Tired of poorly educated "Christians"?

Question

Are you as tired of poorly educated people that call themselves "Christians"? I am. I come to this site time and again to find Christians poorly witnessing their faith by making these aweful statements that are basically saying, "Choose or die!"

They use the logic flaw of applying to your fear in hopes to scare the literal "hell" out of you.

Did Jesus or any of the writers of the books in the Bible use fear to save the unbeliever? NO!!!!

There is no, "Choose or die!" speech in any place of the Bible what-so-ever.

The only thing that this type of talk does is drive a wedge further between the believer and the unbeliever! I will bet a thousand bucks (not literal) that if the typical non-believer actaully knew what the faith was all about, their disgust for the faith would lessen dramatically!!!!

Unfortunetly, their disgust for those who hold on to this bad theology of, "Choose or die!" will increase greatly as well. :o(

Dear White Baptist,
You are exactly one of those that I am talking about! :o(

Dear Beautiful and Smart,
Experience is not what it is about. If it were then we would have no need for the teachings of Scripture (teachings=doctrines). Yeah, I know ... You don't need no stinkin doctrines. :o(

Dear Venus M,
I mean poorly educated in the faith.

Dear Christ is the Door,
John 15:16 You didn't choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

Dear Williamzo,
Moses was talking to the people who were already believers (Israel) just as if a pastor would speak to those in his congregation.

Dear Gary,
I don't think you understand. I believe that I am a sinner in need of a savior, that savior is found in the shed blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ.

I did not become a believe from the fear tactics of others, I became a believer by the grace of God through the means of grace; that is Baptism, the Word and the Lord's Supper.

Dear Mr. Mister,
Please read carefully before you post as you misquoted me about the need for doctrines. I was speaking in reply to a previous poster about their lacking the need of doctrines for the replacement of experience. I fully believe that we need doctrine.

As for your post .. I did not post this post to be bullied into a debate over Scripture verses. This is the attitude that I find so disheartening with Christians.

Dear Grandreal,
I would call that a balance of Law and Gospel. The law was telling us that we are sinners that cannot save ourselves and the Gospel telling us that we that we are not saved by our own works (choice is a work), but saved by faith (if you read the whole chapter that is).

The legalist say, "DO DO DO or else"

The Christian say, "We are all sinners who fall short of the glory of God. We cannot save ourselves but are saved by the works of Jesus on the Cross."

Dear Christian,
Please understand that we cannot clean ourselves of this sin. We are sinners that can only reject that which is Holy. A filthy rag cannot clean itself but IS cleaned by another, that other is the Holy Spirit which WORKS faith in the unbeliever. It is not our words of, "Choose or die(burn)!" It is the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God that faith is created.

Answer 1

Yes, I think I know what you mean. I am a christian and would not be so by any means if it revolved around fear of anything I can assure you. I had a friend (non-christian) who was handed a leaflet in the street detailing all these horrific things that would happen to her if she chose not to convert! Absolute disgrace.

I did write a question yesterday that you might have been referring to. It is true that some people do simply choose to not be Christians and ignore anything to do with religion, not even bothering to think about it. I think this is certainly wrong. If anyone is an atheist then they should have at least considered all options before choosing that path. And of course, there will be people that are far 'better people' than Christians who are atheists.

I do totally agree with you that fear should not take part in anyone's relationship with God. If I were to try and convert someone, I would do it by trying to be a decent person and show how my life is better (or at least how and why I think it is better) to be a christian.

Are you a christian yourself? If not, then I hope you will be able to ignore these people to some extent. You seem to have a knowledge of the bible, so at least you have bothered to research Christianity, and that way made your decision. Thank you for a good question, and I hope that my view helps

Answer 2

Fear? Fear is in the mind and ears of the listener. I believe God Himself, says FEAR GOD. hello???

I don't know what version of the Holy Bible you use. But let me assure you my friend. How many verses do you want on choose or lose?
I don't recall Jesus telling anyone one, to "Choose or die". However, He did state the options and coincidence of not making the correct choice.

If your "Generalizing" poor witnessing, that is up too you. Poorly educated? hmmmm. I guess you are the world Scholar? right? The only reason I say this, I, see where you are a Lutheran. ok?
I know what Lutheran teaches. anytime you and I want to compare notes on the Holy bible, I welcome it.

As far as Christians on here, I guess we all learn by experiance. A person has to start somewhere. I guess you were born with infinite knowledge? Some of us were not that lucky, however, I doubt you were either. I have seen some bad information given, sure. I'm thinking this is done by New or not well grounded people. You know as well as I do, if you don't know what your talking about, you should sit back and read and learn before you give bad advise. I think this could be a "Stumbiling Block".
BUT...What a better place to pratice than here? If you think for a minute, people come here to find salvation, you better backup and repunt. A person seeking TRUTH does not goto a website full of Atheists seeking God's Knowledge. If you think this is a church forum, you have not a clue what "church" is.

Interesting how you claim we don't need a stinking doctrine). I guess you overead the Book of Eph. ONE TRUTH..ONE SPIRIT..ONE BAPTISM..ONE FAITH. "ONE DOCTRINE".....The New testament is the ONE DOCTRINE, my friend. We don't need this?
Now, if this is not what you meant...Then I, see spiritual ignorance out of YOU, yourself. Myabe that of, uneducated. By YOUR own words, a unbeliever might think he doesn't need the New Testament.

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Answer 3

I like Chris D's answer. The thing is that I believe the Final Judgment has not even happened yet, so how do others even have the authority to use threats like those you mention? There are, however, scary things coming up prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. I guess the best thing to compare it to would be if you knew a tornado was heading toward your neighborhood, would you warn your neighbors or simply stay quiet and hide in your basement the entire time? I think we still have several to as many as 20 or 30 years to go, though, so I would agree with you that dire warnings or critical judgments are not the way share the Gospel. Love and friendship are much more powerful, and besides, everyone has the right to get answers for themselves at their own rate of learning.

Answer 4

Jesus 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus Christ said choose Him or die!

Acts 4:12 - Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Apostle Paul said choose Jesus Christ or die!

Study the Bible a little more next time like us poorly educated Christians do!

Answer 5

Your argument is well crafted; while the intention of some is to scare one into doing the right thing, it is clear that scaring people only motivates, if at all, for the short term.
Consider certain cataclysms in one's life, near fatal automobile accidents and the like: we get a generally good feeling when we see people who have seemingly "turned their lives around." My difficulty is that it seldom lasts a long time.
My first exposure was the road death of some friends in high school. They had been drinking and having a good time. The accident was grisly and the effects were horrible. It would have been a good thing if we might have learned from such things, but we quickly forget. People who have been inundated with blessings forget more easily in my experience.
There is no one more able to understand the devastating effects of alcoholism than a son or daughter of an alcoholic; nevertheless, these same people are sometimes fraught with the same difficulties. Ultimately, there is nothing worse than someone who was a smoker for years telling you about the evils of smoking. I have a friend who finally lost a lot of weight who lectures everyone on nutrition, like she discovered it. These people are just irritating, rather than effective.
I think the real reason people do this is that true heartfelt communication is just too difficult. Perhaps, too, they feel that unless they get a running jump on attacking the naysayer, they won't be able to win. It's a sign of desperation and lack of consideration for one another as human beings, each of us worthy of being loved.
God only asks us to plant seeds. He never promised that we won't get beaten up. As Oswald Chambers mentions, Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, had a spirit that was wonderful and remarkable. Nevertheless, a Pharisee would have twisted her in knots in a theological argument. It woudn't have made a bit of difference in what she knew in her heart.
I heard Rick Warren say that for too long, the Christian has been a mere torso, without arms and legs, just talking about God. I agree with him that it is time for us to stop talking about what our differences are and begin solving the issues of the world as Jesus asked of us. We aren't saved through our works, but it surely makes the path to know Jesus Christ somewhat easier than listening to threats.

Answer 6

Did it occur to you that a lot of people on here are teenagers? They suffer from a typical version of teenagritis, which is they think they know everything even when its apparent they don't or can't explain themselves well. As for the term poorly educated, I am a Christian and in grad school. Do you mean educated in the Bible or educated period. Because frankly you are making too broad of a statement. Oh and I agree. The choose or die thing might have worked 3 centuries ago but its definitely not going to work now.

Answer 7

While I agree with you, I do believe that there is not necessarily fear used in the Bible to encourage conversion/salvation, but consequences. The Bible says in Romans that "The wages of sin is Death." Everyone has sin. However, rubbing this information in the faces of those already predisposed to be unhappy with christianity is not helpful. "Choose or die" is in the Bible, however the approach in which it is used to encourage salvation could use some brushing up on.

Answer 8

I absolutely agree with you! Christians today are forgetting some very important commandments layed down by Jesus himself. Especially this one: 'Do not Judge others.' No one has the right to judge excpet God himself. I'm Christian myself, and I am very upset on how Christians today act. It is said that the worst trait about christianity is the christians themselves. For all you christians out there, start living in the footsteps of Christ. Set an example. Thank you for bringing this up.

Answer 9

I hate that as well. I'm a Christian, and I find it horrendous that so many Christians step over the boundary of acceptance and love to become filled with the urgency of conversion. WE MUST CONVERT! WE MUST CONVERT!!

Here's the deal, however: you aren't going to change them. I won't be able to either.

This is the sort of thing that makes life frustrating. Look at gay marriage or abortion...so many people are scared of what they don't know or trust. How many people go to church, preach the message of God to strangers, then would DIE if they had their sports car or luxury SUV taken away?

What I'm saying is this: like Mahatma Ghandi, "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

We live in a scared society where we make fun of the Islamic "Holy War" when we ourselves wage a holy war every time we go out--it's not one nation UNDER God. It's one WORLD under God.

Answer 10

Christians say that because it is written in the Bible which we believe in. I am quite sorry that you dont like this reality but you have to choose.... There is a hereafter and If you dont make a decision then according to scripture you wont reap the benefits of heaven. There is no in between.... You cant be undecided....You have to make a choice but it is up to you and by no means should any Christian harrass you or make you feel bad.... God wants you to enjoy everlasting life but it's up to you....and if you dont choose his ways then he stills love you but do understand that He can't let you into heaven....wanting to do things YOUR way. Either your gonna obey the rules or you cant come in...and trust me if you dont decide to make choice... ONe will be made for you! Have a great day!