January 24, 2013
-
I Don’t Want To Convert People
… I want people to know Jesus. Am I splitting hairs? I don’t think so. Following Jesus has nothing to do with conversion. Jesus doesn’t want us to convert. Jesus wants us to be real.
This post is inspired by @flapper_femme_fatale
There are plenty of things a Christian ought to do. We have three primary focuses.
- To worship
- To help create Heaven on Earth
- To make disiples
So what of Jesus’ command to go and make disciples?
You can’t make a disciple without a person first becoming a believer. It can’t happen. Discipleship is following Jesus. We can aid people in their discipleship, but we can’t make a person a believe. Christians were never commanded to make believers. Becoming a believer is a response to God’s call on our lives. God calls every single one of us; the Christian, the Jew, the Muslim, the Atheist, etc… No matter where you are in life, God calls you to respond. As a Christian, I believe that God calls everyone to know Jesus Christ. We simply respond. We can’t force God’s work.
That’s our only job as Christians; to respond to God’s calling.
So what does responding to God’s call look like?
Well, look at Jesus. Do your actions reflect Jesus’? If not, that’s a problem, because that’s what a Christian response would look like. This is where many who try to convert others get it terribly wrong. I see it all the time. I hear it all the time. Christians telling others they will go to hell… Christians talking behind a non-believer’s back… Christians trying to gain the upper hand while putting others down. Look at Jesus’ character. How would Jesus respond? Our actions should reflect that. All of this is counterintuitive to a “Converter-Christian’s” supposed goal.
Not what Jesus looks likeJesus is the perfect example of the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. When engaged in inter-religious dialogue, if our words, thoughts, or actions are in direct dissension with any of these characteristics, we are acting in response to ourselves, not in response to God. And if we are not acting in response to God, there is no sense in inter-religious dialogue anyway because we will end up making more of a mess. And people wonder why so many people despise Christians! It’s because we’ve tried to do too much on our own accord, and it is done for all the wrong reasons!
See, trying to convert others is a lot like trying to balance on top of a ball that is on top of a balance beam. Perhaps really skilled people can master this technique, but for the other 99.99% of us, it is better to try another approach to get from point A to point B. There is an easier, less painful way, and all it takes is simply walking from one side to another sans the balance beam and ball.Many Christians have trouble talking with those who don’t believe. The truth is, it’s actually very simple to get along with those who don’t think like you. Because of this, I complied a list of do’s and dont’s.
Do
Listen to God first
Tell others about Jesus
Treat others as if they are better than you
Act in humility
Embrace the fruit of the Spirit
Get to know others, bond with them
Admit when you aren’t acting as Christ would act
Try to live as a Christian should
LoveDon’t
Try to Convert
Have an agenda
Threaten others with hell
Talk behind others backs
Talk down to others
Drag on and on about the scripture that the others may not believe in
Enter a conversation simply for the sake of argumentThere are others to add to both lists, but these are the lists that I try to remember.
It is God’s desire for everyone to know Jesus. Likewise, it is my desire for everyone to know Jesus. We just need to be sure that the ends justify the means. I don’t want to scare people into believing in Jesus. I don’t want to guilt them into it. I don’t want to rub my beliefs in their faces. I just want to live how Jesus lived, and that is how I plan on witnessing what I believe to those who don’t.
Comments (20)
This is a very good post. I am an agnostic, but study religions and other belief systems. I enjoy a good religious discussion, which is one in which beliefs are exchanged freely, without anyone judging those who hold different beliefs.
Agreed, and a lot of the nicest people I have known were or are religious.
@lonelywanderer2 - Judgment gets people nowhere. It just causes more irritation, hatred, and confusion. I’m happy that you study religions. Understanding another person’s point of view, even if you don’t agree with it can take you a long way.
Those are pretty good lists, and not all that hard to remember if we reflect for a moment on the kind of interaction we appreciate and can respond to.
Too many people think they can successfully win someone over to their side of any discussion – or to believe in Christ – but the truth is that nobody gives up their ideas all that easily. Only God, drawing a person to Himself is able to get the response He wants because He also gives them the faith to respond. John 1 says that the new birth is all of God, so how do we think we can take over for Him?
I agree! As a minister, I feel it is who I am to be and share the gospel; however, I am not into forcing anyone. I actually dont like pamplets either, I prefer the method where we do things because of the love of Christ.. and in seeing those things people are compelled to ask why? Why are they different? What is going on at that place or in that person? I think that is the best way to plant seeds, not necessarily knocking on every door but on every heart.
100% agree. i think the big thing is to let your actions, and your life in general, reflect your faith (whatever it may be). this reminds me that not all Christians are jerkwads. maybe there’s hope for my soul yet
sure… so if we can act to be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control then we won’t have to work at being Christian and we won’t have to work at convincing others… etc… so, that is what we are best put to as to use of our time then. Thanks for posting.
I may not share your beliefs, but I can certainly respect them as you describe them here. Nice post.
What a great post! I couldn’t agree more. :)
You shouldn’t scare others into believing. That is the key! And be in prayer with God as what steps to take.
@quest4god@revelife - It’s simple really. We have a natural wanting to be God; to see the things that God sees, to know the things that God know… It’s not all bad, but when it causes us to forget God, then it becomes a problem.
@Doubledb - I agree. Lately I’ve been a bit dumbfounded by that idea though. After seeing how most Christians in the United States act, why would a person want to know what a Christian has that he or she may not have? I really hope this changes in my lifetime.
@flapper_femme_fatale - I don’t pretend to know who goes to heaven and who goes to hell- or even, what hell really is. Find God on your own terms. My hope as a Christian is that you will be guided toward Jesus, but if you can’t make it that way because of how many Christians act, I’m certain God understands.
@Hunt4Truth - A bit to the contrary, I believe that if you are putting energy into the fruit of the Spirit, you would be working at being Christian. I believe that the fruit of the Spirit is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, but I believe that sometimes we need to consciously choose to act.
@EmilyandAtticus - Thank you.
@CuddlyKat - Thank you
@angys_coco - The Gospel says fear not. Likewise, we should scare not. The Gospel is good news for all, not frightful news for some.
Thanks. What I’ve said was too brief.
I believe that I must stop thinking; get out of my head.
To my way, thinking is a barrier to spirituality. Whatever blocks the spirit from filling me is work. For in my mind still play out distractions.
At your age, it was in me, a mess! I was not like you then. While I knew in my mind that there was a conflict, I didn’t stop then and consider that the conflict was due to my thinking.
Seeking understanding of what is is far different from allowing thoughts to dictate what we do. Logic and reasoning are only supreme in Star Trek reruns. We process thoughts that arise out of who knows where within an unconscious mind — billions of neurons firing up on trillions of connections the blended sensations, memories, desires, feelings, thoughts, bodily needs, possible reactions, and so on – all just sort of explode out of an unconscious mind into consciousness like compulsions. You brain. The brain, nervous system and most bodily functions are unconsciously directed. The majority of thoughts, feelings, and so on also emerge from the unconscious areas of our brains. I remember when these controlled me. What decisions would be made based on these impulses? I assure you the decisions seem thought out and right, but these would not be refined Christian purity were it not for the Holy Spirit taking control. So, over time, I’ve done as directed — seek and it will be given. Read how the disciple were overtaken by Spirit.
I read the Bible. I attend sermons. I blog here too. Nothing I read nor think is one iota important when compared with separation from the Holy Spirit by my thoughts.
Sincerely,
Hunt
@jmallory - that is the question, and I think a new church is rising up from the ashes of the rejected old ways, something that holds on to foundational truths but is also not afraid of rooting out things that have no business being in the church. Most people call this the “emerging” church movement, but I think it will expand. I dont see the current modern or traditional church movements as having answers to deep questions, I think some kind of blending is the answer. I think we are seeing it start, but may not see a large harvest of fruits for a while yet, at least in the mainstream culture.
@Doubledb - If you are into Phyllis Tickle, you should read her books on the matter. If you are a fan of her’s, you won’t be disappointed by her summery of what’s currently going on in the Church.
@jmallory - Heard of her but havent read her yet, but have read Brian McLaren, Tony Campolo, and Shane Claiborne
@Doubledb - They are great starts. Read Phyllis Tickle. If you like them, you’ll really enjoy her!
very good post.
These are great teachings!
The rec is late, but I’m playing catch up on my favorite blogs. This was a wonderful post! Highlighting the do’s and don’ts on my FB page =]
@xXrEMmUsXx - Better late than never! Thanks for stopping by