What should a christian in this day do?

Question

1. Should we fight for our rights, as christians, and try to stop the world changing?
2. Should we tell people to repent and find Christ, for, 'Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.' St. John 14:6
3. Do both of the above?
4. Do something else? Please Explain.

I would also appreciate reasons as to why you selected one of these answers above.

The main point of my question was to try to show people we cannot change the world, as the way the world is today are the signs of the times, and it also has been foretold that we [Christians] will be persecuted more and more. I did not think that trying to stop the world from changing was such a good idea, as it has been foretold that the world will change and get worse. Therefore, it may be fruitless to stop the world from changing. Also note that i said stop the world from changing, not changing the world
One such sign of the times is how children are being disrepectful to parents. When I say we cannot stop the world from changing, I do not mean we stop telling our children, families, etc, about what is right and what is wrong. I am talking about all the non christian people who are changing the world at present, and will continue to change the world.

MsKnowItAll said to me, regarding this question.
"The thing that I worry about...especially in Y!A [Yahoo! Answers], being internationally read, is people getting the impression, that all the zealous Christians who try to Shove God down their throats are correct!
"There is a story in the bible, where one of the apostles has been sent to recruit Christians.....He gives it his best try and fails, he tries again and again, Finally he goes to Jesus and says, I do not know what else I should do. I have tried my best. Jesus essentially tells him , If you have done all you can, and they still will not receive [you], shake the dust from your sandles and move on. He does not tell him to keeep trying until they change."

I am not trying to condone this practice either.

Answer 1

Yes, on #2, and you stated the verse, I believe. As far as fighting for our rights goes, Jesus said (Matthew 5:39) "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. (40) And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also."

The reason I chose #2 as a "right" answer is because we are told to preach the gospel to all. (Matthew 28:18-20) The reason I said what I did about fighting for rights can be found in Ephesians 6:11-18. Peace.

Answer 2

1. Should we fight for our rights, as christians, and try to stop the world changing?
Stop the world from changing? I don't think so. Jesus didn't. In fact, he started one of the biggest changes in history! What we should fight for as Christians is the right for acceptance. We are expected to extend this to right to everyone else, but they want to take it away from us.

2. Should we tell people to repent and find Christ, for, 'Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.' St. John 14:6
Brow-beating is NOT going to cause a major life changing experience in anyone's life. They may change for a while but 9 out of ten times they return to the ways they knew. Only by displaying the love of jesus can we as Christians make an eternal change in someone's life. Jesus went through the agony he endured because he loved us, not because he wanted us scared to go to hell. If you study the scriptures the mathematical percentage of return on your witnessing is given in the parable of the sower. 25% never takes root. 25% grows a little. 25% grows some with shallow root so is quickly destroyed by the storms of life. And finally 25% takes good root and grows long and strong. So in today's world 1 in 4 that your witness to will make a life-altering decision.

I pray daily that my light so shine that others want my glow. When they ask-I tell. I very seldom force my faith on anyone. I live tilled ground. I am not much for rocky soil.

Edited--10/31/2006--I see what you are saying. And yes we will be persecuted. We cannot shove the truth down anyones throat. And miss Know it all has it right. shake the dust from your feet, Only God knows for sure when the message is no longer being received.

BUT--I do not believe it is wrong for us as Christians to expect the same respect for our beliefs that we are expected to extend to others of different beliefs.

Answer 3

Let's do both and even more!

I don't understand what perspective needs to be changed but we definitely need to fight for our rights within the provided limits and bearing in mind that this world is not our home. Remember Jesus said that we are not of this world but we are in the world temporarily..having equal rights. Paul demanded his rights as a Roman citizen remember?

Of course tell the world about Jesus. I think if we genuinely understood what Jesus has done for us we'd be on fire to tell those that are perishing blindly(makes me think!)

We can do more than we've been doing...I mean we have God's grace and His mind...I sometimes wonder why it sometimes seems we're not doing much...though the most important thing is to fulfil the great commission that all may know christ.
Good day

Answer 4

I don't know if you can stop the world from changing. Are you being denied your right as a Christian? If so, you should fight for your rights, but why does that have anything to do with the world? The only one you really have control over is yourself. Be the best Christian you can be. Not only accept Christ but also his teaching. Keep an open mind. Be a messenger, not a judge.

Answer 5

Nobody have the capability to stop the world from revolving. With every revolment, things changes.
Telling people to repent may not be a good way to get them exposed and understanding christ..
As a faithful follower of god, we got to understand the fact that, the way to change the world, is to change ourselves. There are eyes everywhere looking at how we perform our preech. How we handle difficulties in life. Only with that, can we change those around us.....when they change, people around them changes...the circle of influence will just keep getting bigger and bigger...
But if we did not do what we preech, the same cycle will follow...
'Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.' St. John 14:6"
Just my personal intepretation for the above :
I am the way, the truth, and the life = Christ could mean "us". Our ownselves
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me = Again, the me could mean "us" ..father refers to christ. it's us who will introduce Christ to people.
That explains why I say "the way to change the world, is to change ourselves. "

Answer 6

1. Should we fight for our rights, as christians, and try to stop the world changing?

Yes, as Christians we should stand for the rights that we believe in. The world is making us respect others, and their beliefs, why shouldn't they respect us and ours? The world today is to politically correct, that we as Christians need to stand "UP" for ourselves, and they are just going to keep taking more and more away from us, God before we know God isn't going to allowed anywhere, or in anything at all!

2. Should we tell people to repent and find Christ, for, 'Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.' St. John 14:6

We as Christians can only try to lead others to Christ, but that doesn't mean they are going to go to Him. It is our duty to follow and worship, and speak to others the glory we have in Him.

4. Do something else? Please Explain.
We all just need to stick together, and preach to others the name of our Almighty! And stand up for what we believe in! Just like the "Holiday" tree, at many of the department stores. I don't think they should be able to take Christ out of Christmas, seems the season is about "HIM", and if you choose to celebrate it then you should be celebrating the birth of our Jesus Christ, seems if it wasn't for him there would be "NO CHRISTmas! But, these days that's not politically correct!
We once used to be a "FREE" world, and now so many things are being taken away our rights that the world isn't as free as they claim it to be. We have all our soliders over their fighting for our freedom, but yet at the same time us as Christians are losing the freedom. We are losing the freedom of speach, the freedom to have God in our schools, in our national athem.. etc.
All we can do is try to lead others to Him through speaking the way, the truth, and life.

Answer 7

Stop the world from changing? And here I was trying to change the world...


Edit: I knew it was coming, but I didn't want to be the first to bring it up. Other people having rights is *NOT* a violation of Christian rights. In fact, being a Christian demands fighting for the rights of all, that's what we do. Be a Christian, and defend all of God's children. How dare you try to restrict the rights of others, in the name of Christ and even claiming that it's your right as a Christian?

Christian's rights are not restricted in most parts of this world. "Christians" in name but not in deed need to stop thinking that they are being persecuted if they are not allowed to persecute others. True Christians fight all persecution, especially that from within against others.

Answer 8

Follow Jesus' example.
(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, 20 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.”

(Matthew 24:14) And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.

NOTE HERE THAT BOTH SCRIPTURES POINT TO AN END TO THIS SYSTEM WE KNOW.
And Revelation 18;4 says "4 And I heard another voice out of heaven say: “Get out of her, my people, if YOU do not want to share with her in her sins, and if YOU do not want to receive part of her plagues. 5 For her sins have massed together clear up to heaven, and God has called her acts of injustice to mind.
Babylon the Great is false religion.
It is up to us to find the religion that obeys the first two scriptures.

Answer 9

as an ex-christian, i believe that you have the right to believe to what you bellieve. but i believe in "live and let live". the world will change no matter what. we all have perspectives on religion. here in the united states is a culture where is all about individualism. which in other terms can be selfishness. people will only repent if they want to, not by force, in history people that are usually force to do something will always repell and may try to do the opposite. if you would like someone to accept jesus, then my advice will be not to force, but to understand and let them know what you believe what you believe, one time should be enough.

Answer 10

As Christians, we have "The Great Commission". We need to witness to people.

Persecution of Christians will never stop. We can fight for our rights, but in the end it will not matter. We can't stop the world from changing.

A Christian should try to be as Godlike as possible. A Christian should witness to people w/o condemning them. It is not our job to convict, we present people with the truth and the Holy Spirit convicts people.