forcing beliefs 2
More Questions about forcing beliefs
Q: Nothing good has ever come from trying to force one’s beliefs on another look back through history. For all of you saying that Jesus is the one true way… He also said… judge not, feed the poor, love your enemies. He hated the Jewish leaders/rulers who used religion to persecute everyone and held themselves above reproach. There’s a lot of stuff in the Bible that “Christians” skip over when they’re telling people what to believe. Actually we’re supposed to be self-sacrificing, accepting, welcoming, loving, leading by example. Giving grace as we’ve been given. I love to hear what others believe and why on many topics. If you listen instead of talking you may find you agree more than you realize
A:
Christians do not force beliefs.
Let's be truthful here, and rationally look through this.
1. You will find that Christians are not the ones in "history" who forced beliefs on people. In fact, every country in the world (prior to America's independence) each had a religion of the country and there were no options to believe otherwise. (Some even force converted upon threat of death, like Islam when conquering nations). Christianity is about freedom.
Nor is there any "forcing" going on in USA/West today of Christianity, nor was Christianity ever forced on people. Christianity is spiritually focused and not about earthly focus. It is not about conquering nations, it is not about politics, it is about saving souls from Hell and to Jesus. Period.
People may share things from the Bible, and the Gospel, urging you to look into it and turn to Jesus, but they do not force. In fact it is laughable to use the word "force" in comparison to what other religions do when conquering other nations (through history).
Not "liking" a message or convo, is not "forcing". You were and are free to reject it. People just cared enough about you to tell you about God, Jesus & salvation, when they talked about spiritual things with you.
2. A. Jesus did not say "judge not", in the way non Christians use that phrase, is a twisting of not only that verse, but also the teachings on that topic across all of Scripture.
B. Jesus didn't hate the Jewish religious leaders in the way you appear to be implying. He was rightly and righteously teaching them and correcting their errors. He called them on their apostasy. They changed the things of God, and added things he never said. They burdened the people and pushed them from faith to legalism. Jesus corrected their teachings and told the people so as well during his daily 3 year ministry in Israel. He pointed out the apostate religion, and called them back to truth, [similarly as Protestants did]. They rejected it and only around 620 people were saved during Jesus 3 year ministry.
C. Christians do feed the poor among us, love our enemies. Help and charity of all kinds. In fact, without Christianity, no good help would exist, because it is Christianity that brought that worldview, and created kindness to poor, helping poor, donating money to them and causes that help them; no other people, religion or country ever did that. Poor stayed poor, were viewed as sinners or not blessed by some "god". Christians care about the poor, are caring about widows, orphans, elderly too. They created hospitals, and gave medical care without discrimination of any social or economic status. They created schools; all schools in USA were Christian, as were the colleges. They taught reading, writing and math, but their focus was the Bible. The point was to educate so people could each read, study and know what God has said (looking at it yourself). It was also used to teach English to immigrants coming here from foreign places. And was/is used by missionaries to educate the world and so they too can have the Bible in their language, be able to read, study, know it and have the ability to know about God and to trust in Jesus. Christians were the ones who founded the modern sciences, and Christians are why we have all that we have. This and all the blessings we have had in America, but also among true believers everywhere in the world are because of Christian faith; the only kind of its kind that ever existed. Though many now apply it to their religion or beliefs because of biblical Christianity's influence. Christianities inflience has blessed the world, thanks to God.
3. There’s a lot of stuff in there that “non Christians” skip over, and have lack of knowledge about. But this is why Christians bring truth through the Scriptures, and people can examine the Scriptures and evidences themselves to be given light by God towards the truth. But typically people are not interested, they lack the ability and desire to. But God can give them light, remove the blinders, and show them truth. He draws people to himself, and Christians are simply the tool which he uses along with the Bible.
*They share what is relevant in the convo or to answer questions. But believers live out what they learn in the Scriptures as they grow in the faith more and more, if God wanted to dump the info from the Bible into their brains at salvation He would have. Instead He gace us the written Word so we could learn and apply it, and show it (in conversations & in print/audio) it to the unsaved to reveal to them and give them access to it as well. We born again were all once "unsaved" too, and we accessed the Bible then, just as you can and just as believers do to.
4. Christians study other religions too.
And by doing so, we know they're all false, including atheism and sciencism, and self spiritualism. We have compared them all to Scripture, and none hold up, they all fall flat. The Bible is proven to be the truth, and only truth. So yes we are able to have convos with people, and discuss their religious views and religions. And we do so, because we are educated and knowledgable about it.
...and that is not forcing faith, that is engaging others and revealing truth. What people do with it, is between them and God.
So yes, you should also talk and listen, and discuss. It is not a one way conversation when people talk. Points can be made, info shared, and then think about after the conversation.
But dont use the word "forcing", and dont say "listen, dont talk" as a requirement for Christians, thats an unjust burden, and one you noted was in line with the Jewish leaders burdens on the people. That is trying to force your views on someone. And sounds like you are just trying to shut a Christian up because you dont like the things of God and truth. God told us to speak. You cannit override God. If what the Christian tells you "is" true, you owe it to yourself to discuss, ask questions, listen, think about it, and be open minded. Because if it is true, your eternity is riding on what you do with Jesus and the Gospel.
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