To Christians, I have to stand up for the non Christians here. . .?
James 2:8-12: If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
Therefore, all of the bashing, attacking, and fighting back against nonbelievers is just another sin for you. So why do it? Why not let them believe what they want? Why continue to provide scripture to nonbelievers? They do not believe what you are telling them, so using that to convince them is not going to work. Scripture can only convince someone who already believes.
2006-08-04T14:00:38Z
Work is over, so I won't be back till Monday, but until then. . .
Witnessing is different than trying to convert someone. Witnessing is share your life and how you have been changed. There is a very distinct difference.
Oh, and I can't say anything to Atheists that bash because they don't have any Scriptures that tell them not to.
BrotherMichael2006-08-04T13:30:04Z
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We do not bash, or attack, we defend as we are called to. We are called to defend the faith and be prepared to give an answer to any who question the hope within us. Amazing, you bash us for using Scripture to make our points, but you do the same thing, and don't even believe it. We use Scripture because it is the word of God and a sword.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Jesus quoted Scripture when tempted by Satan, it is powerful and we continue to use it, whether you like it or not. If you can't take the heat, get out of the battle. We answer questions here truthfully, even if that truth is inconvenient, seen as intolerant, or convicting. Now, either put on your big boy pants and stop whining or leave and go about your life. No one forces you to be here or participate.
True. No one is perfect, but as Christians I (we?) believe that after all I can do Christ will/has made up the difference. I don't believe in bashing, attacking, or fighting back, as that is contention which is the work of the devil. But I do believe in being open to hear and discuss other peoples points of view and beliefs, believing that everyone believes in something and that we can discuss that belief and maybe I can add a little to their belief. Mormons have a doctrine that says "line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little". While I may not be able to help bring a non-believer to Christ, I can help lay the ground work so their hearts will be a little softer when the right person comes along that can help that person "come unto Christ". I, alone, can not bring someone to Christ. The Holy Spirit has to. I can only hope to be of some use. Those who bash, attack, and generally provide nothing but contention are not doing the work of the Lord, no matter what they say they are doing, IMHO.
Because it is also written, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you; (Matt 28:19,20a)
That's not to speak for those who are "bashing," but I find "bashing" is quite a relative term in this community, reserved not for real bashing, but used also against someone who has come up with an astute answer that the questioner did not wish to hear/read.
And scripture does not only convince someone who already believes. Scripture is used by God to convince the hearts of those He calls. You never know when an unbeliever will become a believer. Should we then go crazy, knocking on doors and such. No, but we should be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks. And frankly, that's what the atheists are doing on these pages.
Christians witness to non Christians because they love them the only problem is some christian don't have the patience to explain or the understanding needed to talk to non Christians. some people just go in guns blazing shoutin and bashing and fighting and in all truth doing no good at all. the passage you quote from James is a letter to one of the early churches it was sent to explain the wrong that the new church was doing by favoring the rich over the poor to understand a verse it has to be read in context that means read the whole chapter. there is a wrong way of witnessing and a right way this particular passage refers to neither it refers only to the actions of the church and favoritism it refers to treating each person equally and fairly that means not only sharing gods amazing love with Christians but also with non Christians, that means not only quoting scripture to Christians but also to non Christians, god bless .
By "bashing, attacking, and fighting back" you are implying some kind of physical violence that violates Christian tenets. However, I have never personally witnessed or even heard of Christians assaulting non-Christians to try to convert them, at least in this century. If this is what you are referring to, then it is outside of my realm of knowledge.
However, if you are merely referring to the semi-annoying habit of Christians to try to verbally convert everyone they talk to, then that isn't prohibited by scripture in the least. Indeed, the disciple Paul, the most prominent figure in the spreading of early Christianity, was nothing more than a guy who went around and preached to people until he convinced them. Although scripture may not explicitly say, "Go convert people," by his example the policy is given birth to almost simultaneously with the Christian religion.