|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 12:25 pm
Okay, so someone wants to convert me.
Why is it that when that's the case, they will often first try to appeal to me spiritually? It seems to me that if I'm already spiritual, I would have some basis of pre-established faith. And that being the case, how are a few words about another faith supposed to make me change my mind? On the flip side of that token, assuming I don't have that much, or any faith, the importance of addressing me spiritually means what to me?
I just don't get the standardized preaching of do this and this, accept this and that.... or else.
Like okay, where's the appeal? Where's any reason whatsoever I should even care about you're telling me? Oh that's right... because you say so.
At this point, it's just entirely too easy to ignore it.
And I wonder, what's the point?
I mean, I know why they do it. I'm sure many of them feel they're doing what they should be doing. And from what I can tell, Biblically they're pretty much on track with spreading the word. But I think some of them forget that this alleged word is more than just words.
Now on the note of success, some people have gotten my attention by say, inviting me to dinner, which happened to be at their church. Great food, great conversation, and... exposure to what they had to say about God. And since I'm partly satisfied with that inteaction, listening to what they have to say becomes far more palatable.
Had one guy come to my door trying to sell me all kinds of books. I wasn't very interested. He spent 15 minutes of his time trying to sell me something. In the end I didn't want to buy anything. Point might have been, we engaged over something I had interest in. When he accepted I wouldn't buy anything, he told me he had a book he'd like to give me for free. It was a Bible. He gifted it to me with a smile. And I felt something mattered about that. So I accepted it with much thanks and even read some of it after the fact.
I'm just saying, doesn't it make more sense to try telling people about something by at least peaking their interest somehow, some way?
Because if the words aren't more than words to you... their just words.
Showing me there's more than words to what you've got going on... that changes things.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:10 pm
Different people will have different opinions about how to approach. Personally, I don't approach. I let the people who want to know approach me. I don't avoid anything and I don't hide, but I don't jump on every non-Christian either.
As for the method of an approach, I'd just ask "Are you interested?" Person I'm talking to says no, I'd say ok. If he/she says yes though, I would go to the spiritual and historical parts of Christianity first because that seems to me like the most important. Spiritual most of all.
Dinner and interests are also good ways to approach, but not all Christians have time or, sadly, enough concern to bother going that far. There are Christians who think "spread the word" means "spread the word" and they follow that command to the letter, not taking it any further than that nor less. They don't bother to try to connect with the person they're talking to and it sounds to me like that is what you're mentioning. Not all Christians are like that though, as you've encountered, some will actually try to find a common interest or a subtle way of pulling you in for exposure.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lord Alucard Ere Casanova
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:33 pm
Actions DO speak louder. Yes. I think spreading the word is taken too literal. Some people don't want to be preached to. Their minds are either already shut to it or aren't going to accept it with just words. Especially if everything is fine in their life as far as they're concerned. In that case the only way of appeal is well, just being you around them and if they ask, you tell. A more closed person who's having a rough time may fair better if your attitude is great, you help them with something they're working on, and being a generally good neighbor. That'd entice most people to ask.
What gets me are those papers like what i found that my dad had. I hope he didn't hand some non-believer one, because it'd just be insulting. Anyways, it came down to "accept Jesus or go to hell." It literally came out and said something like that at the end of it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 6:06 pm
Yes thank you so much for sharing that. I think a common fault that all Christians fall into (myself included) is that we rely too much on personal authority (often hiding behind the Bible as a faulty justification) when witnessing or trying to explain why certain behavior needs to be changed. We are people, so talk to us like people, not as if we were some subhuman or "unenlightened scum". St. Francis of Assisi - Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words. Abigail Van Buren - A church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints. Aesop - The Wind and the Sun
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 7:38 pm
Do what Jesus did.
1. Heal a bunch of people/Treat people like, well, human beings
2. Tell an obscure (lot of metaphor) but related story as you're healing them/ treating them well
3. Invite them to a banquet wink or any social christian gathering that's not service or bible study centered (i.e. community service, gospel concert, fun field trip)
4. Repeat
Even if the non-Christian never converts, they will know God, and you now have another friend to do stuff with.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 10:01 am
Well, there's another divide I'll share with everyone while we're on the subject.
And I think this sort of fits into the quota issue, along with other issues granted.
SOme churches have something of a time limit. Like they give it their all to convert you, but if you haven't coverted after X amount of time, you're no longer welcome in their church. I've ran into that one quite a bit.
On the other hand I've been to some churches for years that just believe everyone is going to answer God someday anyway, and they don't feel it's their place to enforce which day God or that person may have chosen. Some think it's just not my time yet, while other churches refute that by saying now is the only perfect time. Well, if that were the case, and if that were God's actual real plan... why aren't we all on our knees praying right now? I'd think if time was up, it'd be the end of days, or the apocalypse, or something, or I'd be dead. In my present state, it doesn't seem so.
And there's a ton of good reasons to go to a good church. After all, ther'd have to be for the likes of me to keep coming.
And I've already been accused of doing God's work. How I might take that dosn't really matter compared to how the church sees it. I bring people to church all the time, and many of them have been lost, broken souls. And a lot of them convert. It's their choice after all. And believe me, the look in their eyes when they tell me they've found Jesus. There's just no way I can tell them they're wrong. And it's not my place to.
Sometimes they even forget I'm an atheist and think I'm joking when I remind them. Sometimes months elapse between my making a mention of it.
Now, seeing as how I've attended one church for 12 years now, and still haven't converted, there's a nice batch of mixed feelings there amongst its members. But overall, I'm still welcome there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 11:31 am
Time limits on converting when attending a Church is sounds quite silly to me personally. Also who said worship has to be with someone on their knees? I personally believe that emulation of Yeshua, as what he represents, is the highest form of worship one could offer to God. Why because one emulates those they look up to and it's the highest form of flattery one could offer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 7:46 pm
rmcdra I personally believe that emulation of Yeshua, as what he represents, is the highest form of worship one could offer to God. Why because one emulates those they look up to and it's the highest form of flattery one could offer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
