Question to Christians:?

Question

I'm looking for fresh ideas on how to unscare people from Christianity. Christians have given Christians a pretty bad name over the years. To most people I talk to, in person and on yahoo answers, they are repelled from Christianity b/c it is smashed in their faces. "Do you know where you are going when you die? There is a place called Hell! You're a sinner and you will burn in Hell forever if you don't accept Jesus Christ as your Lord" Good grief people.... come on!!!! We are scaring people away from Christianity. I don't think my chances are very high for changing the Christians who think this is the way to witness and I don't want to divide Christianity b/c I think that would cause even more damage... so I guess my question is: What can I and other Christians who agree with me do to unscare people and bring them back to a line of thinking that would let them consider Jesus as a part of their live. I mean, Jesus never shoved himself down anyone's throat when he was here on Earth.

I am praying about it. I should focus on it more. Sometimes I find myself daydreaming and I see myself somewhere in the future really helping people. Not just to find Jesus but to realy walk with him. I just wanna do something big. For HIM. Not for me. I went to thewayofthemaster.com and started watching the video called "hell's best kept secret". I haven't finished it yet. It's long and so I'll have to finish it later. But, I love it so far. I wonder why I haevn't heard of this before.

People are saying that you can't hide the truth to reach non believers and I totally agree with that, one person said that it was our job to bring condemnation or something like that... That is not true! we are not here to condemn! And one of my favorite things about having Jesus as my Father is that He doesn't condemn me either. He does CONVICT me of things but never condemns me. I just want a way to present Christianity to the world .. i just want a magic answer I suppose....

Answer 1

You are right about the confrontational approach not being very effective. The people who use this approach are usually out for a quick save with out much work on their part and boost their church rooster. Jesus used relationships over time to reach people.

Christians believe in a Heaven and a Hell and so when asked about that you must tell your beliefs clearly. Witnessing is telling about your story and relationship with Jesus to others. How has He comforted you in times of stress, given you guidance and made your life more worth while. Most people are looking for something, they just don't know that it is Jesus.

Answer 2

I think that the truth is sometimes very hard to hear- I agree however that there are ways to express the truth that can get people to want to know Christ-
First are we living a life that represents Jesus- What I mean by that are people wondering what the difference in us is or are they just hearing "you will go to hell if you don't believe". Heaven and hell is a real thing, and those people who chose not to believe will go to hell- that is not a false statement- but I think we cannot speak those words if our lives are not showing forth the love of Christ. Jesus spoke the truth always while on earth- for those religious Pharisees he spoke some pretty "harsh" words- because they refused to hear His Truth but He did eat with sinners, and said- I have come to save the lost. So we need to approach unbelievers with love and truth- otherwise no one will want to know Jesus- but if we do not speak the whole truth about their eternal destiny, then we aren't telling the whole truth either. I think there is a fine line, we must first show them that we care about them.
There is a quote I heard once that is very good-
"They will not care how much we know, until they know how much we care".

Answer 3

The best witnessing you can give is through your life. Living a Christian-like life will make people wonder why you do so, and when they ask, you can share the gospel with them. I don't know if I fully agree with you though, since making people aware of condemnation is also very important. You have to let them know what is truly going on. Maybe not to Jonathan Edwards extent, but we should make it clear that if you don't become saved you will go to hell and be separated from God for eternity.

Answer 4

Live a life in keeping with the torah, just as Yahshua did. That is what it means to be "Christ like" Be a shining example of love, peace, joy, patience and kindness. If you do this people will actually say to you "I want what you have".

When they say this, give your testimony of what God has done for you. This is not an in your face approach. There is no hell fire and damnation just you sharing your love and appreciation for Yahshua and Yahweh for his goodness and mercy and love.

I would however go back and reread you gospel accounts. Yahshua often got into the face of people who were teaching false doctrines but notice it was to false religious leaders not the general public nor unbelievers.

May the Shalom of God be upon you.

Answer 5

I'd start by reading some books that reflect a more mainstream view of what Christianity is about. Some recent books that I've found very helpful are:

Keith Ward, What the Bible Really Teaches
Randall Balmer, Thy Kingdom Come

Knowing that there are others out there who are Evangelical but not fundamentalists can be a great encouragement, and help you keep your focus.

Answer 6

We can not water down the gospel to what people want to hear. But we should not just say you are going to hell. This does not make sense unless you tell them why first. On the wayofthemaster.com website, they have the correct way to witness to others. The Ten Commandements is a good test to go through with people. If we water down the message to people there could become false converts. The Lord is the one who saves not us. We are just tools of God. I like to pass out tracts to people. Also came out with a website NeedaNewStart.com which has a blog for peoples questions and feedback. The beginning of knowledge is to fear the Lord. We are suppose to fear God. We are suppose to fear God only. We are suppose to tell the full gospel. Jesus spoke about hell more then heaven. We are not suppose to have anger when we speak. We speak with love for others. This love we have for other people is why we can tell them that unless they repent they will go to hell. This is not our message but God's. If we speak another message we are telling our message and not God's.

Answer 7

I'm afraid you can't undo the witch hunts, the Crusades, the Roman Catholic Church, the Inquisition, the Holocaust. I suggest you come up with a "Newer" Testament that doesn't exclude non-believers!

NeedaNewStart: ROTFL!!!!! False converts is the reason Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492! That's all we need -- the new and refined Inquisition!!!
.

Answer 8

Jesus preached his message and gave his testimony in an non- aggressive manner. We as Christians should do the same, preach Jesus word, show it in the Bible so they feel compelled to look it up for themselves and let them intepret it in their own way. Tell people what God and Jesus has done for you everyday. The more and more you speak about it more and more people want to know if Jesus will do the same for them. I wish you the best of luck with your campaign to help Christians not teach fire and brimstone messages.

Answer 9

Act like Jesus. Try just being nice! Try understanding other races, cultures, religions, sexual orientations and being kind. Try not bashing other religions because you "think" they are wrong. Try taking care of the environment. Be kind to animals as well as people. Help others for no particular reason, just to help. People are people, no matter what religion, race, sexual orientation, and we are all "brothers and sisters", we should treat each other with respect and caring. I really think the idea of being a good "christian" or good "person" in general is understanding, kindness, and respect, not only for people, but for all of nature and our environment.

Answer 10

As a former christian, I can tell you that the fire insurance salespeople don't scare me one bit. The fact that there is no historical evidence whatsoever of the biblical Jesus's existence is the main reason for my non-belief. When someone actual produces some real evidence, I MAY re-examine, but the god of that bible is a very cruel god and it would be difficult.