Sharing Your Religious Faith: When is it Going Too Far?
A term I hear often these days is "Jesus Freaks." This term is used to describe many Christians, especially the ones who love to share their faith with others and try to tell people that Christianity is the way to go. Maybe some of these people go over the top which is why they are referred to as Jesus Freaks. But some people who have been called that have embraced it as a term of endearment rather than the insult it was intended to be. They don't mind being called such a name. As far as they see it, it just means they are on fire for God. But Christians aren't the only people who share their religious beliefs.
Hear that knock at your door? How about the buzz of the doorbell? You ask who it is and the words you hear back are "Jehovah's Witness. May we come inside and share a few words with you?" My automated response has always been "No thank you." Even with that said, often times they did not leave right away. They would stand there and persist that I let them in to read some scriptures with me or give me some of their pamphlets. After a few more "No thank yous," some of which just let to more persisting, I would leave the door and they would eventually go on to the next house. Needless to say, the next time I opened the door I would find some of their literature in the mailbox or slipped inside the screen door. The times I happened to be walking down the street and passed a Kingdom Hall were even worse. A few times some of them would get out of their cars and follow behind me asking if they could share something with me. Even after telling them I wasn't interested, some of them persisted. Every morning at the train and bus station there are Jehovah's Witnesses lined up along the walls with their pamphlet holding hands outstretched trying to get people to take their literature. On the daily train commutes, someone will always stand up and preach about why everyone should accept Jesus.
So what is it with people who are so adamant about sharing their religious beliefs with others that they can sometimes be forceful. Harassing someone about why they should let you share your beliefs with them isn't going to make them want to join your place of worship. Perhaps this person's life has been positively affected and they have been completely changed from someone they were not proud of into a better person. Many people believe that their religion or relationship with God is responsible for the good things that are happening in their lives. I've witnessed ex-convicts, formers drug addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes, and gang bangers preaching about how their faith has transformed them into a completely new person.
These days we are seeing suicide bombers kill themselves along with countless innocent people and these people believe they are martyrs. Everyone else looking at them views them as terrorists rather than martyrs. However, their religion leads them to believe they are doing the right thing and will get some kin of reward in the afterlife.
People have their own reasons for sharing their faith with others. But there should be a better way some people go about it. Ever heard the saying actions speak louder than words? That is a very true saying. Instead of telling people they will go to hell for not going to church or conforming to a certain set of religious beliefs, why not show them the kindness and love that should be in your heart. Go out into the community and offer help. Show people the love of God that you have in your heart rather than trying to cram it down their throats or preach to them. This is a far better method than trying to condemn anyone for the way they are living. If you go to someone's house and they don't want to let you in to share your beliefs with them, be respectful and leave. Don't stand outside the door trying to persuade them to let you in. More than likely this person already has their own set of beliefs. If you happen to be an atheist, don't tell someone with religious beliefs that they are crazy or stupid for believing a book. That is their choice just as not believing in it is your choice.
In the end, we just all need to be respectful of each others beliefs. It is not our place to judge others. The world isn't going to conform just because you may want them too. People will always have religious beliefs which they hold to be true and there's nothing we can do but respect that.
Published by Nico Riley
Riley is a 27 year old writer who resides in Chicago, IL. Her interests include traveling, poetry, reading, music, and art. View profile
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34 Comments
Post a CommentRegarding: Sharing your Religious Faith: When is Going Too Far?
For Christians, the rule of thumb is given by Jesus himself. Remember when he sent out the disciples? What did he instruct them? I don't mean all those little details about what hey should or shouild not take with them. What was it he said about telling the "Good News?" To paraphrase, he stated that we should tell the story as we know and believe it, and that was all. If those who heard believed, then tell them more. If they do not believe or receive you, then politely leave. The problem with so many "self-righteous" faiths is that there is now room for believing in God in any other way than "their" way. For me, I can believe in evolution AND the Biblical story of creation. There is no conflict here, unless you insist in reading the Bible from and antiquated version with deliberate human directed errors and believing that it can only be properly understood if taken literally. But if that is what you want to
A few years ago this "Christian" woman said people were killed in the Twin Towers because they didn't find Jesus. Conversion by fear makes the rest of us Christians look bad.
It's kinda like there is a large building, large enough to accomadate the entire world, but it is on fire, and even worse there is a huge line of people waiting to go in. Are some Christians so afraid of sharing their faith, that they hide it with "respect for other religions", I'm not saying that we shouldn't respect other religions, but are we honestly saying we don't love people enough to point out the other building down the world thats even more beautiful, and is not on fire. To answer Erik's question when a child dies after birth they go to heaven, this is called the age of accountability: God doesn't honestly expect them to come to a saving knowledge of Christ immediatly, wouldn't that be redicolus? The age of accountability extends until that person can understand.
I think most Christians would agree that cramming is no way to reach the lost, however I see nothing wrong with being zealous enough to witness. Let us not forget the purpose given to Christians. We are not to sit idle, and watch people go to Hell. Hell is a real place, but most Christians don't even act like it is. I think it is possible to warn others in a non-threating way. If I witness to someone and they choose to believe otherwise, at least I know their soul is not riding on my shoulders. I just don't want their blood on my hands.
Wow. You and I are of the same mind. Check out this article I wrote entitle "Lord, Save Me From Your Followers"
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/226605/lord_save_me_from_your_followers.html
Popular misconception: suicide bombers are on a mission from God/Allah. They are usually privileged people living amidst a desolated and poor population occupied by a foreign power (i.e. Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan). They do feel more religious in the end, but then so do people approaching old age.
Good piece, by the way. I've been hounded by an Imam to convert after simply greeting him in Arabic. And in Kroger's no less! Ha, a Kroger's in rural Arkansas!!!
Nicely done.
We Christians are taught to spread the word of God, not shove it down people's throats. We are also taught to let the light of Jesus shine through us. I don't need to say anything about my faith. The love I have for God and his son, Jesus are shown by the way I treat others, with love and respect. I don't like people banging on my door or shoving a Bible in my face; it just turns me away. But if you stop me on the street and ask if you can share a thought or two about God, then I'll be more apt to listen.
You know, I have this thing. When you go to a restaurant and the food is really great, what is your natural tendency? It is to share the information. With as many people taking anti-depressants as there are, why would someone get offended by someone talking about God. You do not have to believe it, just like they do not have to believe in what you say.
Friends and families SHARE information, but it does not mean they all AGREE.
I think the real issue that some people have with religion is because it has a set of moral standards, and some people are locked into breaking every commandment and code of desency just to rebel against them. The problem is they are generally only hurting themselves. Whether someone believes in God or not is not my concern. If I share it with you, and you choose not to agree, that is not on me. And the same for athiests, who are so dead set against religion that they want to deny them the right to free speech. That is hypocrisy.
Nicely written. I hate it when people throw their beliefs in my face, no matter what they are. I wonder how many christians would feel if pagans, satanists, and other people did the exact same thing that the more...rude christians do. I totally admire the christians, pagans, and others who set an example through how they live their lives, instead of telling others how to live theirs.
And on a side note... Hell is just a translation of Sheol, literally 'the grave'. There is no place where the 'devil' is going to torture you. People who scream about a firey hell really need to read and research. I smell an article...