Evangelism Options

[yummy_delight]

A good friend of mine and I recently got into a heated debate about evangelism. We're both Christians, but we have very different ideas about evangelism. When my friend started getting really involved in church a few years ago, he also became a rampant evangelist. He believes that by bringing more people into the church he is not only saving them from eternal damnation, but also doing his duty as a Christian. He has often quoted Charles Spurgeon, saying "Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter," essentially stating that you can't truly be Christian without evangelizing non believers.

I, however, don't like the idea of evangelism at all. Although I'm a devout Catholic, I dislike the idea of evangelism because I don't believe that anybody, myself included, has the right to force his or her beliefs on someone else. I think that everybody has a right to be whatever the religion they choose. Perhaps it's because I have a different idea about God than other people. I don't think that God sends honestly good people to Hell just because they don't believe in him. There are such things as Christian people who are hypocritical, paying lip service to God at church on Sundays, and still go about causing harm to other people. In my opinion, these people are less deserving of heaven than the good-hearted people whose only "fault" is that they don't believe in God. I think that my duty as a Christian is to be a good person and have a positive impact on the world, which doesn't necessarily mean that I HAVE to be an evangelist.

I'd just like to know what everyone else's opinion is on this, not merely from a Christian standpoint, but from another religion's or atheist's perspective as well. Do you approve of evangelism? Are you an evangelist? Do you think that evangelism is a necessary requirement for all good Christians?

[sdingfelder]

Ok, but if you knew in advance that someone was going to get by a car, wouldnt you tell them? Wouldnt you stop them from being in that situation? Christians claim that God / Jesus knows everything. He knows what we're going to order for lunch tomorrow, who we're going to marry, all the details of our life. So doesnt he know if we're going to accept him or not? Wouldnt he make sure that every person accepted him? Sounds to me like its predetermined then.

This is a great scenario. I do know that something's going to happen: We're all going to step out of time and into eternity. No one knows when that'll happen except the Lord. He does know all the things that you mention. He even knows the number of hairs on your head. He does know who's going to accept His Son and who isn't. That doesn't mean that He doesn't give each person a chance to show that they love Him more than their sins.

If He were to "make sure that every person accepted him" as you say, that would be very similar to the following: My wife loves for me to tell her that I love her. Since I write software, I could write a routine to play a prerecorded clip of me saying "I love you", say, every half hour. But which means more: me feeling love enough for her to tell her or her hearing it very often with no feeling ?? God wants you to love Him more than anything and for you to love Him with your heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Then how is that any different that what I said?

I'd previously mentioned that there has to be turning away from the sin that's separated you. I can't remember where I wrote it, but if you were standing in a courtroom and were found guilty, asking the judge to just forgive you wouldn't be enough. He's still got to sentence you.

Jesus paid the fine for anyone who will humble themselves and ask Him to cover their sins. It means that you realize you can never pay the fine yourself -- it's only through His suffering death and resurrection that the payment for your sins can be made. This is true for everyone -- I'm not trying to single you out by using "you".

That doesnt make sense. Just because he isnt "all love", doesnt mean he cant love.

Sorry. I must have once again used the wrong words. I didn't mean to say that He can't love. He most certainly does. He just doesn't love a thing AND the opposite of that thing. For example, I love babies so I cannot love the killing of them through abortion.

Once again, please stop throwing out things "the Bible teaches". You're just making things worse...

I realize that. I'm trying my hardest not to use it since I know you don't believe it. I understand that it's like someone using the holy book of Hinduism to tell me some truth that there's no way I'm going to believe. I understand. I'm trying.

I had to prove to myself that the Bible is a Book written outside of time. If you ever start to really study, I'd love to be of any help possible.

Many parts of the New Testament were written HUNDREDS of years after his death...

Actually, not only is there no proof for this, there's counter-proof to this statement. There are secular writings from Roman leaders as of the early 100s (A.D.) talking about this religious sect that is willing to lay their lives down for the beliefs. In fact, they have enough actual documents dated no later that 150 A.D. in order to fully reconstruct the New Covenant.

I making a guess here, but you may be talking about the Gnostic writings out of Alexandria that were written hundreds of years after His death. There's plenty of documentation on the Gnostic writings if you're interested in looking at that.

You really dont believe that God really spoke to the authors?

Which writes a note: the pen or the penman ? God used the prophets and apostles to speak His Word.

If it were just men writing, how do you explain fulfilled prophecy ? Man cannot see into the future. Are you familiar with any of the 300+ prophecies of Jesus to show that He is who He said He is ??

According to parts of the Old Testament, as believers in God we are all his children. (I'll edit this later with the reference).

I look forward to that reference -- esp. since in the Old Covenant only the Jews were the chosen of God except for those that chose to forsake their pagan gods and follow the One, True, Living God of Israel.

Why would his lie necessarily led to other's deaths?

They died for their faith in Him. Paul was beheaded for his witness for Christ. Peter was crucified upside-down. Stephen was stoned to death. The list goes on. These men walked with Him. These men would've gone to their deaths believing and promoting a lie.

Just out of curiosity, how old are you? A college student?

Actually, I'm a card-carryin' old guy. I'm a 38 year old, very happily married man, with 3 beautiful little girls that are a complete joy. As for college: I was in college for way too long.