Ways NOT to evangelize!
 

I wanted to be respectful of the other thread about evangelism, so I thought i'd start a different one.

I personally don't believe in evangelizing, I don't believe in forcing your religion upon someone else, I don't believe that anyone has a right to tell me that i'm going to hell because I don't believe exactly what they do, or that being Catholic is evil (this came from a Christian- okay, the religions are close enough, you're lucky that I at least believe in the same basic stuff as you do). I've seen some youth groups that are like a cult, and they're constantly recruiting like a cult mentality.

But on the other hand, I believe in the freedom of speech that allows them to do so.

But I'm sure a lot of college students have had funny experiences with so-called evangelists. The crazy man who stands on the corner with some big signs, tells us we're all going to hell, and draws a crowd that is entirely there to mock him.

My own favorite memory is from my freshman year. I'm walking past the student union, some girl comes up to me (never seen her before in my life) and compliments me on my sandals. Okay, that's nice. She keeps talking to me about random stuff. I seriously start wondering if she's hitting on me and begin to find it funny, 'cause hey, it'll make a great story to tell, my first time getting hit on by a woman! After a few minutes (I couldn't figure out how to get away politely!), she asks me to a bible study. This is out of the blue. I say no, I don't have time, she's like, "don't you don't have time to study God?" See, i think that's just rude and wrong. It's none of your damn business.

The other funny experience is when I was with a friend, and these 2 guys were out evangelizing. It was pretty late at night, we were going to 7-11 along Forbes Avenue (one of the busy roads around campus). It's late, it's dark, sometimes there are some unsavory characters around. These 2 guys stop us to ask us something like what time it was, then basically corner us and lecture to us about God, etc. etc. That was just plain scary.

That's kind of my rant on evangelizing. I don't know, you have a right to do it, but I really don't appreciate it, and it makes a bad impression on me of whatever particular group that person belongs to.

Not a fan of it, either. I don't appreciate being accosted at all, but especially when it comes to religion.

I think that many of us have had bad experiences with evangelism and I have had good experiences as well. Much of it comes down to approach. I have a deeply personal relationship with Christ and am a non-practicing Catholic. For me, that relationship truly is a personal thing and isn't anybody else's business most of the time. My kids have very strong faith and go to their Dad's church but question some of the teachings (because they are very intelligent children who understand that scientific evidence and the Bible don't always agree). We work to find a way for both to co-exist. There are days that I pray probably 50 times a day. There are days I pray only a few times. I thank the Lord for small things and big things and don't ask for much other than to know his Will, and to receive strength and grace to cope with life's hardballs. I have never really believed that it is necessary to follow one denomination but do feel that there are times that I need to participate in an organized religion and receive the Eucharist in church (which is why I still consider myself Catholic).

All that said, I have been told that I was not Christian because I am Catholic.
I have been told that I was suffering from Crohn's Disease because I wasn't praying hard enough.
When I was 8, I was told I was going to hell because I hadn't been "saved" while attending a Vacation Bible School with a friend. Even more worrying was that my whole family was going to hell, which seemed to bother me more than worrying about just me.

I thought I had a very good friendship with the woman who told me I wasn't praying enough about my Crohn's. I feel uncomfortable around her now. It was a horribly mean and offensive way to speak to me. During my most ill time, I was praying every few minutes to get me through the next hour of pain... One Day At a Time was too much .. I was taking it One HOUR at a time. The audacity to tell me I wasn't praying enough or I wouldn't be sick! I was eternally grateful to those who said "I will pray for you", because I needed it! There are definitely ways to go about it and ways to not go about it. The person who I admire most in this area is from my kids' church. She runs the youth choir and babysits my kids when they are on summer break and school breaks. She LIVES Christianity more than anybody I know. She gives service to so many, houses missionaries who are in town for short periods, is non-judgmental of others, and extends a helping hand to anybody who needs it whenever she can. She evangelizes through lifestyle and truly is an inspiration to many, without ever criticizing others.

It just depends on the method, to me.

Dee

My school is United Methodist affiliated. So people are constantly talking about bible study or OCF (fellow ship group) and word of god and the like. Well, I made a choice to become Catholic when I was 17. So whenever I tell people that I'm Catholic they always ask me things like, "why do you worship statues" or "why don't you talk directly to God?" or the kicker, "Have you ever been raped by a priest?". Things that are backhanded like that are very very annoying. And whenever I try to explain the reasoning/theology behind it, they always yell and scream "God isn't enough for you? you have to have saints!? or "Your church harbors child molestors because it isn't in God's plan". Seriously, I'd like to just bite their heads off. Don't ask a question if you don't want to let me answer. My soul is FINE, thank you, how's yours?

.

Gotta agree with all of you... while I believe in God and in Jesus Christ, I cannot stand anyone who proselytizes his or her religion upon me. I'm a baptized but not a practicing Roman Catholic, though nowadays I'd probably fit in better with the Episcopals, since I'm at odds with some Catholic teachings, and my active membership in the Masons precludes me from receiving Communion.

Unfortunately, there are way too many people in the world who have absolutely no understanding of any religion other than their own, and wind up spreading lies and misconceptions passed on to them by their preacher at the pulpit or their teacher in Sunday school.

As a young catholic I get accosted regularly on campus by people who think that I am going straight to hell because I don't feel the need to attend campus crusade or bible studies. I attended catholic school for way too long to need help in studying the bible, and I regularly read the bible. I get really annoyed when people send me nasty campus mail about being sent to hell for not worshiping the correct christian religion.

I don't feel the need to broadcast my religion as I feel it is a personal thing between me and God. I regularly pray and I regularly have my own spiritual time. I don't think it's healthy when people can't joke about their religion either. People get too uptight about religion and can't laugh about it.

I recieved the best advice ever from a priest when I was in high school. Fr. Jack told me, "Personally I don't think God gives a damn about what we do as long as we live life right and to the best of our ability. He accepts you for what you are because he created you." This was in response to me slipping up and eating red meat on a Friday during Lent, but it's stuck with me as applying to everything in my life.

I feel that if people spent more time on making sure they live their own lives correctly instead of worrying about everyone else on earth then they might just be happier. But then I'm just a crazy catholic so what do I know? ;)

When I was a teenager, I was pursued by a mainstream church group--I think they just wanted to be able to use our big ol' house for parties and such. They sent over their youth director. He said he'd heard I was looking around and said, "Are you going to try the Methodists?" and I said maybe and he insulted them. Then he mentioned a couple more groups and he insulted them. Finally, he asked if I'd be trying the Unitarians and he said, "You'd like them, that's the church of the devil."

Okay, I was probably the most innocent kid in my school. AND--my grandmother, a Unitarian, was in the next room. She came out screaming at him, he left in a hurry, and my father was on the phone to the church before their youth director could've even gotten back to the church.

He got in a ton of trouble. How did he think he would recruit me by saying something like that?:confused:

This is an article everyone should read:

Convincing the Unconvinced

The guy is a computer science professor at the Blue Zoo (aka the U.S. Air Force Academy).

When I think about what a "true Christian" is, it's the description you gave of your friend. To me, it's about being good to other people--not telling everyone how good you are. It's about treating people how you would like to be treated. As I get older, I find that fewer and fewer people are Christians in the sense of performing good deeds. Jesus, according to what the Bible says, opened his heart to everybody--including society's outcasts.

I've had terrible experiences with people evangelizing to me. In (public!) high school, I had a teacher who would bring her husband (a Charisamatic Episcopal Rector) to come in and talk to us. This was the same woman who told me that I would join a cult if I went to a certain (very liberal) college for undergrad. I have a family member who is one of those snakewater Christians who believes that God doesn't love you if you're homosexual--but being materialistic and shallow is just fine! :rolleyes: He likes to use family gatherings as his pulpit--but I think we all realize that he's basically a con artist.

Interesting stories. One of the best things I was ever told concerning evangelism was that, "more Christians with good intentions will ensure that others go to Hell than Satan does."

In other words, you need to know to whom you are speaking, if they are searching, and what would be the best way of helping them come to the Lord. Screaming on a street corner won't work, as we've all noticed, but talking to someone who has questions about eternity will.

There really is a time and a place for everything (as in "to everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heavens"); the best way to be a good evangelist is to be sensitive to each person, and their time to be reached.

The best part of that article (in my opinion):

If you were invited to talk about your faith, then by all means go ahead. But if you were invited for some other reason, then offering religious testimony insults your hosts. I’ve given plenty of public speeches, many at the request of audiences who don’t share my religious views. Imagine if I told a crowded high school auditorium my joy in knowing that Jesus was not my personal savior. Christians in the audience would be deeply offended; I’d never be invited back. And rightly so.

There was a woman whom I saw (heard!) on the subway two or three times a week who would evangelize at the top of her lungs all the way from Nevins Street in Brooklyn to 14th Street in Manhattan. She probably continued north, but thankfully I got off the train at 14th Street. She was LOUD! Plus, she had a very spooky, monotone voice. It was like the Chinese water torture; it JUST WOULD NOT STOP.

And somehow she ended up in my car very often. I was just lucky, I guess :(

everything is represented by good and bad examples.
i definitely think that evangelizing by telling someone they are going to hell is a definite NO NO. that is the quickest way NOT to get your point across.
i also think that forcing your 'religion' on someone is the wrong way to evangelize.
evangelism is bascially just telling someone about your faith.


honestly, i detest the word 'religious'. it is NOT 100% equal to christianity. i, myself, am not religious. my church is not religious. when i think of religion, i think of a set of rules that you must follow or you will go to hell. a lot of christians think that way. and a lot of people think that christians are that way. it is the biggest misconception. to be a christian means to be free in Christ. of course, they are guidelines that you should live by. but it does not ultimately separate you from Christ. it is so much more than that.
it is too bad that christianity had to be separated by denominations, but the beliefs in christianity are so vastly different. honestly, i think that denominations do more harm than good.


and obviously, i know that christianity is not the only belief out there. i am just speaking what i know.




and thanks kddani for respecting the other thread

AlphaSigOU


Knew We had a Relationship in some Form!:)

We are Anglican Catholics, They are Roman Catholics!

We spoke English first, let our Priest Marry, ETC!

SO Evangiolism like gism is wearing snakes and chanting at the trees or what the F Ever?:confused:

At the Age of 3, decided to leave the SBC, did not fit! Didnt fit with HST, A LXA and President who came to My Church with Bess!

All I can say, is if some religious Zealot carrys on and rants and raves, get the :F: away from them!:eek:

My beleif is My Beleif not some physco telling I need A God In His Way!:mad:

Actually, God came from Mars or another Solar System and was just some Dude in a Rocket Ship that was farther advanced than We all were!:D

What a moron! My mother took us to a Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for several years after my grandfather (an Episcopal priest) died. Although I don't recall there being any Satanists in the congregation, it was quite an eye opening experience, seeing Christians, Jews, Hindus, Wiccans & Agnostics gathering together to discuss & celebrate spirituality & faith-in an very spiritual and tolerant environment.

I learned alot about all of these religions & more, and made my own decision as an adult to return to the Episcopal church. I like their idea that the universe is just too large for any one dogma to be completely correct.

I agree, kddani -- I think it's rude, and many times it succeeds in pushing people farther away from your religion instead of drawing them into it, especially when the methods get more agressive. Religion, at least to me, is pretty personal. It's not something I want to discuss with a stranger on a street corner. I understand that some people consider it an integral part of their religion, but I'm glad that my faith doesn't promote the idea of evangelism, and honestly, I'm not sure I could belong to a religion that does. I believe strongly in everybody being allowed to make the choice that feels right to them instead of being pressured one way or another.

(I also want to point out that I think "lifestyle evangelism" is great, and works wonders to improve people's view of your religion. But people pay attention to what you DO, not what you say. Kind of like how you can talk to girls for hours about how great sorority life is, but it's not until you drag them along with you to pomp for the Homecoming float and flirt with frat boys and stay up late talking that they really want to join.)

Also, I think that the religions/sects that are very into evangelism also tend to fall much faster into the "judging" people who they consider sinners (even though the Bible and other religious texts warn against it!). That may just be coincidence, but I think that evangelism places people in the delicate position of having to decide who needs "saving" and why, which is really (IMO) a matter better left to God.

A humorous story: In the dorms, there was this girl on our floor who did weekly Bible studies and was always trying to get everyone to come for them. Once she tricked my Jewish roommate into coming because she told her that they were going to "get Chinese food and talk" -- she just forgot to add the part about how all the talking was going to be about the Bible.

"A humorous story: In the dorms, there was this girl on our floor who did weekly Bible studies and was always trying to get everyone to come for them. Once she tricked my Jewish roommate into coming because she told her that they were going to "get Chinese food and talk" -- she just forgot to add the part about how all the talking was going to be about the Bible."

That happened to me!!!!! This girl on my floor came over and invited me and my suitemate to a "chocolate fondue party!" to get to know us better. Sooo.. we came over and talked to her and some other people we didnt know.. and then 10 minutes later she goes: "are we ready to start?" and takes out her notebook and a bible. :eek: :eek: I was like.. :confused:

Well, turns out she was having a bible study! AND SHE DID NOT TELL US AAAAT ALL! (and yes, I'm Jewish). I guess she could tell I was uncomfortable and she said if I really wanted I didn't HAVE to stay. So I left. Quickly. My Catholic suitemate left about 5 minutes after me. VERY AWKWARD!!!!!!

I've also had a good friend of mine tell me with a straight face that I was going to go to hell unless I accepted Jesus as my savior. :rolleyes:

I used to be very tolerant of all religions but I've gotten sick of "some religions" trying to impose their beliefs on others through legislation and evangelism. I believe in the separation of church and state and I believe that I should be free to practice whatever religion I choose without people telling me I'm going to hell.

/endrant

I hate noisy people, and I don't care if she was evangelizing or reciting the contents of a recipe...

I'm not religious. I was raised Catholic, was baptised, but never studied the Bible and only went to Church once in awhile. Part of my dislike for the church, or at leat my sister and brother in law's church, is the way those people act. They started going because my b-i-l had affairs and finally got caught when he was out of town for work and got arrested for picking up a prostitute who was an under cover police officer! :eek: I forget how long it was after that that he started the whole church stuff. So all they do now is go to church. He wants to become a Deacon. They go to these retreats. But, they are always fighting. My nephew ran away for 3 weeks! and they didn't call the police. He's only 15! All they said was "I'll leave it up to God and pray." And my sister told my oldest brother once that she didn't love my nephew anymore. Another time, my sister was having trouble breathing and her chest was hurting, so she was in the hospital. When my mom and sister-in-law got there, there was already one of thier church friends there. And everytime my mom and s-i-l talked, that friend would cover my sister's ears and make like a shushing noise. My b-i-l then told my mom and sister to leave but the friend was staying. He told my mom something like "don't be ignorant". It' just that a lot of religious people that I have met are hypocrites and very judgemental.

Well I dunno Jen, that sounds a lot like dating strategy also.

We, men, lie about our true intentions all the time. Example, " We should go out and get to know each other better," really means, "let me into your pants."

In fact most of what guys say really mean that :cool:

Damn, that sounds like something on Jerry Springer.

Evangelizing scares me. A lot of my friends belong to evangelizing religions and they know to not even try with me. Apparently the WELS people canvass a lot in our subdivision but we've long since been crossed off their lists. :p

My parents raised me to believe that my religion/faith/chakra is between me and God, and nobody else. I've stuck with that. I'm a practicing Catholic and if somebody wants to know, I'll tell them, but otherwise, whatever.

just curious... as a Jew I'm not really clear on this but.. why do Christians tell Catholics that they are going to hell? I mean, aren't Catholics Christians too? You both believe in Jesus and celebrate the same things and use the same bible.. why is there such animosity between the 2? :confused:


ETA: When my suitemate told me that I was going to hell unless I accepted Jesus as my savior and converted to Catholicism, I asked her with a straight face if I could go to Hades instead. (I'm in a greek mythology class right now) she got REALLY pissed off. :rolleyes:

Because we...

*worship false idols
*worship the Pope (who some churches think is the antichrist)
*are a cult

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Actually "legitimate" reason: Protestants (all non-Catholic Christians, essentially) believe that faith alone, or belief in God and Jesus alone, is sufficient for getting to Heaven. In Catholicism, we believe that in addition to faith, good works must also be performed. However, these works should not be performed for the purpose of going to Heaven, but because those who are truly faithful have the desire to help others through religion.

I'm sure some Protestant GCers will disagree with what I say, but that's what I see the differences as. I find it kind of ironic that the majority of Catholics have no problem with Protestants, and don't think they're going to Hell, but so many Protestant factions despise Catholicism.

See, there are too many groups to figure out. I'm so confused!

I had the pleasure of having one of thoes door to door type in my house during my undergrad days. Me and my housemate saw them comming miles away and we decided to be one of those paranoid conspiracy theory type. They knock on the door and said "Have you been saved." My housemate answered, "Yes, by the way, did you see the black unmarked car near here?" Meanwhile, I kept on looking at the sky and kept and everytime either a plane or a helicopter flew pass, "They are watching us, get them inside before they get kidnapped by the man." We freaked them out and they moved on.

I was told by a girl during my freshman year that I was going to Hell because I'm a Jew. She told me that if I wanted to save myself, I should start going to church with her (she was an Evangelist). I decided that Hell would be a better option for me than hanging out with her.

My whole thing about this is that you can't FORCE someone to have a religious experience. People have to do that for themselves. I personally experienced it in my own life, but that doesn't mean that everyone else should. I know many atheists who are more Christ-like than most Christians. I think that trying to force the connection with god sort of ruins it.

Religion is implicitly about arrogance (making it much more interesting that most religions list 'humility' as a tenet, but that's another story) - it's all about faith, belief in the face of adversity, surety in your own religion's correctness, the roll-eyes smily and thinking inside the box.

In the end, this is the root of much religious conflict, and why I abhor 'street-corner' evangelists. Be evangelical in the manner it was intended: in your church, in front of your congregation and God. For you, by you - don't pretend your way is somehow magically more 'correct' than any other by shouting me down on the street corner. I'm doing fine, thanks.





Also - for you Catholics, here's an interesting statistic (and remember that I'm protestant) for the next time that you're confronted by some ridiculous zealot who can't let 1470 go:

According to CNN at the height of the "Catholic Priest Scandals", a fairly impressive majority of church-related molestations reported in the last decade have occured in Protestant churches.


Now, the reality is that this is most likely because of the overwhelmingly large number of Protestant churches comparatively, but the fact remains fact. So toss that back if you get the silly "child rapist" cracks, and smile when you do it.

I've been on the other thread about talking to people about your religion.

As many of you, I was raised Catholic and went to Catholic schools. My fathers take on religion is "If every religon is wrong but your own, why does everyone look up when refering to their God?" Because of this belief, when I turned 13 he told me that he raised me Catholic to give me a stepping stone. Now that I was old enough to make my own decisions, I was old enough to decide what religion is right for me. I've stayed with the Catholic religon only because I haven't really looked into any other religion and also because my mother still gives me looks when I mention I might be interested in going to so-and-so's church on Sunday.

I've had my own cousin tell me I'm going to hell because I'm in a MCGLO because trying to unite cultures means worshiping false gods. She was raised Catholic just like me, but recently became Born Again, leff the church and then became penacostal (?). BTW is is also a member of my org too! :confused:

I think if you want to inform others of your religion, it should be welcomed by that person. I do believe in telling others what you believe in...we try to recruit for our GLO all the time, but you would never push your org on someone...because they might not be right for it or it might not be right for them.

I had a "friend" who told me that being Catholic is "wrong", which is why her dad left the church to become a born-again. I asked her why it was wrong, but like other people have experienced, she could tell me why. She said that it "just is". She also thinks that Judaism is "wrong" (but, again, couldn't tell me why). What's really weird is that her current boyfriend is Latino and Catholic (her ex-boyfriend is Polish-Canadian, and definitely NOT born-again.)

I've gotten that one too. I usually respond with "God's work isn't done by God -- it's done by people."

I'm Jewish and we don't evangelize. In fact, if people want to convert TO Judaism, they are traditionally sent away 3 times. They must show that they really want it.

One girl on my floor last year had NO idea I was Jewish, even though I wore a star of david, went to services each week, and have a very "Jewish" last name. She might not have suggested prayer so much to me if she knew, though. She's floormates with some of my sisters now and is VERY disapproving of them. They, in turn, have started messing with her and pretend to have done very immoral things. (They did this after the floormate INSISTED they had not been "saved" even though the two of them are really religious.)

Personally, I don't like anyone telling me I'm going to hell. It's hard for me to deal with some of my deeply Christian friends because I know that's what they think is going to happen to me. I don't know why they think they KNOW what will happen. We don't even believe in hell!

Heres one for ya...
 

If god loved Joel Osteen so much, and he was his 'man on the planet' he would have told him to cut off that stupid ass mullet.
http://www.tbn.org/watch/images/prog...vic_osteen.jpg

or the more holy, whispy version with wife in tow..
http://espanol.lakewood.cc/assets/im...l_victoria.jpg

See story (not about the mullett - about the man) in today's San Antonio Express News at http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/met....ba75e90b.html

Seriously, how can I look at a fool and expect him to be close to god when he looks like an idiot.

My academic advisor is actually converting to Judaism right now. She told me the same thing. What is the reasoning behind it, out of curiosity?

I am catholic, but havent attended church in quite some while, so while I respect others rights of religion, I don't press mine on you, so don't press yours on me.
So one day I am at the doctors office with my roommate and this woman starts talking about the religiousness of Field of Dreams to the two receptionists. Very quickly one leaves to "take out the trash"(apparently this woman comes in often) She tells the other lady how she has been trying to "save" the doctor, but he just wouldn't listen to her. She then looks at me and sees the silver playboy bunny necklace I am wearing(a gift from the roommate, which I love) And asks me if I am a member of that organization. So I say no(cause I am not) and she looks shocked and says "well, thats quite a statement you are making. Dont you care what people think? That organization is just wrong! Have you found God?" WTF??? So I look at her, smile sweetly, and said "I have my seat reserved in hell. It came with the necklace." To which she huffed and walked out. Most fun I have ever had!!!!

It is to "test" the potential convert's sincerity. Not all rabbis adhere to this by saying "go away!" It's my guess that they say "please give it some thought, and if you want to continue, come back in a week or two." Or something like that.

Sites about conversion:
http://www.convert.org/process.htm
http://www.convert.org/