so is Hell. We want to save people from Hell and help bring them to Heaven. Because that is core to our belief, we must act on that.

Okay, so a lot of times we aren't very good at it. Evangelism is a tough cookie that's for sure! And it's just as scary for us as it is annoying for you.