did you know that EVANGELISM, "or telling people about Jesus" is a central core value in Christianity?

Question

did you know that EVANGELISM, "or telling people about Jesus" is a central core value in Christianity?

by telling us TO STOP "telling people about Jesus", "stop sharing the gospel.", or "stop voicing your christian views", you are actually telling us that we do not have the freedom of RIGHT to practice our religion.

consequently, if we do come tellingyou about Jesus, you can CHOOSE not to listen by telling us, "i do not want to listen. you can choose not to follow too. it is your right.

so if you have your right not to listen to me, and i have my right to practice my religion in this "free" world, why then are you stopping or ridiculing me for practicing my right?

please, intelligent answers.

Michael S,

evangelism is NO DOUBT ONE OF THE core values of christianity.

every christian and jew is TAUGHT and commanded by Jesus to go into the world to tell people about the good news of GOD, (both OT and NT)

Frank,

you violated my right to practice my religion.

so your right not to listen to me gets voided right?

your argument doesn't help.

Answer 1

Your rights are negated as soon as they violate the rights of others. Period.

edit - WRONG. You're free to practice your religion, but that doesn't mean you can invade the privacy and space of other citizens.

It is my right to walk around spraying water into the air, but I'm sure you wouldn't like if I walked up and sprayed you. It might be my religious right to walk around with a pair of cymbals crashing down the street, but it wouldn't be nice for me to come and crash them right next to your ears, would it? It's stepping over the boundaries of privacy- JUST like your evangelism, it is a PUBLIC DISTURBANCE.

And by the way, evangelism is NOT a core value of Christianity; it is a core value of Evangelicals who were a product of Protestantism in the U.S. It's been adopted in the wake of Christian reform away from religious literacy and towards morality, and now it's more important that you have faith rather than knowing exactly what you believe in.

Just like smokers don't have the right (at least in some states) to come up and blow smoke in my face, I expect the same from proselytizers.

Answer 2

In a way, you are right. Jesus said Feed my sheep. His sheep, not by forcing it on other people, condemning them to hell, etc. Jesus did not use these tactics. We are supposed to be Christ like. So following his example is a good idea. Like the prostitute who was about to be stoned, etc. I'm not saying you do this. However, a lot of people do. They make people angry and offended. God gives everyone a choice. Certain people do not respect that. He did not say save the whole world. He said even certain ones who claim to know him, he'll say depart from me I never knew you. As you know that's not a direct quote. However where I am it's 3 am. I don't feel like looking it up. Also, People will ridicule you, they have that right also. Remember, freedom of speech. Jesus warned that his people would suffer for teaching God's word.
We are supposed to rejoice in All things. P.S. I know this is not easy. I'm learning.

Answer 3

I believe that it is indeed important to preach the word of God. however, i don't think it right to preach to one who is against it...

Here's a saying that comes to mind.:
"Don't throw pearls before swine"

Consider that you are actually doing these people a diservice, because you are causing them- and giving them- more opportunites to be more and more offensive to God and saints.

Be careful how you preach..
Preach to those who are searching, don't try to force your beliefs down a persons throat.

Another point to consider is even a very good message can become corrupted by sinful people who try to force other people to follow

there is a saying:
"milk touched by the lips of a serpant causes a poisonous effect"
this means that even if there is something pure (like milk for example) it can have the opposite effect like causing a person to want to turn the other direction or be offensive etc. when it is preached by a serpant.

I have had this very experience. I almost lost faith in God, because the person i was hearing about God from was hurting me, and was very very bogus.

close call!!

Answer 4

I am a Christian who believes that talk is cheap. It is more often used to belittle, offend and demonize others out of a sense of self-righteousness. If you want to effectively preach the gospel you can volunteer as a tutor, or at a local blood bank, or with the hospital ministry, or hospice, or a food bank or an animal shelter. Be a part of the solution .....on earth as it is in heaven....

Answer 5

In evangelical Protestantism and fundamentalism, it is THE central core value.
In other Christian traditions, such as Eastern Orthodoxy and some extreme forms of Calvinism, it's not practiced.

That aside, you raise an excellent argument!

Answer 6

Your right to practice your religion is fine until the point where it interferes with my right to not be harassed about it.

Freedom to practice your religion does not guarantee you freedom from ridicule while doing it, nor does it prevent someone from telling you to go away and leave them alone.

Answer 7

Evangelism is good business liked by God and people alike.
Usually its rampant in poorer countries with promise of
greener pastures and getting green card to USA, etc., etc.

Answer 8

yas I know it was the great comition to go and tell all the world the good news of Jesus' sacrifice and gift.
mat 28
The Great Commission
16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Answer 9

no one is stopping you, however ridiculing you is still my freedom.
also, most of the "questions" here "teaching people about Jesus" are not even questions, which is against the community guidelines.

Answer 10

And also, the more they tell us not to, the more that we see that there is a need here at Yahoo! Answers and thus we come at them stronger