What do you think of this strategy for converting people?

Question

I asked "Must you use the cause of my grief as an opportunity to preach?"

I was told "That is the best time to tell others of the love of Christ, so as to bring comfort in a time of pain."

So the best time to convert me to Christianity is when I've lost my son, and Christians offer me the chance to be reunited with him?

How am I to not see this as an insult against my cherished and life-long belief in Love?

Do Christians like this think they're the only ones who believe in a here-after?

Do they swoop in like vultures on injured prey?

Do they chase ambulances?

Not all Christians are like that ... would that there were none like that.

Answer 1

May your son forever find himself in peace and love, wherever he may be, Summerlands, Heaven, Valhalla, but most of all in the minds and hearts of those who loved him in life.

Now as for the Christians who said that, I'm not surprised. I think those types have a problem with fear and sadness. "How can one be sad and fearful when Jesus brings joy and relief?" kind of thing.


One thing that upsets me a little is funerals performed by a Christian group. Jesus this, God that, Heaven, Going Home, Blah blah. The only thing in the last funeral I saw that related to the deceased in question was the name, which preceded "is going home" or "was loved by Jesus".

I'm sorry, but if that happened to me, I'd feel dishonored (especially since I'm a druid, quite non-Christian). A funeral is an event to honor the dead. If you want to privately imagine the soul of the person going up to heaven and into Jesus' arms, by all means do. That doesn't hurt anyone. But the focus of a funeral is to honor the person who just died. Talk about what they did in life. Talk about their loves, interests, quirks, funny events. Talk about how strong of a person they were, or whose lives they touched. Talk about the time he fell out of a tree but laughed it off. But don't sit there and talk about how God is welcoming another sheep back into his flock. This isn't about God, that's what Church is for.

Anyway, I agree with you. Mourning is definitely not an appropriate time to be proselytized, or bugged for anything for that matter. If my fiancee were to die, the last thing I'd want to hear is the belittling of my beliefs in favor of another person's.

Answer 2

I just answered your other question and no, I don't agree. If you're already upset about Christian beliefs and afterlife, I don't think someone should try to convert you at this time. However, believe that Christians have a hard time with the whole converting thing. Every person they're witnessing to is different. Some would need to be "preached to" in a time of grief. Some won't. Some need to hear Scriptures, others don't. It's all a matter of trial and error with Christians.

I know that Christians aren't the only ones who have an after life as part of their religious beliefs. Honestly, and many Christians would probably hate me for this, but Christianity is really divided. It's almost as if Christianity is the topic of religion and each denomination is a separate religion it itself. Everyone doesn't know the truth because they all interpret in differently. Just forgive whoever was using your grief as a means of conversion. If you're truly looking for Christian truth, someone or something will come along to help you find the way.

Answer 3

First off, let me say I'm sorry for your loss.

Secondly, you're right. A time of grief is a terrible time to hit someone up for a conversion experience.

But to their credit, most of the people doing so think they are helping a person in need. For some people who are grieving it is a comfort to know their loved ones are ok, and the missionary types think it helps EVERYONE the same way. But it doesn't, there is no one way that works for everyone to cope with such a terrible loss.

What helps me get through the loss of the loved ones I don't have with me any more might help you. I hope so any way. It's something that Bill Hicks said once, and it got me through the death of my grandparents.

"The world is like a ride in an amusement park and when you choose to go on it you think it's real because that's how powerful our minds are. And the ride goes up and down and around and around and it has thrills and chills and it's very brightly coloured and it's very loud. And it's fun - for a while. Some people have been on the ride for a long time, and they begin to question; is this real? Or is this just a ride? And other people have remembered, and they come back to us, and they say, "Hey, don't worry, don't be afraid, ever, because... this is just a ride."

Answer 4

genuine christianity is the realisation that for the period of basic terms God via ability of the Holy Spirit can relatively convert any individual. Your "existence's artwork" is to show the way, no human can convert anybody. people who pick to be 'godless' have in many circumstances been bible-bashed into senselessness via individuals of a definite faith or denomination and having had extra suitable than they are able to digest pick atheism. Atheists for the main section lead a ethical and only existence and why hence might they then pick to connect a 'non secular club' in order that as that they could be seen to affix the herd?

Answer 5

O, sorry that happened to you, and that it offended you. Some people just have a script of that they say in certain instances. Then there are those who do not mean harm, but think that what is good for them is good for everyone. Please do not take offense. You know more about love and forgiveness than anyone. Surely, you can understand why this person thought s/he was being comforting in an ignorant sort of way.

Answer 6

Sorry for your loss, and sorry of the vultures pecking at you while you're down. In truth many christian fanatics do try and convert people when they have suffered a loss or when they have hit rock bottom, example:church-run orphanages instead of just secular orphanages.

Answer 7

God does the converting , True Christian are being obedient
to Gods Word and Commands . Just because you so obviously reject the truth and have something to hide which
make you so uncomfortable that you write crap like this does
not mean anything of the sort as you stated above . You
know running , never has solved a thing . You need to stop and run for God not from Him . He will forgive you and Love
forever if given the chance , its up to you though , Free Will ,
Amen.....

Answer 8

Certain Christian groups make a point of doing that.

A couple of college groups I remember from when I was an undergrad, specifically "Campus Crusade" and "Intervaristy Christian Fellowship," make a point of hitting all of the freshmen and especially all of the exchange students, since they assume the emotionally vulnerable are more likely to convert.

Answer 9

Your conversion comes from God, not from men. Since true christians know this, they don't try to convert you. True christians also know that God gave us all a free will. Love that is not free is not real, and God wants us to love Him, because we choose to. You can therefore choose to accept Him, or reject Him. This is your choice to make and no true christian would tell you otherwise.

Answer 10

I am very sorry for your loss, but religion is the biggest commercializec institution now some are ready to kill just to make sure they impose their believes on you. Having been through a lot of life challenges myself I believe it is better for you to search inside of yourself and attain your personal spirituality and find your never severed relationship with the greater power on your own terms rather than allow any of the established political (religious) pressure groups to draw you in to more destruction of your pure soul.
I wish you all the peace to see you through