... AND how far will you go to convert the whole world?
2007-01-11 14:39:18 · 40 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No, I don't want to make all other religions disappear. I don't want to come up with Newspeak and limit conceptual thinking. I want Christianity to shine on its own, in a fair light against other ideas. Othwerwise, people aren't really converting for the right reasons.
As far as I would go to convert the whole world? Only as far as speaking my mind and letting people decide for themselves. Forced conversion is not true conversion. Period.
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2007-01-11 14:44:42 · answer #1 · answered by cirque de lune 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why would I?
Just because a vocal minority of Christians seem like they are out to convert the world, that doesn't mean that all Christians take that view. Most traditional Christian denominations take a 'live and let live' attitude. Their missionaries perform charity work in underdeveloped nations, and shun aggressive proselytizing. At home, they often co-exist with other religions, and often co-operate with other groups to accomplish civil agendas.
So, if you are talking to "Christians," the answer is "no" and "no farther than the doors of the Church." If you are talking about the 5% (or so) of radical Christians who characterize Christianity in the US, the answer is probably "yes," and "anything short of physical violence."
Don't forget - if it weren't for Christians, you wouldn't even be asking this question. Christians were instrumental in breaking the centuries-old link between Church and State and promoting the freedom of religion. Christian lobbyists, for example, managed to pass the Edict of Toleration and the Edict of Milan, granting complete religious freedom throughout the Roman Empire. Both edicts were based on the writings of prominant Christian theologians like Lactanius, who argued that Christianity was impossible without complete religious freedom.
2007-01-11 14:48:25 · answer #2 · answered by NONAME 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Question 1... No. Why? Because God allows them and has reasons for them. Many are setup so they will persecute His church, so that it will grow. American Christianity and the idea of it is diluted and misguided for the most part. The true church accepts persecution, because it allows them to get closer to God, and it strengthens their faith as well as the faith of others.
Will other religions dissappear? Answer to that is yes. Eventually Christ will come back to judge the Earth. He will establish his kingdom for 1000 years where everyone will serve him, not out of love for him, but because He is So powerful.
Question 2... I can't convert anyone. All I can to is share truth with people and they choose to accept or reject it. The word of God has the power to transform lives. I do pray and cry for those souls who love themselves so much that they fall deeper and deeper into sin. It hurts to see so many people who, if they died this very night, would end up in hell. How far would I go? Well it's much easier to go up to strangers and share your faith than it is your own family or neighbors, but i would go anywhere God sends me.
I hope this answers your question.
2007-01-11 14:50:13 · answer #3 · answered by dooltaz 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. Jesus wouldn't like that. In Matthew 24:14 He said, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world ... and then shall the end come." For Him to come back again we don't need to convert everybody, only make sure everyone's aware enough of what's going on to make a free choice.
2007-01-11 14:44:09 · answer #4 · answered by shirleykins 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No, I would keep Judaism around. It is the foundation of the Christian faith.
To convert the whole world, I would like to see lots and lots of miracles, and Christians living out the love they preach SO MUCH. That would just about do it.
2007-01-11 14:45:58 · answer #5 · answered by MamaBear 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, I would not. Who am I to decide for the world what they should or should not think or believe? It is not my right. God gave us all free agency or free will to choose our own paths. He laid out the path for us and told us what He demands of us, and we now have the choice to decide for ourselves whether we want to follow Him. Without choice, faith is nothing. That's why we came here...to make the ultimate choice based solely on faith. We can only spread the word of God and pray that others heed unto His word, but we cannot decide for them what they will do. That's not love. That's why Satan got kicked out of Heaven. While Jesus had faith in God's plan and was ready to guide us as we made our choices, Satan wanted to control us and make that choice for us...to cause us to automatically choose God's way whether we wanted to or not...so that he might have the glory which was rightfully God's.
We do not have the right to take that special gift away from you, and even if I was able to, I would not want to. God has given us a special gift, and it is up to all of us to make our own choices as to what we do with it.
Think of it this way also. Everything that has ever come to pass, and everything that will ever come to pass, is essential...even the fall of Adam and Eve. Why do you think they lived so long in the Garden of Eden without ever having children? Yet almost immediately after leaving, they did? Until they made their own choice between good and evil and came to know the difference, they could not become mortal. If they hadn't been tempted and given in to temptation, none of us would ever have existed, and there would be no hope for any of us to grow spiritually.
Therefore, everything is essential to all of us, whether we realize it or not. Good and evil cannot exist one without the other. If there was nothing for us to choose from, then how could we make a choice? Faith would not exist. Furthermore, if the other religions did not exist, Christianity would not exist either because Christianity is choosing Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father over evil, choosing to follow them instead of the ways of the world.
So, no I would not make the other religions disappear. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. Plus, I believe that we all need to know everything about religion and about God...the only way to make a true, educated, heart-felt choice is to know what you're choosing from.
And as for your second question, I know that I can't convert the whole world. All I can do is share my beliefs...and to do so I will go as far as God wants me to.
I hope this answered your question.
God bless!
2007-01-11 15:00:33 · answer #6 · answered by EarthAngel 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If i could make all RELIGIONS disappear I would. Because RELIGION is an institution, but CHRISTIANITY IS A LIFESTYLE.
I don't have to do anything to convert the whole world, Jesus died for the whole world, you just have to accept Him.
2007-01-11 14:50:53 · answer #7 · answered by lady_blu_iz 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No. What I would hope would happen is that we would all come together in peace and openly look at our beliefs. There are some falsehoods in all religions, including my own. When we let those go and embrace the truth that is left we will have a glorious world of peace and harmony, each worshiping God as we know God.
2007-01-11 14:46:06 · answer #8 · answered by tonks_op 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There can never be any force used, as that would not constitute real worship. Real spirit and truth worship can only come voluntarily, any attempt to convert someone through force would not in any way comply with the spirit of worship. God does not force people to worship Him and I dont see the need to try and do it either.
2007-01-11 14:42:58 · answer #9 · answered by furiousstyles22003 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Christians won't have to. God will do away with all false religion.
Revelation 18:4
Revelation 14:8 She has fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen
2007-01-11 14:46:59 · answer #10 · answered by Just So 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋