What is it that drives Christians to proselytize people? Why can't you just live and let live?

Question

I'm not Athiest. I'm Wiccan. And I don't proselytize people.

Answer 1

Moon Goddess,

I am a Christian and I would love if you would convert to my religion. And I would hope that if anyone honestly felt that their religion was the true religion, they would do the same for me.

Everyone needs to look out for each other. We were told to spread the news about God to people who don't believe. Not to annoy you, not because we feel we need to exert power over you, and not because we feel that we know it all.

The real answer is that God wants you to know him. Imagine for just a second that he is real. That he is up in Heaven, extremely sorrowful at the state of the world but unable to fix it all because then he would have to take away our free will, we would be unable to grow, people would be terrified of him because they didn't understand him, and because scientists would just explain his miracles somehow with the law of physics.

Imagine, if God was real, how he feels when people not only don't believe in him, but come up with proof for reasons why he can't exist, blame him for everything bad in the world, and openly mock him.

Imagine, if God happened to be real, that he is shedding tears over YOU, and everyone else that isn't willing to accept his gift of happiness and life. That if Jesus was an actual person, an actual son of God who died for you, you are telling him that he died for nothing, because you don't want a part of it.

Imagine for just one second that God is real, and that God does love you, and that he will show you the way to true happiness and contentment with your life, and will strengthen your relationships with love. Imagine that he's just waiting for you to say, "I want to believe. Show me how."

That is why I feel I have to "convert" you.

Answer 2

You are generalizing. When you generalize, you throw the baby out with the bathwater. The generalization that all christians proselytize is unjust and untrue; proselytizing by definition is rude. Sharing one's beliefs is in a polite way is not. Many proselytizing is only proselytizing when it intrudes into someone elses life in a way that is personally offensive to that person without offering benefits.

Answer 3

The primary reasons Christians proselytize is because it is in the teachings of their faith to spread the word. The majority of them mean no ill will but simply wish to share their happiness. There are some who are hateful about it but they aren't the majority. The only issue that arises often is that people like me who aren't christan find proselytization offensive. I personally think if someone is trying to tell me about their faith they are telling me im wrong and they are right no matter what. But i just politely say no thanks and end it there. That is why though. If it offends you simply tell them, 99% of them will thank you happily and move along their way. Good luck and be safe.

Cpl Rush
US Army Combat Medic

Answer 4

Firstly, I hope no one is forcing a religion upon you. You should make the choice yourself.

Taken from Revelations 20:11-15, in the Bible

The Great White Throne Judgment

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God,[c] and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.[d] 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

This is the reason why Christians are keen to evangelize. The difference is eternity with God or eternity in the lake of fire.

If you know that your friend is in a burning building, will you do nothing?

Answer 5

Your are proselytizing us with your belief right now ... we all want people to hear clearly what we believe because we feel it will help others so we are all the same . when you make statements like you just did its not the proselytizing that bothers you its the content of the material your are uncomfortable with. Perhaps your frustration is that you didnt like to hear things that point that you may be wrong in your beliefs. If you only want to hear things you already agree with then stay in your house and only talk to those who believe the way you do. There you will continue to be intolerant of others thoughts and beliefs .

Answer 6

hey there,

The greatest problem with christians is that they don't have a sence of balance. They are scard of those that are of other paths. No, I was once a bloodhound christian, digging out the "grime" of the world and always wanted them to convert to my path. Then something happened. I started befriending pagans and I started to say to them, what is better about your path than mine. They said to me that there is no one path, but remember this, all paths lead to the source, some just take longer to get there, so I started to udnerstand them, and then hell broke loose. I got exiled from the churches just because I befriended these people, but was it not part of the christian read to go out and find the lost flock?

I then turned to my parents and they told me that I was from a long bloodline of occultic people, then I just said that let them be as they know nothing.

The only man that knows nothing says he know more than all.

Let them be, they are digging their own graves, I just want to remind them, where would you find Christ, he was amoung the leapers and whores, not in the church and on the street corners showing how holy and perfect he was. He was a man that had heart, he was a mna that loved without hate. He loved the sinner but hated the sin.

all that I can say is, make your own assesment of what was said, it can only lead to one answer.

Kind Regards and blessings and light.

Answer 7

Christians believe that there are certain truths in the world. You can certainly disagree with them on this and of course many people do. but once convicted by this truth, it is hard to keep it to yourself. It's like figuring out the solution to a challenging puzzle- you want to share it with anyone you can corner. I don't know why Christianity should be unique in this regard. Unfortunately, some Christians do go overboard and their excitement converts into a warped desire to "collect" souls with little regard on how they go about it.

Answer 8

What is it that drives Athiets to proselytize people? Why can't you just live and let live?

Answer 9

What if to "live and let live" leads to death? Should we still "live and let live"? If a person is swimming in shark-infested waters, do you live and let live? Or you have knowledge that the volcano is about to blow its top, but the villagers think you are joking with them as they have lived there for many generations. Do you just live and let live? Or you know the tsunami are heading for the shore, but the people are so ignorantly happy with their activities, do you just live and let live? Well, if live and let live is your motto, then you should also live and let live and let the Christians go about their business of proselytising.

Answer 10

Jesus told us:

"Therefore, as you go, disciple all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)

"Then he said to them, "As you go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." (Mark 16:15)

So, we are merely being obedient to the One who bought us with His own blood. To do any less would cheapen His grace. We are merely beggars telling other beggars where to find bread.