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]

Angelina Taylor,

As strongly as you clearly do not believe, I very strongly believe that "the Bible's actually a reliable source for 'facts' and 'proof'".

Acid Bath Slayer has been kind enough to point out some links to discuss Creation vs. the theory of evolution (since this is quote you included).

I look forward to getting to discuss this with you on that blog...

[AngelinaTaylor]

Angelina Taylor,

As strongly as you clearly do not believe, I very strongly believe that "the Bible's actually a reliable source for 'facts' and 'proof'".

Acid Bath Slayer has been kind enough to point out some links to discuss Creation vs. the theory of evolution (since this is quote you included).

I look forward to getting to discuss this with you on that blog...

Seriously? You're actually serious?

The bible was a work, written thousands of years ago by men and women who thought the earth was flat, and for whom a wheelbarrow for instance would've been a great example of emerging technology. To rely on such documents for "evidence and facts", as well as our worldview, is simply ridiculous.

There's a distinction which you fail to note. Belief is not knowledge. Facts don't go hand in hand with belief. Proof doesn't either. So your argument fails.

The bible is a source of belief, and facts don't emerge from belief. I mean, come on. EVERY religion preaches "truth" of propositions for which no evidence is even attainable.

How do you know which religion is true? You can't. That's a tiny problem with using the bible as a valid, historical source, isn't it?