if everyone is so upset about agressive christians then.........?

Question

how would u describe the way in which u would feel comfortable hearing about christ. (non agressive- verses agressive)

Answer 1

Prefer none. Ive never ever seen on here a christian refer to a verse about love and compassion to fellow humans though,but all too eager to use the condemning verses.

Answer 2

The absolute best way to hear about Christ is when it's my own question. "Why do you do that?" "Why didn't you do this, like most people would?" The best time to evangelize is when I'm ready to listen.

How do you get me into that position? Do something out of the ordinary. Don't say, do. Everyone can see the costs and benefits in being nice to other people, believers or not. If it's all talk and no walk, there's no reason to take you seriously. What's that famous saying attributed to Francis of Assissi? Something like, "Preach well, if necessary, use words."

Evangelizers seem to be in a hurry. They think that preaching will convince people to change, but it seldom works. To change someone, you have to enter their world, let them see how you live in their world. You can't be condescending. Like Paul, you become a Jew among Jews, a Greek among Greeks. You must be humble and respectful, while being quietly true to your own beliefs. Only with patience will you convince others that there is something more than a difference of opinion in your faith.

Your actions can't just be pious and withdrawing. Show a difference in the world. Feed the hungry, bring justice to the oppressed, comfort to the suffering. Again, if it's all talk, you won't convince anyone. When they see you "going about, doing good", like Christ, the questions will come, not before.

Answer 3

I think the basics of the life of Christ are already wildly known across America and for those few who have a greater curiosity to fill, there are easily obtainable resources available to them.

So... aggressive to me (and I think for many others) is anything greater than absolute person-to person avoidance of the subject.

Non-aggressive (but still distasteful and annoying) is a billboard or placard or a TV ad.

The best non-aggressive missionary approach I've seen has been a lapel button which read, "I'm a Christian, ask me about Jesus." That gave me the opportunity to either bring up the subject or let it lay.... I chose to let it lay since I'm quite comfortable with my atheism.

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Answer 4

I live in the US. I have never met an adult that wasn't familiar with at least the basic tenets of Christianity or who did not know where to find a church to ask about it. There are television shows with Christian preachers, Christian radio shows with preachers, the internet, charities ran by Christian groups, and public libraries with multiple shelves on the subject. Many people have relatives, co-workers, and friends who practice that religion.

I can understand wanting to explain the faith to someone who does not know about it or someone who is asking questions about it. Beyond that, don't you think ya'll have told us about it enough? How many times do I have to hear over and over and over the same things? If someone lives in the US and really thinks that someone hasn't heard about Christianity, why not ask if they've heard? If they say "no", by all means, explain it to them if they are interested. If they say "yes", ask them if they'd like to hear about it again. If they do, tell them. If they don't, drop the subject.

Answer 5

While I would identify myself as a Christian, I hate people shoving tracts in my face or preaching on their soapbox on the corner. And for me at least, that isn't an effective way to share my faith at all. Who really wants to listen to someone tell them they are going to burn in hell and that they are all wrong. You can't blame people for hating that kind of message.

Instead, when I read the Bible, specifically the NT, I see Jesus as someone who had crowds SEEKING Him out, coming to Him, instead of running away from some goofy Galilean carpenter shoving tracts made of papyrus in their face. So the question is, why were people attracted to Him? Well, He showed compassion, He genuinely loved all around Him, He healed those around Him. He didn't go around condemning everyone, I mean, look at the story of the woman in John 8:1-11, do you think the modern church would treat the woman like Jesus did? In John 13:35 we see that we will be known by our love for one another, and the great commission says that we are to love the Lord Our God and then our neighbor as ourself. The Sheep and the Goats in Matthew 25:31-46 also seem to show to me that it's our actions, our love for those around us, that most clearly bear witness to God. St Francis of Assisi once said, "Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words." To use a rather contrite phrase, I think walking the walk is important for people to see, and might make them curious enough to actually listen a little when we try to talk the talk.

To those who don't share my beliefs, you are totally free to disagree with me, or to think that I have simply just drank another flavor of Kool-Aid, a more subtle and less-in-your-face style, but the same thing nonetheless. But would you rather have a "Christian" (wow, that's a scary term) around who is aggressive about sharing their faith in explicit ways, or one who lets it come through implicitly in what they do?

*EDIT*PS. Skepsis, I didn't mean to totally rip off everything you said, you posted while I was still typing, it's kinda cool we had similar thoughts coming from different approaches. I guess great minds do think alike : )

Answer 6

to me, non agressive = if you ask what religion i am and i say im something other than christian, leave it alone. simple enough. it would be similar to a person of jewish faith coming up to a christian and asking what they were,and if they're not jewish, preaching about judaism for an hour. you dont want that s*** shoved down your throat all day. And christian opinion is that God gave everyone free will, now let them excercise it. also, there is a saying. going to church makes you no more a christian than standing in a garage makes you a car...so stop trying to make everyone go to church with you...real christians could understand that faith in God could be practiced at home as well as in a church.

Answer 7

I am Gnostic and I hate it when people accost me with "the word of God". I don't like being preached at and i certainly don't like it shouted at me. I like to ask questions. My Grandma is a very conservative Christian and I am trying to get her to understand that unless I ask about Jesus, please don't preach to me about him. And even if I do ask, try to only answer my actual question without adding on other tidbits to convince me or win me over.
Another way I like hearing about Christ is through open discussion with nobody trying to prove they are right or wrong, with people who are willing to hear many viewpoints. That is how I feel comfortable hearing about Christ.

Answer 8

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

I think this passage says clearly that the way that you tell people about the gospel depends on where they are in finding the answer. Are they deciding for themselves based on their own reasoning or are they humble and open to God and waiting to hear from his word?

Answer 9

We don't want to hear about Christ. We know about him already. Religion is a competitive business and they get followers to 'witness'. In disguise it means, "Don't let them put their money in some other religions collection basket, let them put it in ours". And they get their followers to do the dirty work. Have you ever seen a reverend or priest witnessing? Religions always get the followers to do their dirty work. Did Bin Laden fly an airplane into a building? No, he had a follower do it.

Answer 10

I would feel great about hearing of Christ!