Christians, in your mind, it is your job to lead us heathens to the light.?

Question

I just saw an answer to that affect.

Please let me assure you that I have heard all you have to say at least a million times and I reject your biblical monster that you worship.

If you are happy with your religion than that is great. Just do not ever feel that it is necessary to preach to others in the world. Many of us believe the bible is man made fiction. You disagree and that is fine, I will not try to judge you.

When I see Christians judging others and wanting to force their religion on me through our laws I will not stand by and do nothing. I will fight you very vocally.

Answer 1

To answer your first question, no, I don't believe that. It's my job to SHOW you how a Christian is supposed to act. It's YOUR responsibility to go from there. And if you don't...that's fine too. Most of us won't respect you any less.

Answer 2

As Christians, one of our charges is to "therefore go and make disciples of all nations" (NIV; Matt 28:19). However, it does not say HOW to do it, just that we're supposed to.

Some people believe the best way is to Bible-thump and beat people into submission. Others believe simply in living a Christian life and leading by example. Most Christians are somewhere in between.

Personally, it's an issue I leave alone. If someone is interested in Christianity because of something they've seen in my life, then I will talk to them about it. Otherwise, if people want to have other beliefs, then that is their right. We do live in a free country here (unless you're reading this from a country without freedom of religion, lol).

However, I see just as many non-Christians bashing Christians and initiating the argument as there are Christians who initiate arguments. It's funny, if Christians want to start a debate, we're seen as trying to beat you over the head with religion. But when non-Christians initiate, it's seen as "defending the right to not have a religion".

Finally, it's not just Christians that do the whole "conversion" thing. Did you know that the Qur'an (aka Koran) instructs followers of Allah to either convert the "infidels" or destroy them? Or that most other world religions have some sort of charge to convert the un-believers? It's a pretty big double standard that atheists and other religions can flaunt their beliefs in public, but Christians have to "keep quiet" about their religion at the risk of being sued, mobbed, or simply getting negative publicity.

Answer 3

Nope. Not our job to convert. It's the old story about leading a horse to water; we can't make someone change their mind, just show them the Gospel. And preaching is only one way to do that. We believe -- with all respect to the fact that you do not -- that when someone seeks God, it is the Holy Spirit who accomplishes their conversion.

You may have heard it a thousand times, but you haven't heard it a thousand times from the same person. We do believe that it is necessary to share the Gospel in some fashion because that's what Jesus told us to do. If you're approached personally, and aren't interested, just say so.

In a forum like this one, where everyone has a voice, you're going to see it a lot -- just as we are going to see the comments directed at us from non-believers. In both cases, if something offends, we have the choice of passing it by and ignoring it or engaging in a battle of words over it.

I support your right to be proactive about legislation you strongly disagree with, as well. But please keep in mind that this doesn't mean you need to fight every Christian. We are no more a monolith than any other group, but individuals -- like you in many ways, save one.

Peace be with you.

Answer 4

You have every right to fight it because it is NOT the place of a Christian to try to convert you, preach to you, judge you, condemn you, etc. And this is coming from a person who IS a Christian. So many believers feel it's necessary to push their beliefs in the faces of others, but that's not the way God intended for it to be. One of my favorite quotes is from Saint Francis of Assisi which says, "Go out into the world and preach the gospel, and when necessary use words." I think if more Christians applied this principal there'd be much more harmony between them and others who don't share their beliefs.

Answer 5

No, that is not our job. We can only witness to what we know for ourselves.

Most people are like you, they don't want to see the light that guides us.

John 1:3-5
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
(from New International Version)


John 3:19-21
20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
(from New International Version)

Answer 6

Unfortunately, they believe they were given a bibical mandate to convert the entire world.

And as much as we ask them nicely that they preach to us, it isn't going to happen. Which I don't understand. If I don't want to hear it, then I certainly am not going to be swayed after you fight to tell me anyway. You have already disrespected me, why would I care about what you say?

The other unfortunate thing is that when we do fight back we are called all types of things. We are told that we are in league with Satan, that we are in the dark. That we are going to hell, and that we are condemning the world to darkness. That we will go through the tribulation and be screaming as we are cast down.

Personally, I'm with you. I spent far to long in Christianity and truly believing in Jesus before I found that the truth is really not there. Neither of us needs to hear about it again and again, nor the threats that come with it.

I doubt we will see an end to it in our lifetimes.

Answer 7

I feel that most of what people call being judgmental in here is not the case at all. We all make judgments everyday. The key is not to be hypocritical when doing it. When we call someone else judgmental, we ourselves are being judgmental.

I don't see it as my duty to lead you to the light. I'm supposed to point you to the light, tell you the benefits of being in the light...but what you do with that info is, of course, your own decision.

People always state that Christians in YA are shoving our beliefs down your throat. Well, if you don't want to hear what I have to say, then don't come to a room full of Christians and ask questions. You can't have it both ways.

Answer 8

i understand that you are annoyed with some, and i stress some, christians who feel it necessary to preach what they believe. but you have asked a question that you must achnowledge as mocking, and supplied other questions and concepts that are also judgemental. biblical monster sounds just a tad judgemental. i find it annoying too, when anyone of any religion of culture tries to force their opinion on others. im glad u stand for your beliefs, just try not to contradict yourself. i tried to type this in the nicest way possible.

Answer 9

Yes, Christians are urged to be 'ambassadors' to the non-Christian.

Now, if someone is offended by a Christian speaking about his or her beliefs on Yahoo! Answers - well, excuuuse me - isn't that what YA is about? Answering people's questions?

Freedome of answers - there is no "no religion" sign in YA, particularly in the Religion and Spirituality section. It kind of comes with the subject.

Answer 10

No, it is not my job, it belongs to the Holy Spirit. I am here to please God through my life, and hope that somehow I can bless someone, whether it be physically, emotionally, or even spiritually. I don't believe in pushing my belief down others. It is too bad that you see Christians judging others, I am sorry, we do sin alot. Just know that coming to God is a greater experience than even we show. He is really fun to be around.