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Post by Brian on Feb 29, 2004 14:06:57 GMT -5
Please describe witnessing. When do you reach a degree of opposition that you decide to stop? Because that marks the difference between harmless conversation and trying to convert someone, which is extremely personal, and sinful in my view.
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Post by Celinra on Feb 29, 2004 23:03:35 GMT -5
Witnessing, to me, is sharing one's faith with another, with the hope of converting them (because, to be bluntly honest, that is the goal of Christians), but realizing this won't always be the case, and stopping when necessary. Also, realizing that it's not forcing someone to believe someone they don't want to believe, and not hating them if they don't agree with you... everyone is entitled to their opinion. When they say, "I don't want to discuss this," that's when a person should stop, no longer bringing it up. For that matter, it should be done carefully in the first place, not really to complete strangers (i.e. walking up to people and saying "You're going to Hell"), and not really forced. The only time I really talk about my faith with my friends is if they bring up the topic... then, we agree to disagree. Also, there are times when I'll bring friends to church with me, but it's not like I'm tying them up and forcing them to come, I invite them, and if they want to join me, they do, if they don't, then oh well.
Simply, 'witnessing' is explaining one's faith to people who are curious, not beating them over the head with it... that just drives them away more and becomes rude and pushy.
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Post by Brian on Mar 1, 2004 17:45:46 GMT -5
Fine. OK, I don't see too much of a problem with what you do. But listen to this: I have a very close friend who is Hindu, and very religious at that. He told me this story:
His mother answered the door to find a young, probably twenty-something-year-old person standing on the doorstep with a stack of books. He offered the Bible to her, for free. She gave it no thought before saying, "The Bible - this is your holy book, yes?" The young man told her that yes, it was. "Well then," she offered, "I will take your holy book if you will take mine." The man left without saying a word.
My points are: Would you have an open mind if someone asked your about Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, a different denomination of Christianity, or even Satanism? Most people generally aren't happy when asked to change their religion, even politely and not in a demanding way. It's personal. Don't do this to strangers, as you said. Do it to people you know, and only when you know they are in a spiritual rut, where they're not sure what they believe.
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Post by Celinra on Mar 1, 2004 19:14:38 GMT -5
If they would listen to my thoughts on my religion, I would listen to their thoughts on their's. I wouldn't necessarily agree with them, and I wouldn't expect them to necessarily agree with them, either. I do think door-to-door is going a bit to far. That's more like forcing it to a person, rather than waiting until they're ready to talk about it. As I said before, that's just rude, even if these people do have good intentions.
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Post by Brian on Mar 1, 2004 21:19:42 GMT -5
Very well. Then, although I would consider it annoying if you witnessed to me, I have almost no problem with what you do. I suppose it's no worse than telephone soliciting!
(That was a joke, by the way. Don't take offense.)
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