Christains: Do you really wonder why athiests and agnostics ignore us?

Question

I was agnostic for almost 30 years, but I was lucky. Although I was surrounded by devotely religious people their faith was not crammed in my face. My best friend was Roman Catholic. I told her at that time that I just couldn't go for something I couldn't see or touch. This is what was important: she, my (then) future husband, his family, friends and even the priest simply said they respected my choice. They said if I don't want to think of myself living by God's laws that was fine, but I needed to remember to live by the laws of morality and mankind. I had no problem with that and eventually events in my life occurred that brought me to the church.
What I would like to know is this: As Christians we are taught that Christ died for ALL of us, he awaits any non-believer's invitation and he said if you did not believe in Him, believe in His work. Why are you so harsh and why don't you wait to help until they want it? That has got to be the quickest way to insure they never believe.

NERD: NERD: Yes, I am catholic. I am not ROMAN Catholic. I am a member of the Church of England and before you go quoting scripture or defining another's beliefs you should know what you are talking about:
http://www.reformed.org/documents/index.html?mainframe=http://www.reformed.org/documents/nicene.html
What a twit!

RE: As to the door, Revelation 3:20. It is a popular image at least among Protestant teaching which is why if you go to a Christian bookstore you will often see pictures of Him outside a closed door. Notice the door never has a handle on it. This represents that the person on the other side must open it, i.e. open their heart to Him. In other words, the choice is theirs and he awaits them and their questions. But he won't force because He knew that didn't work. Didn't you ever wonder wear a name like "Church of the Open Door" came from?

FY: The referance to "NERD" is for a post who couldn't deal with things and deleted his. Bye-Bye

Joshua_kane-uk: I like what you said. I think we would both agree that the problem w/ the thumpers is that they often quote scripture "to convience". They use it tell people/family how to live their lives and then may go a cheat on their spouse (my dad for ex..). My husband got into a conversation w/ a person like that but they picked the wrong person to quote to; he's a seminarian!!
Using quotes in the Bible to exclude others from the life of you or others is sickening to me, dangerous to society and it will never bring people in.
Thank you to all for this keyboard conversation!

Answer 1

A beautiful post and question. I hope someone comes up with a good answer...

As a Christian, I go by example... Jesus did not raise moral issues and use them as some kind of stupid rallying banner to his cause. He just taught the simple truth, and showed men the better path.

You didn't see Jesus preaching that abortion doctors should be killed, or screaming about how wrong the political left of the time was... you didn't see him condemning a whore for being a whore... no... you saw him forgiving people for their mistakes, and accepting them, except where those mistakes entered the temple, perhaps ;).

But, seriously, Jesus Christ would not turn up his nose and leave anyone to their wicked ways. He would offer them his friendship and do his best to educate them.

That... is Love... and if we can't learn that lesson, we deserve whatever nuclear/biological death bin laden or some other psycho extremist has planned for us...

God Bless you for this question... and rise above! Don't let the better-than-thou christians drag you down.

Yes, Jesus would spend more time with them if he was on this Earth than he might with you... but not because they are better... he'd be trying to fix the damage done to their minds by the church, and teach them the lessons of forgiveness and love. ;)

Answer 2

Jesus isn't waiting to be invited into someone's heart. He is the one that is inviting, he chooses, he seeks and finds us when we are unbelieving. Coming to a true repentance is a harsh experience. Look at Peter. Jesus told Peter that when he was converted to strengthen the brethren. Look at what he had to go through in order to realize he wasn't what he thought he was.

Jesus was talking to the Pharisees when he said to believe in his work. They knew that the Messiah would do the works that he did, but their hearts were hard, because they believed in their own works. We won't save anyone by our own works. Salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit and he will use us if we are willing, even to say harsh things if that's what he has us to do.

Answer 3

Where does it say "If you don't believe in me, believe in my work"?

I agree that a lot of Christians force their faith on others. That sickens me too and I am saved. God may be rolling His eyes at that too. They mean well but don't realize the damage they can do with that. However that doesn't describe all Christians. Also, there is a difference between openly sharing the Word and making the church look like moronic cultists.

Answer 4

I personally do not go looking to discuss anything with a non believer or someone of a different belief....until they ask or cast disparaging remarks. If they ask a question, I will answer because, silly me, I thought they wanted to know. I take the risk that I answer a troll sometimes. If they cast slander or ridicule, I reserve the right to defend my belief and refute their error. Other than that, I have nothing to discuss with an unwilling conversant.

Answer 5

Yes, many christians tend to be harsh etc and forget that people have the rest of their life or until Jesus returns to come to Him. However, I can understand harshness when some of those non believers ask mocking, hateful questions and expect nothing in return....even the bible says it will be given back. However, in saying that, it does not mean that it is right to do. God Bless.

Answer 6

I say the same thing. I'm christian now, but i haven't always been. If it weren't for me finding Jesus on my own, and outside of my mandatory RCIC classes (I'm sixteen and just got baptisted yesterday!) I wouldn't be saved.

I think that many christians are actually worried. They worry that there loved ones will go to hell. I wouldn't want that to happen. Sometimes we have a tendancy to forget that God will handle everything.

Answer 7

If you think yourself to be this body only, then see and touch is alright for you.

If you think yourself a body as also a soul( which we actually are), then you will need to practice the nourishment for both.

We are not in the state where we understand ourselves as souls only. That will happen when we achieve sainthood.

Answer 8

I guess I just want them to feel the joy I feel in Jesus and God. I don't want to force anyone to believe what they don't want to believe. I would like to inform. However I believe we will be judged on how we spent our time here. I believe we will be held accountable for all the people we failed to love and bring to God and Jesus' Divine Mercy.

Answer 9

I'm an agnostic, I don't ignore Christians, I just don't believe in what they are preaching. Plus I only come on here when I bored at work.

Answer 10

Jesus never said just believe in my work. He said to believe in HIM. But when He could He made friends first before confronting people with their sins....like the Samaritan woman.