Christians. do you think the Good Person test works on non Christians?

Question

I've seen all these videos about the Good Person Test that they do at places like Way of the Master and other orgs like Repent and Trust. It doesn't make any sense to non Christians. So why do it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig7q5ypaNLI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKYzVjmEQNE&mode=related&search=

The point is that I could give a rat's **** what it says in the Bible. I'm not Christian, nor am I Jewish. I am Pagan. We beleive that as long as you aren't harming anyone, you can do what you want. That means all the sex and blaspheming that we care to indulge in. As long as we aren't hurting anyone, it's all good. If we are bad, we have karmic reactions. But no eternal damnation because we think that's silly.

If you want people to convert to Christianity, why not try proving that your religion is real? If you can.

Answer 1

The problem with the 'good person test' is its name. The test doesn't aim to determine if you are good or not. Rather, its aim is to determine if you are perfect. I know of nobody who would claim to be perfect.

The problem is that you can't call it a 'perfect test' because then it implies that Christianity has completely unrealistic expectations (for the same reason that nobody would claim to be perfect in the first place). And people who believe that Christianity has unrealistic expectations aren't even vaguely going to want to be Christians. Quite the opposite, actually.

Which raises an interesting point. If most people think they are good, yet they also admit that they're not perfect, it rather obviously suggests that most people think that perfection is not a quality that is required for goodness. If they did think it was, then I think people would be hard pressed to name ANYONE who was good. And if nobody can possibly be good what is even the point of trying? Might as well just settle into a life of debauchery, right?

Bottom line, the 'good person test' is at best a self-defeating tool. To work, it would have to convince the test-taker that much of what they believe is completely wrong, that there have pretty much been no good people, and it's not even possible to be a good person if you try your hardest. So even if it works, it doesn't quite work.

The efforts of Christians who make use of this tool would be far better spent elsewhere.

Answer 2

Probably not usually....the reason is that many non-Christians have no sense of being sinful....God has to convict them before they will see the need for Christ.

It might be helpful when trying to make someone understand what sin is, and that no one is sinless.

I think it helps most just to share what Jesus did for them....tell them the plan of salvation, then pray for God to open their eyes to the truth. It is your job as a Christian just to share that Jesus loves them....it is God's job to bring them to Him....and you can pray for the right words to say, at the right time.

Sometimes Christians try too hard to push things on a non-Christian..out of the best of intentions....being simple and sharing your own experience works best....it is their choice and God allows them to choose.

You also can find other ways to make them think....like showing them a good film, or taking them to hear a good speaker....expose them to the message from someone else. Then God does the rest.

Answer 3

Wow.
I don't know who was more annoying, the narrow minded condemning christian, or the loopy neopagan hippies. Those were videos showing the worst of both worlds. Complete polar opposites in terms of ideologies, when in the real world, most people are shades of grey in the middle.

Answer 4

All the guy was trying to teach is that we are ALL sinners and that is why we need Jesus' salvation.

And the very problem with unbelievers like the long haired twit they interviewed denying that he is a sinner and hes perfect and hes Godly even though he doesnt know God. We've all sinned and are in need of salvation. Jesus said if we have done so little as say "you fool" we are in danger of hell.

Answer 5

Huh? You Can be a Good Person and be NON Christian. Just cause people have different personal beliefs doesnt make them bad...
you shouldnt judge a person by what they believe in.
thats a personal choice they will make themselves.
judge them by the way they treat you and other people.
Or their actions.
those are understandable.

Answer 6

No, there will be a lot of "good people" in Hell, because they believed that they could get to Heaven based on their own good works. But God says that even our most righteous works are like filthy rags to Him. The only way we can get to Heaven is through the blood of Christ.

Answer 7

it works on some. these videos are stupid though. its incredibly easy to refute that nonsense.

i went to a class for awhile, even as a nonchristian i attended it.

my friend was taking it, and sometimes iw ill go with my friends to church or things like this, they respect my beliefs i respect theirs. i go out of my own want, and such u know. but this class thing creeped me the hell out. its stupid.

it teaches you how to disrespect other people. sorry but approaching someone whos walking down the street and telling them they are a sinner, is awfully disrespectful.

Answer 8

These people are way more patient than I am! "Have you ever STOLEN your boss' time?" What kind of question is that?! "Have you ever felt lust for another person?" Yes, and that's natural because otherwise, we wouldn't reproduce! Ok, that's how far I was able to go.

Answer 9

First off, there is no difference between "Christians" and "Non-Christians" as far as being HUMAN goes.
Second, after watching your first video, I have to laugh out loud: "Have you ever taken God's name in vain?" God doesn't HAVE a name! Duh.
"God's Standards" - puhleeze!
Noone can know the mind of God - that's in your own bible!
This whole thing doesn't make any sense - period.

Answer 10

Good Person test.... There's no such thing as a good person! Don't belive in it...Just read the Bible for yourself.

God bless you