Kicking a Christian out for... being a Christian?

I understand that Christians (some sects, anyway) feel they have an obligation to witness to others. What about the right of others not to be witnessed to? Where is the balance?
 
jillio said:
I understand that Christians (some sects, anyway) feel they have an obligation to witness to others. What about the right of others not to be witnessed to? Where is the balance?
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Kind of like asking why some poeple want to marry in front of a large group, and others want to head for the courthouse for a quick ceremony with nobody except the minimum.

It is at the core of most any religions to share the joy of their beliefs. It is also requested by most religions to spread the word. When people go through the Confirmation ceremony, they are vowing to be "a soldier for Christ" not a quiet church attendee.
 
saywhatkid said:
Kind of like asking why some poeple want to marry in front of a large group, and others want to head for the courthouse for a quick ceremony with nobody except the minimum.

It is at the core of most any religions to share the joy of their beliefs. It is also requested by most religions to spread the word. When people go through the Confirmation ceremony, they are vowing to be "a soldier for Christ" not a quiet church attendee.
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Not a very good comparison. People who knock on my door to "share the good news" are interrupting my day and infringing upon my rights. People who decide to get married in a public ceremony or at the courthouse are not.imposing

What I am saying is there are appropriate times, places, and ways to "witness". And there are innappropriate ways to "witness". If someone is imposing their presence and their views on others innappropriately, then they have crossed the line in exercising their rights by ignoring the rights of others.
 
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jillio said:
Not a very good comparison. People who knock on my door to "share the good news" are not interrupting my day and infringing upon my rights. People who decide to get married in a public ceremony or at the courthouse are not.imposing

What I am saying is there are appropriate times, places, and ways to "witness". And there are innappropriate ways to "witness". If someone is imposing their presence and their views on others innappropriately, then they have crossed the line in exercising their rights by ignoring the rights of others.
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I do not condone the methods used by those door to door types. They are a bit aggressive in their attempts, and I think do more harm than good. I also don't accept their Biblical interpretations. I assume you are referring to Mormons/LDS and Jehovah's Witnesses. I do not agree with either of them.
 
saywhatkid said:
I do not condone the methods used by those door to door types. They are a bit aggressive in their attempts, and I think do more harm than good. I also don't accept their Biblical interpretations. I assume you are referring to Mormons/LDS and Jehovah's Witnesses. I do not agree with either of them.
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I have had numerous Christian sects knock on my door wanting to witness to me and leave their literature. Baptists are well known around here for those tactics.

The point is, if someone asks you for spiritual advice or information, it is the perfect time to "witness". Anything else is innappropriate. Simply witness by the way you live your life and let that speak for itself. Those who admire your lifestyle and your comportment will get the message. If they are interested in same for themselves, they will ask for further information in how you accomplished such.
 
In a couple of hours I will be heading to St. Louis to help a friend finish his research paper. (He got the first half back from the professor who gave it an enthusiastic stamp of approval, which made my friend ecstatic, since he thought we were "doing it wrong", but that is another story). He lives with his mother, and they are strongly Christian. However, his mother does not "witness" to me, and I appreciate it, since the guy sure does. He has Usher's Syndrome, and once he starts his spiel, he is in a world of his own, and no amount of arm-waving or rolling eyes can deter him. I wish you could have seen him try to explain the story of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden. :| I have found that he gets upset with certain statements/arguments I make, which makes him pause to pray for me. I feel tempted to do that more often. :giggle: But it is out of respect to his mother that I refrain from doing so, and the look of gratitude in her eyes speaks volumes. It looks like I will have an interesting three or four days at their house, and I feel fine with it. Just my two cents, even though it may not make much sense. :lol:
 
jillio said:
IThe point is, if someone asks you for spiritual advice or information, it is the perfect time to "witness". Anything else is innappropriate. Simply witness by the way you live your life and let that speak for itself. Those who admire your lifestyle and your comportment will get the message. If they are interested in same for themselves, they will ask for further information in how you accomplished such.
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That is exactly what I try to do. Actions, not words.
 
As an aside, or maybe back on topic, I read the post as I was leaving, typed up something quick...

Had time to look for the article, couldn't find it even by region so I decided not to post instead....
 
jillio said:
I understand that Christians (some sects, anyway) feel they have an obligation to witness to others. What about the right of others not to be witnessed to? Where is the balance?
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Exactly. I'm very much against proselytizing. I can think of religions that survived just fine without proselytizing.
 
FireTiger said:
As an aside, or maybe back on topic, I read the post as I was leaving, typed up something quick...

Had time to look for the article, couldn't find it even by region so I decided not to post instead....
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I would post something but want to avoid the 10,000 mark.
 
jillio said:
I understand that Christians (some sects, anyway) feel they have an obligation to witness to others. What about the right of others not to be witnessed to? Where is the balance?
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Christians want to share the good news of freedom, love, and hope that is available thru Jesus Christ. It's an obligation of the heart, and a commandment by Jesus to go forth and spread the good news. It's selfish and uncaring not too share.

However, Christians can only witness; they can't convict. Only the Holy Spirit can convict hearts to accept the good news, and only the individual can surrender to the Holy Spirit's conviction. Christians can't, and should never attempt, to coerce anyone into making a profession of acceptance. Such a profession would be insincere, and misleading.

If someone doesn't want to hear a testimony, they can leave the discussion, shut the door, say, "no, thank you," etc. A Christian should let it go, and let the Holy Spirit take over.

A Christian should never witness in a bullying or rude manner, use subterfuge, or do anything that makes another person get a bad impression of Jesus.

I'm also on the receiving end of door knockers, so I understand. I don't usually open my door to anyone I don't recognize, or I'm not expecting.
 
deafskeptic said:
Exactly. I'm very much against proselytizing. I can think of religions that survived just fine without proselytizing.
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Christian witnessing is not about the survival of religions. It's about the salvation of souls.
 
Reba said:
Christians want to share the good news of freedom, love, and hope that is available thru Jesus Christ. It's an obligation of the heart, and a commandment by Jesus to go forth and spread the good news. It's selfish and uncaring not too share.

However, Christians can only witness; they can't convict. Only the Holy Spirit can convict hearts to accept the good news, and only the individual can surrender to the Holy Spirit's conviction. Christians can't, and should never attempt, to coerce anyone into making a profession of acceptance. Such a profession would be insincere, and misleading.

If someone doesn't want to hear a testimony, they can leave the discussion, shut the door, say, "no, thank you," etc. A Christian should let it go, and let the Holy Spirit take over.

A Christian should never witness in a bullying or rude manner, use subterfuge, or do anything that makes another person get a bad impression of Jesus.

I'm also on the receiving end of door knockers, so I understand. I don't usually open my door to anyone I don't recognize, or I'm not expecting.
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Or, should it happen innappropriately in a group meeting devoted to another topic, they can be asked to stop. If they don't, the option is available to remove them from the membership roster.

A Christian's right do not supercede other's rights simply because they are Christian and have a "personal conviction".
 
jillio said:
Or, should it happen innappropriately in a group meeting devoted to another topic, they can be asked to stop. If they don't, the option is available to remove them from the membership roster.

A Christian's right do not supercede other's rights simply because they are Christian and have a "personal conviction".
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So, if a gay man joins a Christian group, then preaches the wonders of homosexuality, he can be removed? If a Christian joins a gay group and preaches the wonders of Christ, he can be removed? Both? Neither?
 
jillio said:
Or, should it happen innappropriately in a group meeting devoted to another topic, they can be asked to stop. If they don't, the option is available to remove them from the membership roster.

A Christian's right do not supercede other's rights simply because they are Christian and have a "personal conviction".
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I remember Mrs. Patch from one of the churches on Parham rd in Richmond Va.
I remember going by the church with a very modern decor and a beautiful stained glass window and 8 ladies and men holding signs quoting the bible. We were whizzing too fast to read the signs so we simply thought they were trying to get converts.

That wasn't the case. Mrs. Patch and her friends were protesting being thrown out of church for disrupting services because they didn't agree with how he conducted himself according to the bible.

For at least a decade, they would go to the median outside the church and hold up the signs against Pastor Warren and Mrs Patch even traveled as far as England to protest against him - 8 years after she got thrown out.
 
saywhatkid said:
So, if a gay man joins a Christian group, then preaches the wonders of homosexuality, he can be removed? If a Christian joins a gay group and preaches the wonders of Christ, he can be removed? Both? Neither?
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Both.
 
jillio said:
Or, should it happen innappropriately in a group meeting devoted to another topic, they can be asked to stop. If they don't, the option is available to remove them from the membership roster.
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If that's what's called for in the group's by-laws and procedures, then that's the way it goes.

A Christian's right do not supercede other's rights simply because they are Christian and have a "personal conviction".
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Of course, it's the same for everyone.
 
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