Why do some Christians Proselytise ?
- Thread starter Myles
- Start date
It's part of the doctrine. I'm getting ready to take to the road, so I haven't the time to dig up the quotes, but perhaps someone else will do us the favor. I promise you, they're not making this one up inasmuch as there is a Biblical commission to evangelize.
Right you are, Tiassa. Part of the Christian doctrine, is to be a witness for God and spread the gospel of Jesus.
It is pertaining to the first 4 books of the canonized New Testament.
It comes from the fact that the Abrahamic religions are monotheistic. Having one god that created the world means that if he reveals himself to humanity and prescribes a way of life, that is the only true way of life. In Judaism, being born of a Jewish mother is what makes you part of the covenant with God and subject to his judgment, so they do not proselytize. However in Islam and Christianity, God selects you based on your beliefs, not your birth. If you are a Christian and you love your neighbors, then, you will want to try to change their beliefs to get them in God's favor. That's basically why these religions have people in them who proselytize, and why there are doctrines in almost all the Christian churches that implore their members to spread the gospel of Jesus.
Till Eulenspiegel
Registered Member
Christians are told to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Good News. In Matthew Chapter twenty eight, verse nineteen we are told, ""Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit".
If someone asks me about my faith I will spend as much time as they want discussing it but I do not believe in beating people over the head with my faith. Rather than constantly buttonholing people and telling them to become Christian I try to behave in a Christian manner so they will know me by my actions. I don't always succeed but I do make the attempt.
If someone asks me about my faith I will spend as much time as they want discussing it but I do not believe in beating people over the head with my faith. Rather than constantly buttonholing people and telling them to become Christian I try to behave in a Christian manner so they will know me by my actions. I don't always succeed but I do make the attempt.
Fraggle Rocker
Staff member
Both Christianity and Islam are evangelical by nature, but still there are a number of Christian sects that focus on that one aspect of the religion and there are others that are not pushy about it at all. When's the last time you were cornered by a Methodist or a Presbyterian?
There is a whole family of sects called "evangelical." They overlap with others called "charismatic," "pentacostal," "fundamentalist," etc., but you have to watch out for all of them because their members will use any excuse to start explaining why you're going to go to hell if you don't straighten up and start believing what they believe.
These are the sects that got the bulk of the converts during the American "born again" revival that started about thirty years ago. In many of their congregations, the focus is almost myopically on converting others, rather than actually living a good Christian life oneself. As a mainline Christian once explained to me wryly, "The only thing they seem to retain from their study of the Bible is the part about forgiveness." She also had a bumper sticker that read, "God, help me forgive some of my fellow Christians."
These congregations tend to have really unimaginative and somewhat insulting names like Church of Christ or Church of the Full Gospel--a slap in the face to all the other churches who therefore must not qualify for that description. Their congregants often do things in the middle of their services like leaping up and shouting "Hallelujah!" or "Amen brother!" that would have five ushers descending on them if they tried it in a Catholic or Episcopal mass. They embrace things like "speaking in tongues" and "faith healing,"
One of the older denominations of this type is the Watchtower and Bible Tract Society, who are more commonly known as Jehovah's Witnesses--Michael Jackson's church.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known as Mormons for short, has a few things in common with the fundamentalists, particularly their annoying habit of sending teenagers in white shirts on bicycles out ringing doorbells. But they're much more pragmatic and focused on this world rather than the "next" one. The "missions" they send their young people on are much more focused on improving the civilizations of the countries they visit than on building churches, as if to make the startling statement that this is what God wants his children to do. They consider themselves Christians but not Protestants, since they have their own prophet Joseph Smith. I'm one of many non-religionists who say, "If all Christians were like the Mormons, I wouldn't have much to complain about." Even "South Park" treats the Mormon church with uncharacteristically sincere respect.
I get them at my door. Lucky me! We have a bible camp at the end of our street. Church of the Nazarene I think. Luckily it's only once a year.
Its the little old ladies who hobble down to our house to invite us for service that get me. I always say we'll be there.
I'm going to hell, aren't I.
Carcano
Valued Senior Member
I guess there are different motivation for differant people.
But Jesus called upon His followers to go out into the world to present His message to all mankind. Soooo that’s something that followers of Jesus will do. Irrespective of their personal motives.
All Praise The Ancient Of Days
Carcano
Valued Senior Member
As it is written: Matthew 10
"These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
And when ye come into an house, salute it.
And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrhah in the day of judgment, than for that city."
"These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
And when ye come into an house, salute it.
And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrhah in the day of judgment, than for that city."
Do you know that some scholars believe that Jesus was put to death because he was a Nazarene, that is a member of a cult. One argument I have heard in favour of this view is that the inscription on the cross INRI can be translated Jesus, the Nazarene as opposed to Jesus of Nazareth. Nazareth was an obscure little village, so it wouldn' t make a lot of sense to refer to it.
But a lot of people would be aware of the Nazarenes.
The situation is further complicated by the fact ( ? ) that Jesus was baptized by John who was an Essene. Ritual baptism was not part of the Jewish tradition.
As far as hell is concerned , you may be there already. Sartre said: " Hell is other people "
Be kind to those little old ladies. They care about you
Do you use a baited hook or a net ? Fishnet stockings , perhaps ?
. Have you heard of flighty fishing?
Last edited:
[]
I never felt a thing. You may be confusing the with the Hollywood Marine Corps.
Some of them can kick ass too![/COLOR]
I never felt a thing. You may be confusing the with the Hollywood Marine Corps.
Last edited: