The Great Commission is a Christian thing, where Jesus bade believers to spread the faith. This question isn't about just Christiandom, but to any other religion that requires its followers to spread their faith.
The fundamental conflict is that a devout person would consider the greatest act of friendship to be bringing the non-believing friend into the fold while the differently-believing friend might find that kind of behavior harassing and the basic core of the believer's faith (which generally ascribes the non-believer a negative status such as consigned to hell, a heretic, a heathen, or somehow inferior and/or unacceptable) hurtful and insulting. Religions that require proselytizing don't permit tolerance of other beliefs.
To rephrase: How can people of different religious beliefs find ways to be friends without either side having to apologize or set aside their religious beliefs, particularly when one or both belief sets require the believer to try to convert the other?
2007-04-10 14:07:02 · 7 answers · asked by Muffie 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Because to many people, sane ones that is, religion is just one of many aspects of their lives, for most people friendship is not based solely on what religion one is. Very similar to politics, there ARE some who could never be friends with, say, a Conservative, but most people manage to ignore politics for most of the time.
2007-04-10 14:10:39 · answer #1 · answered by fourmorebeers 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can only speak to Christianity. We are NOT called to convert anyone. We are commanded to take the Gospel to the world. After that is done it's time for the Holy Spirit to step in and bring conversion.. Then the Christian comes back and welcomes the new believer into the church with baptism and fellowship. I don't believe close friendships or marriages are a good thing between believers and non-believers. Sooner or later there will be resentment.... Jim
2007-04-10 14:33:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a good question. It is something I have wondered for a while. I have to say though, as an atheist I find it hard to be true friends with a strong believer & similarly as a liberal person I find it hard to be friends with someone who is very right wing. I think a lot of it for me is that it is important for my friends to have similar values to me. Someone who is homophobic in some way is not someone I can be honest with without getting into heated debates all the time for example. Similarly I would have hard time tolerating someone trying to convert me to a religion all the time, though I would understand that they meant well of course. It is just not conducive to good honest friendships.
Most of these things that differ between strong believers and myself are too fundamental to put to one side. They are things that are part of who I am. I find it hard to believe it is any easier for a very religious person.
Not much of an answer I am afraid....just some thoughts.
2007-04-10 14:22:55 · answer #3 · answered by SonoranDesertGirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, first off, you aren't going to bring anyone to Christ by beating them with the bible. Actually being friends with someone and building a relationship is better than greeting strangers with "Are you saved yet?"
Me personally, I figure in today's society, with movies, tv shows, heck whole tv channels, books, magazines, and the internet, that if they don't know the gospel yet, they either don't want to know, or they can research it faster than I could tell them.
2007-04-10 14:25:17 · answer #4 · answered by Curtis B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've never found it to be a problem. Without bashing them or arguing, I lay out for them exactly what I believe. I tell them that it is my hope that they will come to me with questions about my faith. I've always been respected for this approach.
I do have to say though, as a Christan, there is a difference between having a friendship with someone, and being able to fellowship with them.
2007-04-10 14:18:30 · answer #5 · answered by Rixie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From what I can glean from your definition of a Great Commission(er), it sums up what a missionary is. I can't see being a good friend to someone whose goal is to 'change my mind' about my belief system or lack of it. It demonstrates a second agenda that prevents intimacy, and if you reject their message, they ordinarily will reject you and go on to their next 'victim'.
Take the agenda away, two intelligent minds will recognize each other, and also recognize that their are boundaries despite wat Jesus said.
2007-04-10 14:22:12 · answer #6 · answered by Dances with Poultry 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be like Jesus was in the Bible?
2007-04-10 14:11:07 · answer #7 · answered by maguyver727 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋