For Christians...?

Question

I am an Ex Christian Missionary who is now an Orthodox Jew. My issue is 90% of my old friends try and preach to me every time they talk to me.

What they don't understand (or forget) was that i use to be a missionary and I KNOW all they are trying to tell me...

So my questions are...

1. How do I get them off my case (without being rude and saying something like "If not believing in jesus and following the torah with all my might sends me to hell then its hell I want to go to) <--- my current line

2. Why do they continue to bother me when they KNOW I know everything they have to say... I can quote the verses and the arguments they make by heart.

3. If do this to your non Christian friends why?

Ok.. I will add these few things in... The Christians I am dealing with are mainly family and family friends. I live in NYC with my husband... most of them are in texas where I grew up. I don't have to contact them too much but I will be making a trip down there soon... and I have had to deal with this every time I have seen any Christian that once knew me.

I Rejected Christianity 3 years ago and finished my conversion almost a year ago. These people don't give up. They call me (all the time) they e-mail me, im me, everything. Its sooo annoying. I just wonder whats going on in their head. when I was a missionary i worked in mexico at a children's home... I did not do stuff like this...

I will be having to see all these people in a short while and I don't know how to deal with them nicely any more.

Answer 1

Christians like them don't listen.
To listen is to show respect.
You draw the obvious conclusion...

How do you treat them?
No matter what you say, no matter what you do, no matter how rude you get, they will will turn the situation so that they are the martyrs.

All you can do is let them throw their tantrums and hope that they do not break anything valuable of yours, out of spite, in the process.

They are very immature. Perhaps the best approach is to treat them like the children they are.
I don't know that will work.
I prefer to be unspeakably rude.
It usually stops them long enough for me to walk away, and never look back.
It's sad to have to do that to anybody you've considered a friend, but once they've 'gone over to the dark side', they aren't really people anymore.

That's just my opinion.

You have a good life, Okay.

Answer 2

Consider: When you were a Christian missionary, would you yourself have preached to Jews?

Try to have a little empathy. Christianity and Judaism need not necessarily be a source of antagonism. Jesus was Jewish, the Messiah is a Jewish concept, the first apostles and disciples were Jews, and many of the first Christians remained "zealous for the Law" (Acts 21:20) or "zealots for the Torah" (David Stern's "Jewish New Testament"), the same term that was used to define the Maccabees.

In time, your friends likely will come to respect your decision to be an observant Jew, just as those Jews who continue to become Christians would want to have their choice respected. But it may help to put yourself (again) where they are mentally, and continue to be kind.

Answer 3

I am a Christian, and if you are having a problem with them preaching to you all the time, then maybe they are not mature that spiritually. If someone tells me immediately they do not want to hear the gospel, I never waste my breathe trying to tell them about it, unless God shows me something. I do not know your friends well enough to say why they are still doing it, even though you have told them already. But you may have to cut off your friendship with them. If they are that stubborn and persistent, then there will be no easy way to persuade. I know Christians like that also. And they believe in their heart that pounding the Word at people is the only way. And they do so out of a lack of understanding and spiritual maturity.

Answer 4

You know this probably would have been better posted in the etiquette section in order to get the best answers, but I'll do the best I can.

Honestly, I would try to explain to them politely.
"As you know I used to be a missionary. It was not easy for me to change my beliefs and it is not something I did lightly. However, I have always treasured our friendship. I love you for your sense of humor, compassion, and the way you always make me laugh. I did not merely love you because we shared religious beliefs. I hope you did not only love me because I was a missionary. I would love to remain your friend, but in order to do so you have to respect that my religious beliefs have changed. I know everything that the bible says--did you believe I was a horrible missionary, did you have no faith in my ability back then--but I would appreciate if you could accept me for who I am. It is not as if I made my decision overnight, or lightly. When we shared religious beliefs, we did not only discuss religion but since I converted to Judaism, it seems our conversation has became stagnant and redundant. But please respect our friendship and allow me to have my religious beliefs. There is enough anti-semitism in the world today, please don't give me the impression you are among them."

If you remind them that religion does not define your friendship, and as such you don't appreciate the conversation always having to be about religion...however if they can't accept your religious choice--you may have to end your friendship with them. When I determined that I was atheist, I had many friends decide they could not remain my friend. That is their choice and if they chose to, merely let them know that it saddens you that they are so narrow-minded.

They will either respect the friendship and enjoy being with YOU (as a person, instead of just "you, the christian missionary") that they will change their way--or they will stop being your friend. Either way you will have remained in the moral high road. You were not rude and you held true to your beliefs.

Answer 5

Hey chica, I am a christian, but I can understand that this can be frustrating.
1)Try telling them you understand their point of view, but you don't want to argue and tell them to pray for you if they are concerned! Prayer should be their alternate anyway- and so hopefully they would accept that -and it won't bother you anymore! - right? Just an idea.
2)They only continue to bother you with this stuff because they are concerned and love you and want you to walk in the truth - which you already know! ;)
Jesus does love you and he is real, but may God bless you and prosper you and keep you!
3) No, I do not do this to my non-Christian friends in response to your last question. I try to evangelize by example, and unless the Holy Spirit compels me to speak to them regarding such things I usually do not - unless they are interested in discussing such things or the topic comes up! I'm not scared to tell, but I don't push it on anyone either, knowing that the Holy Spirit must be drawing them in order for me to be effective anyway.
Hope this helps!

Answer 6

you are funny deceptive but funny

from your previous question-it is evident you are a searching person closed to the truth=Why do seemingly smart Jewish people become christian?
I don't understand why a Jew would ever convert to another religion... leaving the faith in G-d when there is NO evidence in the Tanach that we should follow any other religion...

So why do they still convert.... better yet why do people try and talk them into converting.

THE TRUTH IS WE WERE PROMISED A MESSIAH-Isaiah 9:6 UNTO us will be born a child, a son will be given and he will be almighty God and the prince of peace."
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 "He will be exalted...first he will be marred more than any man, and lay down his life to make atonement for our sins, He will die with the wicked and be burried with the rich."

who do you know fulfills this and the commanded blood sacrifice innocent for our guilt Moses Leviticus 17:11

while you say your Jewish and reject Moses, Isaiah and our Messiah-why not say you have a new religion-because it is sure not Judiasm.
from a Jew Bar Mitzvahd who believes Moses, Isaiah and the Messiah too. and praying for you

Answer 7

a.) If you were at one time a missionary, then it seems to me that right now you're getting some of your own medicine. Imagine all of the disinterested people you've bullied into your way of thinking. Just deserts if you ask me.

b.) Why would you go from version of serupernatural delusion to another?

Answer 8

Not Christian, but here's one approach you can try...

"I understand that you're concerned for me, but I've made my decision and it's something I believe in. As a friend, I'm asking you to respect my choice. If you continue to harass me about this issue, I'm afraid I can't visit/see/hang around with you again."

Then follow through if they keep at it.

Edit to add a note to the poster above me. Yes, you can convert to Judaism. See link below:
http://www.convertingtojudaism.com

Answer 9

First of all, I'm Catholic and I'm sorry you feel your friends are forcing their beliefs on you. I never force my beliefs on others, yet I am very devout on my own.
I would just be up front with them and say you'd appreciate it if they wouldn't try to re-convert you. That you are happy in your current faith as it is and if they persist, that perhaps realizing that you both believe in a loving God is a similarity that you both can agree upon, even if the level of importance of Jesus is not.

Answer 10

Just change the subject or walk away. If they are rude enough to badger you then they should expect the same courtesy in return. And, as for myself I do not keep after people who do not know Jesus the Christ as their savior. The best example of anything is our lives. It is hard for many to remember; "No one cares how much you know; till they know how much you care."

Shalom