If Christians believe that their God is all powerful why do they need to convert people?

Question

If GOd and Jesus are all powerful if they wanted someone to convert to bellieve in them couldn't they make it happen? I am Pagan and we don't believe in conversion so I am genuinely interested. Doesn't that mean you are not trusting God? Also the Bible says "Judge not lest ye be not Judged" In telling someone what they believe is wrong are you not judging them, the very thing you are not supposed to do?

Just to clear up any confusion I am not interested in converting but thank you for caring. I have total faith in my Gods?Goddesses to take care of me.

Answer 1

I am a Christian, and let me start off by saying that you pose a very reasonable objection and a well worded question. I'll do my best to answer it for you.

I believe that God doesn't force people to do anything they don't want to do, because if that were so, that humans wouldn't follow him out of love, but out of slavery of the mind, which destroys the whole purpose that God created humanity for, which is to bring glory to him. Unfortunately, since we have freedom of choice, we don't always make decisions that glorify him, and yes that includes every single person who claims Christianity, myself included.

The verse you quoted is Matt. 7:1, and my version reads slightly different than your quotation, but the meaning doesn't change.

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be used against you." Matthew 7:1-2, NIV.

Now, this doesn't mean that we can't share the Word with others, which is what you called converting. I believe it can be done in a loving, non-judgmental manner. Here is one example of how Jesus went about it.

"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus 'Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?' They were using this as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started writing in the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, 'If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.' Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away, one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' 'No sir,' she said. 'Then neither do I comdemn you,' Jesus declared." John 8:3-11 NIV.

I think that is how we as Christians are supposed to reach out to people, because as this passage states, not even the religious leaders of the time of Christ were perfect. I'm not perfect, and I can't condemn you, but I feel that I have to share what I believe with everyone, and encourage you to do the same while keeping an open mind to what other's beliefs are.

Answer 2

Good question. Christians were not sent to change people's minds by teaching; but to give a personal report about what God has done for them, if asked; and preach the gospel, or good news; if sent. Instead many try to teach when they should share, and preach when they should stay home.

Scripture is clear; God does the converting. Conversion is called the new birth and also the baptism of the holy spirit. This event is the infilling of Christ in power. Without the spirit of Christ the only thing I can convert you to is my idea.

There are tens of thousands of Christians who are converted to another persons idea of Christiantiy and not Christ. While God's spirit showers them with blessings; they often do not last. Nor do they have any real "converts." God only converts through men and women who have His spirit and can pass on His life.

You may have gone through life thus far and never met a Christian who has truly been converted. If the Lord Jesus, who is God, and who was God in a body of flesh, sends someone your way; I am sure you will know the difference.

So let me say this. It doesn't mean they are not trusting God; but rather going ahead of God without taking care of some personal business. Many are not taught any better. The result is they do everything in the power of their mind and not in God's spirit. That leads to discussions about what you think and I think, blah, blah. Pretty soon they begin to sound judgmental, even if they don't feel that way.

If you ask a belief question on Q&A; even I may sound judgmental; if the question requires yes or no with reasons. I doubt if any two people in the world believe just alike, be they Christian or pagan; and reason always involves judgment of some kind or another.

Hope this explains a little.

Answer 3

Wow you have the right answers but in the wrong context. First of all to judge someone is to know their heart and the relation to God. No one can know this except the Lord. Secondly we have free will to choose or reject the FREE gift of eternal life that was bought and paid for by Christ on the cross. In order for true love to take place free will has to be given or else that would not be true love. If someone held a gun to your head and told you to love them would that be real? Christians are to share the Love of JESUS and the Spirit is the one who draws them to repentance and therefore a relationship is made with JESUS as savior. The question is this; If you were to die today where would you spend eternity? Jesus is the answer and the Bible is His love letter to all mankind. I hope this helps you to better understand how much we do care about those who are lost in this world.

Answer 4

Jesus commissioned his people to do this work, he fulfilled the work of salvation and before his ascension gave this instruction to his disciples, "Go, and make disciples of all the nations, teaching and baptizing..." Its not that he can't make you believe, it's that salvation is a free gift, you have to accept the gift, by faith. Also, you are taking the "Judge not..." verse out of context. If you look at the principle of this, Jesus is speaking against hypocrisy, the next verse is "why look at the speck in your friends eye, when you have a log in your own eye," You are trying to throw bible darts, if you really are "Genuinely interested," get a study bible and a commentary and stop being cynical. If you had an open mind then your pre-conceived notions would not show through your question.

Answer 5

Once you know Jesus as lord and he changes your life you feel you want to share that Joy with others. If you are born again of the spirit you are spirit led to tell others. Its more of a sharing rather than "converting."

The judge not verse is here in Matthew 7:

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."

Here Jesus did not command a universal acceptance of any lifestyle or teaching. Instead, Jesus is speaking against being judgmental, that is, judging motives and the inner man, which only God can know. We can judge the fruit of a man, but we can rarely judge their motives with accuracy.

If we see what Jesus said in Matthew 7:15-16, He commands us to know people by the fruit of their life, and some sort of assessment is necessary for that. The Christian is called to unconditionally love. But the Christian is not called to unconditional approval. We really can love people who do things that should not be approved of.

Answer 6

I don't threaten, but I do stand u for my faith, I don't convert that's the Holy Sprit's job, but I must expalin my faith at every opportunity. I "must be ready with and answer". I do not threaten people. If people take my words to heart and look at what they are doing then great. When speaking to fundies, the problems are: A-they take every opportunity to bash catholics and our faith in a most disgusting manner calling us pagans, calling the Pope the anit-christ, saying Horrible things about Bleesed mother B-they insist they are right based on the Bible C-They do not know the Bible nor do they understand it at all.(period). They do, however know what Hell-fire is and they know it is real. When whole groups of people are so lost and think they are so right how can I sit and people who no what hell-fire is risk just that without saying something, I will be judged by what I believe(think), do, and say. If I know the truth and I fail to tell them, they who call themselves christains say they want salvation more than anything and are blinded to the fact that they don't have it that thier own source (the bible contridicts what they say the believe), If I don't say anything to these freindlies, how am I a solider of Christ, how do I live up to the legacy of my confirmation if I sit on the truth, how can I help unbelivers if I don't share the truth with these friendlies, who will I be judged, besides John Paul II in his encylical on ecumenism said we are to evegilize, we are to help these poor ignorant souls, who through no fault of their own were brought up in darkness and fed lies. It's not thire fault, but the only way I know to evanglize is to tell the truth in thier (fundie) lanuage so it will sink in make an impression. John 6 (Ibel;ieve it's matthew 27 -- the euchaist "whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, there is no life in someone who does not -- I did not write these words Jesus said them. Mathew 25;31-46 is the clearest unequivical statement I know that you cannot be saved by faith alone, again I did not say these words -- I need to shout this "THE BIBLE TEACHES US THAT YOU CANNOT BE SAVED BY FAITH ALONE" In language that I know the fundies understand "TURN OR BURN"

Answer 7

Romans 10:17 " So then faith commeth by hearing , hearing by the word of God ". Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick , and powerful , and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow , and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart ". Mark 16:15 "Go ye into all the word , and preach the gospel (good news ) to every creature ".

Answer 8

Jesus commanded his church to go and tell others the good news of the kingdom not for God's purpose but for own purpose of spiritual growth and development.

In the natural world: If something is good you don't keep it to yourself. You tell, share, and build together. Most countries around the world would never have heard the gospel of Christ if missionaries had not gone out into these regions to build Hospitals,Feed the indigent, Water wells, Schools, and Christian churches. This my friend is the beauty of sharing God's saving message with the world. Not Judging but reconciling man to his maker. May you grow in his grace.

Answer 9

Christians can't convert anyone. We are just supposed to spread The Word. Telling someone they are wrong is teaching, correcting or offering an opinion, but that's not judging. I can't punish them for their actions. Judging is up to God alone.

God Bless.

Answer 10

If Atheists believe there is no God why do they need to convert people? Before you ask about Christians converting people, think about all the Atheists on the R&S section trying to convert people.