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?

[sweetangel2128]

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?

You actually pretty much share the same beliefs as me. However, right now I am wondering if I am a Christian because well I don't follow the Bible but I do read it a lot and love the education of it but I also live my life my way while I'm on earth. I mean I see myself as being a Christian because well, I believe there is a HUGE possiblity that God/Jesus exist. Your situation with your friend actually reminds me of my situation with my friend, only difference now is that were no longer friends. She pushed religion on me, told me I was sinning by having sex out of marriage, not going to church, being with a non-Christian guy ect..she is a big part of the evanglising area and will do anything in her power to try and push religion on people and get them saved because she believes if you don't believe in God, you will surely go to Hell. Me on the other hand believe that the same thing as you, I don't believe you should push religion on people or convert them and that I don't believe God will send good people to Hell just because they decide not to follow him. That's just something I believe. I also believe that you don't need church to love or worship God and you DO NOT need to follow the Bible either...afterall, we are NOT perfect, we are human beings.

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?

You don't know which religion is real and whats not, that's where Faith comes into play which is believing in something you think COULD exist but I do agree with you there

Another thing I'd like to add, is that I believe I am a Christian, a Christian is someone who believes that God exists, a Christian doesn't mean you have to abide by all the rules or that if you do this you'll go to Heaven.