BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Bible Basics What is your opinion on how to witness to others?

Thank you for being Candid with us I know it takes guts to step in and talk about things like this!!! i understand why you would turn away but I do have a question!!

What (if any thing) would make you believe again?

Depends on what you mean by 'believe' Freebubbles.

Believe in God? Believe that Jesus is God? Believe all that the Bible says? Believe that Christianity is the only true religion and that one can only 'go to heaven' if they are a Christian?

There are a lot of questions there and they would not necessarily all have the same answer.

I think I will only know the answers when I die, which is really the only way any of us will 'know' for sure.

Blessings,

Patience.

mmm Your right! that was a loaded question!!!

I dont think anyone should believe in the bible as a whole until they have read it and studied it and found that it is true for them selves. this is not to say thatits ok to pick and choce what you believe like shopping!!! I just think that the Bible is wrote to each person personaly just for them. No one reads and understands it the same way and I think it is important that for a non or new christian to read it for there self and pray and ask god what it means and what God intends it to mean for them. I also think it is go for non or new christians to have a christian friend that is loving and patience to help guide them in doing so...Preachers are go but they tend to be more theological and yopu have to believe it this way cause the church believe this way and it true...

And a lot of people believe a God or many gods so that kind is a mote point!!! lol

So I geuss the better question is What would it take for you to believe Jesus is the Son of God? and that we should live by His example becaue that is the way God wants us to live?

The thought of people contemplating clever ways to attempt to convert me to their religion sort of turns my stomach. However, in my opinion, there is only one practical way to "witness" to anyone, and the above comment gets pretty close to it. It involves the following 2-step process: (1)Act charitably, and (2)Keep your mouth shut. Not to be rude, but seriously, think about it: If Christians went around performing more random acts of kindness without tacking on an unwanted sermon, people would begin to get curious. Soon they would be wondering who all these kind, selfless people are that perform acts of goodwill without expecting anything in return and without proselytizing. Eventually, Christians would be seen as charitable and humble rather than as...well, people with an agenda, so to speak. And wouldn't that be a good thing?

Incidentally, I just want to add that most of us atheists really don't mind discussing religious beliefs with other people so long as we don't feel like we're being hammered over the head with scripture or threatened with eternal damnation. Amadeus, for one, is a regular poster in my forum and has never shown anything but the utmost of respect for the agnostics and atheists while simultaneously expressing his own Christian-informed views on a variety of subjects.

Yes that is a good thing and kinda the point I am trying to make! I dont think any word or sermon can change any ones heart or mind because they can pick it apart where good actions and chraity go so much farther and would draw in more people the me door to door saleing God or sale tactics!!! I think there is a big difference between witnessing and trying to convert!
to witness is to show others what you believe by liveing it and being ready to explane to other why you believe and why then letting God do His Job and let them deside what they want to believe or not.....

Converting is shoving your believes on someone who does not open the door for you to do so...like Hitlar in the Holicost its just wrong!! no where in the bible does it say make them believe by fear or hell, social outcast, or because they just want you out of there hair!

I have known many people who when a "christian comes knocking" they repent get saved and praise GOd and in 15 mins. they are gone and they never come back!! Why because they have proved to them selves they can Convert a heathen! never mind the person goes to the church across town!!!

I have done this to all they want is a spiritual pat on the back! when you let them save you they go away until they want money to make a bigger better church!!!
lol this is sad!!!

ok amending this some what

by they all I mean the ones who came to my door not all christians everywhere!! sorry i am not sure how to phrase it better!

Not all Christians are this way most want to see GOD save people but are not sure how to Let God do it because they have not been taught or this was the way they were taught!

I am happy to live by his example - that, being loving.

Basically I see all life as being a part of the Divine Love - whatever that might be. I don't like to try to define 'God' though, and tend to believe that the 'God Force' is like energy -and is present in everything. So I cannot believe that Jesus was the 'son' of some super entity. I do believe, however, that he manifested more of the Divine Love (the pure love which is the highest from of that creative energy) than perhaps any other person known to me.

For me to believe that he was the 'son of God' would first require me to believe that there is a God who is capable of impregnating a woman. This would mean this God was in a way, human or animal. I cannot believe that.

If God is an extra-terrestrial being, a creature with similar DNA to humans, then it could be possible, in my thinking, for him to be the father of Jesus. It might even be possible if God is a spirit being, with powers of reproduction - somehow yet unknown to us. But this is stretching my imagination to the limits!

And if I am judged and rejected because I have not believed, then that is OK too. I have no desire for eternal life in heaven. I don't even mind if I cease to exist after death. And if there proves to be a God, and he sends me to hell, then I sure wouldn't want to be where he is anyway.

I think I prefer to just wait and see.

With love,

Patience.

WOW!!! thanks for the answers Im not sure I would be willing to take a chance of spending All my afterlife in Hell no matter what kinda hell it is!! but thats just me!

as for heaven, I think my idea of heaven is way diff. from others view kinda like a heaven of your own makeing! I believe heaven has all of my friends and family, dogs cats, and favorit places! but I have thought that if heaven doesnt have my Dad, best friend and countless love ones then I dont want to go either!!! On the other hand I dont think God would be that crule to me either!! lol When I think of heaven I dont see the pearly gates and the streets of gold or castles on hill tops and me with a crown or jewles for all my good deeds blah blah blah! I dont see $$$ I feel no pain or death, loved ones and a peace like never before Angles singing and I have a great voice!!! lol

lol I just figured out how to watch a topic!!! lol

patience,
If I could prove to you beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is God, would you serve Him?

That is irrelevant, jesusfreak, because you cannot prove it.

Patience.