Have you ever, for even a moment, considered that you are not helping others believe in God? Many of you, not all, have been trying to force your believes on the athiests and other religions. Show me where in the bible it says to do that and I will follow suit. Yes we are called to "show others the way" but by forcing it one others and yelling at them and saying they will go to hell, we get nowhere. Athiests may even have the right of it for all we know, all we have are personal experiences, the word of others, and the bible. Not that I'm saying there is anything wrong with that, I am a firm catholic, but we have to gently guide them. In the end it is their choice to believe as they see fit. Please tell me if you 100% disagree with what I have said and I will apoligize for offending you!
2007-10-01 14:16:56 · 16 answers · asked by Andy 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
you're not listening glendaokoeguale! you have no right to tell people that they'll go to hell just for not having the same beliefs as you do! shut up!
go andy! go catholic!
2007-10-01 14:32:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anrê TrẦn An Dũng 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are several ways of looking at this question.
My own pov is that nobody can actually "force" anyone to believe anything, no matter how aggressive or "pushy" they try to be.
However, there is also the thought that, if I were to see a child playing in the street in the path of a truck, I would not hesitate a moment to use as much force as necessary to get her out of the way, before she got killed. Anyone would do the same, I'm sure. When you consider that what we are talking about are lost children in the path of rapidly approaching death, I don't think it is inappropriate to be a bit aggressive.
Now, no matter which pov you adhere to, I don't see how anyone thinks that asking and answering questions in a forum like this one could ever constitute "pushing beliefs", since nobody is forcing anyone to even be here, let alone to read any posts. You can't very well "yell at" anyone here, and telling someone in an internet forum that they are going to hell is actually pretty stupid. Of course, nobody is going to take anything like that seriously, this is not the Middle Ages.
You are 100% wrong about a couple of things, though, for sure. Atheists do NOT have the right of it. How do I know? Well, my personal experiences, the word of others, and, of course, the Bible. I know that my own personal experiences are real, and I could not lie to myself. I trust the integrity of the other people who have told me about similar experiences. And I have no reason to doubt the Bible.
I am a firm CHRISTIAN...I do not recognize any authority but Christ's.
In the end, it is NOT their choice. In the end, God says, EVERY knee will bow...and I have a small idea that He just might use some force. Wouldn't you rather see these folks bow NOW, than wait until it is too late?
(You need not worry about offending me...I am not the One with the power to dispose of both body and spirit in the Incinerator...i.e. Lake of Fire. I'd be a mite concerned about whether or not the blasè attitude might be offending Christ, Who, after all, suffered and DIED for these people you dismiss so casually, with an airy wave of your hand...)
2007-10-01 21:57:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you saw a blind man walking across a field, singing a happy tune, minding his own business but headed straight for a cliff, what would you do? He can't see the sign warning of the danger. He can't hear the waves crashing on the rocks below because he's singing along to the tune on his mp3. Do you let him walk over the cliff because it's best not to get involved, maybe he wanted to do that anyway? Do you hope someone else comes along to gently nudge him in the right direction and hope he doesn't change course again? Or do you do everything you can to get his attention and warn him of the danger? And if you are that man, if the person warns you of the cliff and impending death, what is your response? Even if you've walked this field many many times and never once fell down a cliff, that surely this person must be crazy...do you get angry at them for warning you of this danger? If you're right, then this cliff doesn't exist and they are just sad, crazy people. But what if they're right and the cliff has been there all along?
As bible-believing Christians, we are told to go out into the world to bring the light of the gospel so that all men may be saved. Are some rude? Sadly, yes, but no more so than a rude non-Christian. If I am on the street passing out bible tracts and talking to people about Christ, whether they listen and repent or walk away isn't up to me. It's up to God and the Holy Spirit. I can't save anyone all I can do is warn them of the danger they are in. As Christians we are going to be held accountable for how and what we did with God's truth.
2007-10-01 21:47:22 · answer #3 · answered by D-Rock 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with most of what you say. Christians should not yell at others and tell them they are going to hell. I think that's a sin actually. Nothing a Christian can say to another can make them believe. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin and a lot of Christians try to be the Holy Spirit and do His job. That ain't going to work, ever.
I don't understand why people say Christians try to " force " their beliefs on others. They may try to persuade, admonish convince and influence but do you know what force is? Go to the mid east and you will probably have a saber put to your throat if you don't convert. That is the meaning of the word "Force". No Christian in America that I ever even heard of will kill you if you don't convert. They may scream that you'll burn in hell but they don't actually, in reality, attempt to "send you there'.
So, let's be real. Christians don't "force" their beliefs on others.
2007-10-01 21:28:23 · answer #4 · answered by Prof Fruitcake 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nobody's *preventing* other people from believing in God, either. I am not sure how Christians are forcing their beliefs on others who don't share their faith. Abortion is legal and it will stay that way. People aren't thrown in jail or burned at the stake for denouncing anyone else's religious beliefs or for proclaiming their own beliefs.
I think maybe the more extreme posters here (on either side of the God question) are basically bored people with too much time on their hands.
But your heart's in the right place, Andy.
2007-10-01 21:33:59 · answer #5 · answered by pufferoo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a Christian and I do believe that if you have not received Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, then YES, you will go to hell. By telling people that, I don't believe I'm forcing them or threatening them. That's like telling a mother she is wrong for telling her child that if they touch the hot stove they will get burned....fact!!! I believe it's the truth and there is nothing gentle about the truth we're you're on the other side. I don't put others down for their beliefs and opinions...I simply state what I believe and pray for them.
2007-10-01 21:25:11 · answer #6 · answered by glendaokoeguale 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Andy, I am a Christian. I firmly believe I am not responsible for your salvation or anyone else's. We will all stand before the throne of God and answer for ourselves. Unlike some religions I am free to believe the way I chose without fear of reprisal from any other human. However, God has clearly stated in his word (King James Bible) if you don't accept Christ as your savior you are bound to Hell. However, if you do accept Christ you will live an eternity with Christ in Heaven. If you or anyone else chooses not to believe that it is okay with me.
2007-10-01 21:29:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes!
When will the fundamentalists learn that the only way to truly "win souls for God" is through love? When will they realize that their pushy scare-tactics only drive people farther away from God's love?
It's almost like they enjoy insulting people then, saying "I shake the dust of my feet at you," or "you'll sing a different tune when you're burning in hell, heathen."
I am convinced that Jesus's message of love would be irrestible if presented accurately -- the way Jesus Himself did. But for whatever reasons, fundamentalists would rather use intimidation and bullying to try to win hearts and souls for God.
2007-10-01 21:48:34 · answer #8 · answered by Joao 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's been said that Satans greatest helpers are those that have no idea that they are helping him. Even greater are those that no one else realizes they are helping him.
Those that try to force their religious beliefs on people can actually turn people to turn away from God just to spite them for being so forceful, AND BY TURNING THEM AWAY FROM GOD, YOU ARE HELPING SATAN. God is like an elephant and Satan is like a flea compared to him, but Satan is the 2nd most powerful being in the universe, and DO NOT underestimate him.
2007-10-01 21:32:47 · answer #9 · answered by DMD3 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a Catholic I am disappointed in your stance. Though I agree that many Evangelicals could use a course in basic manners, they don't have the wrong idea. No one can judge the state of anothers soul so they can't tell them they will go to hell but it is up to all Christians to lead to the truth. The truth is that Jesus died for our sins and that he requires our faith in him to lead us to everlasting life.
2007-10-05 15:41:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a Christian, and feel that aggressive proselytizing will only serve to draw people away from Christ in droves. Same for screeching at people that they're going to Hell. However, people have approached me and asked about my beliefs, and I'm glad to talk to them honestly and openly about what I believe and why. I don't have to go out and find them. They come to me, probably because I don't go around beating them over the head with my faith or shouting Bible verses at them.
2007-10-01 21:22:17 · answer #11 · answered by solarius 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋