If you do not believe that you have to push your views on others (no matter how much this annoys them), explain why you do not believe this despite the fact that the New Testament seems to suggest that you must do this to get to Heaven (for instance, in Matthew 28:19-20).
2006-09-29 22:52:25 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I know its terrible isn't it. I mean its not what I wanted at all, but some people get so zealous and forget that there is more that one path to me. In fact all roads lead to me for there are no other. Unfortunatly I can't intervine directly or it would upset the balance and all that, but I'm happy to see this question asked here. God loves you!
2006-09-29 22:56:30 · answer #1 · answered by God 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Actually, only those born again go to heaven. The other sheep get everlasting life on a paradise earth.
As for pushing Christianity, most New Israelites (Christians) reject that particular teaching of Christ. Most churches don't even follow it. Christ didn't say to build large churches, to create elaborate and complicated rituals, and all the other games they play, instead of doing what they are suppose to be doing. Christians are to learn God's Word, as a whole, not the sum of its parts. They are to continue taking in "accurate" knowledge, according to the Apostle Paul.
Once they know the Bible, they are suppose to preach, teach, and teach others how to preach and teach. This does not mean standing out on a street corner and yelling, it means finding three people whose hearts are seeking change and truth. Then, each of those three teach three others, and so on. This is where the churches fail. They preach, but they don't teach, and they certainly don't teach all their members how to preach and teach.
Yes, you may not like it, but if a person is following the teachings of Christ, than that is what they are suppose to be doing.
As most know, they is what Jehovah's Witnesses do. Every witness, man and woman, are ministers. To become this, they have to learn the Bible, and take a written test before being baptized, which is a symbol of their informed decision to follow Christ. They attend ministerial classes weekly, and the Sunday talk can be given by anyone in the congregation, or from another. Kids learn the Bible, as a whole, from age two. And though they may not understand it, they are taking in the knowledge. Than, at age 12, when they begin developing conceptual thought process, they take part in the ministry school, even giving talks. Not much different from what Christ did at age 12, in the Temple.
This is why they are continuing to grow, but without building bigger and bigger churches, because nearly everyone is qualified to lead a new congregation. Instead of a church holding 500-1000 people, being preach to by one only one person, because no one else will do it, they have congregations of less than 200, with 3-4 congregations per Kingdom Hall. When the have conferences, everyone attends, and not just the elite, like when the Baptists have the conferences in Kansas City. They have three a year, two circuit conventions, made up of 10-15 congregations. Yearly, they have district conventions, made up of 10-15 circuits. There are over 250 district conventions in the world. Speakers are drawn form the attending members, but some self important individual from elsewhere.
Perhaps if other churches did the same things, they would also be growing, and not having the problems of finding people to pay to preach.
Yep, that's a lot of preachers. Watch for the PBS special called Knocking on the JWs.
2006-09-29 23:42:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that Christians believe that they have found the Truth and therefore want to share it with everyone in order that they may know the Truth also. I truly believe that most Christians do this out of a good desire to let others share in the joy and hope that they feel from their faith. The problem is, I believe, that many go about it in all the wrong way. It is forced onto people and this isnt going to do much, but annoy people.
I am all for interreligious dialogue and I'm ok with a Christian or a Muslim or a Jew or a Hindu or a........... to try and explaint their religion to me and why they believe that it holds the Truth, but the best way to do this may mean being subtle instead of spewing out verses and throwing Bibles off of people's heads. Throwing out verses from the Bible to prove things to a nonChristian does absolutely nothing. If one does not believe the Bible is the Word of God they aren't going to care one lick about what it says about anything and this is something that some people need to remember. Religious dialogue depends on respect and subtelies.
2006-09-29 23:02:51 · answer #3 · answered by Walty 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Bible 1 Corinthians 9:15-17
But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast. Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.
They must push the belief, how else is it possible to get people to believe the unbelievable.
2006-09-29 23:57:01 · answer #4 · answered by zurioluchi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible teaches that my ticket to heaven is accepting a gift that Jesus gave me. It does not teach that I must do anything else to get to heaven.
"God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God" NLT www.blueletterbible.org
Matt 28 does not suggest forcing anyone to listen to something that they do not want to hear. That scripture is letting us know our job which is to go into the entire world not stay put in our own neighborhood. It is about where we go. To find out what we should do when we go into the entire world we must read more of the Bible. Our actions should reflect respect and not ignorance.
Public speaking is ok if it is done respectfully. Freedom of speech allows anyone to tell his or her point of view to the public. However, it should be done according to the law.
The Bible tells us to let our light shine. It does not say to verbally bash and create havoc with disrespect. It says to allow our good works to be what others see, not ignorance and disrespect.
Our good works will draw others.
On sites like this it is ok to give a Biblical prospective because questions like yours are in the Religion and Spirituality Category. It is intrusive to go to say for instance a 12-Step meeting where the rules are clear about allowing others to be where they are at and preach our beliefs to others who don't want to hear. We can talk about ourselves and how our belief affects our own program but not point our fingers at others and disrespect what they believe.
The Bible also says to draw others with loving kindness not anger and intrusion. The Bible further says that we should treat others with respect and esteem them more highly than ourselves.
According to the Bible "being a good Christian" requires us to feed people who need food, give housing to people who are homeless and make sure others have clothing, etc. But again, doing these things does not get us into heaven. These things make a better earth.
2006-09-30 02:53:02 · answer #5 · answered by Jael 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The scripture you've referenced does not instruct believers to "push" their beliefs on anyone. My perspective is that I would assume, if you had the cure to cancer you would share it with as many as would listen to you. The Christian believers feel they have the cure to death itself. I would think the group had committed a much more serious offense were they not to share what they know/believe. Just as I believe anyone who is sincere in what they believe would do the same, no matter their faith. What credibility can you give a person of any religion, who does not live as though they truly believe the teachings of their faith?
Be Blessed and Blessed Be
2006-09-29 23:11:24 · answer #6 · answered by Celestian Vega 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
One of God's Commands is to Teach his word so others will know how important it is to know, trust and serve the one and only true God...and so they can study and learn what they need to do to have eternal life with God in heaven.... The Bible does tell us to Spread the Gospel... If it annoys the people Christians are trying to help, then that is their fault not that of the Christian who is only doing God's will..and because of their love for others...which is also commanded in the Bible... Love thy neighbor as thy self... If you( which it sounds like you do) had the answer to eternal life (Studying the bible and following its commands) would you not want to share it with others... Can you just imagine a life with no worries or cares...with our God.... Oh how wonderful.. Now How do you picture hell? Would you really wish that on anybody? NOW of course there is a right and a wrong way to go about preaching the gospel.... You talk with them gently and show them scriptures in the bible and just talk with about the importance... You wouldn't want to just say ...if you do not believe the way I do you are going to hell, or in any other harsh way.. IN OTHER WORDS>> If you are abrupt and rude about telling them about the Bible, then that might be part of the problem right there... You can't force people to believe a certain way... but you can talk with them often about it,offer to study the bible with them, teach them by example, Invite them to worship services, Be kind and gentle, let them know that you are telling them this because you care about them... Sorry so long... But I hope this helps,,, I will keep you in my prayers.
2006-09-29 23:17:47 · answer #7 · answered by af wife 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The new testament also suggests you not cast your pearls before swine. It also says that only God's Spirit can draw a man to Himself. Or do you want to say it is because of you that a person became saved?
2006-09-29 22:57:50 · answer #8 · answered by child_of_the_lion 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Define "pushing your beliefs", please!
Granted, Christians are expected to show some kinds of restraint when teaching Christian love- read the part about "Pearls before swine"- What Christ is really saying here is don't waste your time on people who are not READY to recieve the word.
Just pray for them, and let G-d do HIS job.
2006-09-29 22:59:20 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't really try to "push" my religion on anyone, I was taught to spread the gospel but if it is going to be an argument, I usually back off. You either want to hear it or you don't...
2006-09-29 22:59:26 · answer #10 · answered by Ladeebug71 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋