Are Christians only purpose here on Earth to convert others to their religion?

1. 68

   Lady Guinevereposted 9 years ago

   Are Christians only purpose here on Earth to convert others to their religion?
   
   I was conversing on another's Questions and on of the responses was that the bible and christian's only purpose was to convert.  I do not see where that says that in the Bible.  Is this true?

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2. 80

   dashingscorpioposted 9 years ago

   Sometimes it just seems that way! LOL!
   However I know many Christians that never push their religious beliefs on others. Every group has a what I call a "vocal minority". They're always on a crusade. They can't go an hour without mentioning Jesus or the Lord. Maybe they're trying to convince themselves that their lives are going according to plan. I find it most annoying when someone tries to get me to attend (their) church. You'd think they'd be happy with just knowing (they're) going to heaven!
   I once had a co-worker ask me if I had a "relationship" with Jesus. I told him "We're the best of friends!" and he still tried to get me to attend his church. I have a bible and I don't need or want a "middle man" telling me what I can read for myself. Lastly I never bought into being a member of a "flock". Most ministers are on a power trip.
   I guess I'm more of a "lone wolf" kind of guy. :-)

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   1. 68

      Lady Guinevereposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I am a minister, but the definition of one in the Bible is NOT what those clergy of today thinks it is.  I get kicked off some ?'s here because I do not succumb to their threats.  That is selfish and will never get anyone into heaven.

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      lone77starposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Spreading the good word is not at all "conversion." This whole discussion is about the difference between strong-arm sales and informative marketing.

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   xmagsposted 9 years ago

   I guess it's more of "to share God's love" and not necessarily to convert. It's just that they feel so compelled by their compassion and concern for others (supposedly brought on by what God has done in them and for them) that they feel they should get others to convert before they face their doom, aka HELL.
   
   It's nice to belong to a church but you don't have to be in one to be "saved". So no, I don't think the only purpose is to convert others. For me it's more of to let God's love shine through you, to inspire people to build a relationship with Him, not through your words, but through your deeds.

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      lone77starposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Amen! Share the good news and love. Christ said to leave those who are not interested. There are plenty of people who are interested. We need to find them.

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      xmagsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      lone77star, we must let the people know that Christ has come to save the world but we must also respect what they believe in and that respect is all that matters in the end, right?

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   3. 68

      Lady Guinevereposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Save the world?  From what?  Did Jesus not say that he put the laws in the minds and hearts of mankind?  We no all the laws and the Kingdom of God is Within all of us.  God,Satan,Good,Evil,War,Peace are all in that Kingdom and it is all within us.

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   4. 78

      xmagsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Lady Guinevere,  if you believe that God's kingdom is already in you, then so be it. But a lot of people are seeking assurance for their afterlife so they turn to religion. They believe in salvation bec they want something  more to live for.

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   5. 68

      Lady Guinevereposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Xmags, I only believe it because Jesus said it. Yet another thing that religion is not teaching that Jesus told us.  That isn't the only things either!

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   6. 78

      xmagsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I believe that faith is a very personal thing and religion can never teach you something you do not wish to learn. Everything is in the bible and I guess all we have to really do is to just study it ourselves. Meditate it day and night, as they say.

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   7. 68

      Lady Guinevereposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Not everything is in that Bible and it even says so, in that Bible. Religions do not teach that nor do they teach that The Kingdom is Within you.  That would FREE people from the church.

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4. 73

   lone77starposted 9 years ago

   No, LG. Great question with a simple answer. Their purpose is to love one another as they love their selves. If you have something someone else has, then you should give it to them, if they want and need it.
   
   If a religion becomes perverted by Ego and corrupted by politics, as has Christianity, then conversion becomes rather an empty effort.
   
   Conversion is not even part of the purpose. Christ said to spread the message of good news. He said nothing about converting people. They will either convert themselves or they will ignore the message. If they ignore, Christ said that his followers are to leave the person and go on to the next.
   
   I'm now learning far more about Christianity by studying Authentic Kabbalah. Pretty cool stuff. Pure love.
   
   http://perceivingreality.com/

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      Lady Guinevereposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yes it is EGO and about leaving the people and moving on if they do not want to hear. I read up on the Essense and all the books they did not allow in the Bible that we have today. U begin to C why the church tells you they are false.

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5. 46

   Ericdierkerposted 9 years ago

   The word convert is not in the Bible. The notion is but not the word. And the notion is to love even our enemies as ourselves. So if sharing the love with others is converting them to love..... The answer would be yes.

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      Lady Guinevereposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Ericdierker  I saw and liked your post on the Q that I was banned from.  That was the one that got me to ask this question.  Good answer!! b4 my comment were deleted someone said that the only purpose was to convert. I knew it was not true.

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   sallieannluvslifeposted 9 years ago

   No..the message of the gospel is love and to help "widows and children"...I know someone who pushes more people away from God than brings them to Him by his legalistic beliefs and in your face conversion tactics.  As much as he quotes scripture and spews theology, he still doesn't get that none of that matters without love as the foundation...he doesnt get that only God has the ability to convert people so all his tallies of conversions really have nothing to do with him.

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   1. 68

      Lady Guinevereposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I have come across a few here like that, not just one.  Funny that they are all men.

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      sallieannluvslifeposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Hmmmmm..... 

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7. 88

   MizBejabbersposted 9 years ago

   My former church, a Southern Baptist Convention church taught what they named "The Great Commission"
   Matt. 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
   The word "convert" may not be in the Bible, but that is what the church taught. That is why Baptists are so oriented toward and support foreign missions.
   Although I certainly can't speak for them, I don't believe that is their only purpose here on earth,.I think they are here to spread God's love and for good works to help their fellow man. I do think the church is being hijacked by a select bunch of radicals who are also trying to run our politics and turn this country into their own theocracy. I just hope the Christians who really love Christ and their fellow man wake up and see them for what they are and put a stop to their chaotic works.

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      Lady Guinevereposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      "Given to me was all authority in heaven and on earth; having gone, then, disciple all the nations, (baptizing them -- to the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,"  NOT Make disciples.

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      MizBejabbersposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I can't find the translation we used years ago in our church which said "and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name ..." All I found were modern translations which I think do change the meaning. "Disciples" does change the meaning. Thanks.

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   3. 68

      Lady Guinevereposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah, many things are being manipulated.  Just what is going on and what direction is all this taking people?  What is the master plan that most do not see?  Strange huh?

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   aguasilverposted 9 years ago

   Good question, hard to answer without causing offence!
   
   Scripture tells us, 'On earth as it IS in heaven' which leads me to believe that what is NOT in heaven has no authority on earth except what we humans empower it with.
   
   So cancel violence, poverty, sickness and hatred and a whole heap of other things which we know cannot be in heaven.
   
   Yeshua stated that " ALL authority in heaven and earth" had been given to Him, and that we believers would do what He had done and more.
   
   I don't think we are 'saved' just to spend the rest of out time spouting scripture to folk, we are meant to USE the authority invested in us to bring  the environment we encompass under the authority of Gods Kingdom.
   
   Does that mean seeking to 'convert' folk.... NOT in my opinion by preaching at them or beating them with a bible, but YES by demonstrating the Kingdoms authority over their problems in the name of Yeshua, and by doing so, make them aware that Yeshua can solve their life problems as well as offer eternal life to them.
   
   For 1700 years Churchianity has been promoting the attacking doctrines of man, and denying the power and authority of Yeshua, whilst killing anyone who demonstrated His power and authority over the earth.
   
   It's the season to start using the power and authority Yeshua told us to use in His name and let the world know that Yeshua is about more than bums on pews and tithing to wealthy deceivers who have no real power except to control the sheep.
   
   So tell them the bad news, but SHOW them the good news, then let them do as they wish.

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   1. 68

      Lady Guinevereposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Aquasilver, I agree with what u say.  I just updtd the older hub about Peter. I have noticed lots of changes in that Bible twisting words to mean what they want them to mean and being more forceful, akin to what King James did.  They show no love

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   2. 68

      Rod Marsdenposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Not bad aguasilver. Ever seen the film Amazing Grace? Its about how slavery in the British Empire came to an end. Those responsible for its demise were humanist Christians. You sound like one of them.

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9. 81

   PlanksandNailsposted 9 years ago

   And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 18:3 KJV
   
   Ultimately, God is the one who brings about conversion, but He can use people as causal agents, meaning to be used by Him.
   
   ...to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ - Acts 26:17-18 ESV
   
   God uses His followers as instruments of spreading the Gospel.

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   1. 68

      Lady Guinevereposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Matthew 18:1-5
      Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
      18 At that hour came the disciples near to Jesus, saying, `Who, now, is greater in the reign of the heavens?'
      2 And Jesus having called near a child, did set him in the midst of them,
      3 and said, `Veri

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      PlanksandNailsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      strephó: to turn, i.e. to change (4762e)
      Original Word: στρέφω
      Part of Speech: Verb
      Transliteration: strephó
      Phonetic Spelling: (stref'-o)
      Short Definition: I turn, am converted, change
      Definition: I turn, am converted, change, change my direction.

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   3. 68

      Lady Guinevereposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Convert to what? Jesus was not a Christian. It does not say and in the YLT is is like a child.  In the version you gave it is harsh as to convert.  I am just saying things are being manipulated and there is no love in them now.

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      Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      That definition sure looks and acts like our notion of repent. I guess a conversion is a repentance of sorts. So in that sense certainly not. John was a forerunner to Christ and so not converting to Christianity.

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   5. 68

      Lady Guinevereposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Jesus was part of the Essenes, which were a select group of a select group of Jews.  They were NOT to convert but just spread his messages, which no one is getting. mst of his teachngs from Essense was ommitted from the Bible.

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10. 68

    Rod Marsdenposted 9 years ago

    Back in the European past there were good sound economic, social and military reasons for your head of state, king or whatever, to become a Christian. If the people at the top must at least pretend to be Christians then this flows on down to the lowest of the low. It came to pass that a Christian would only marry a Christian and marriage was one way of forming a strong alliance. No strong alliances with neighboring kingdoms? You're looking at trouble and you'd better do something about it. Hence the early importance of being Christian or at least putting on a good act.
    
    Part of conquest was conversion. I have a new hub that covers this. It also makes slavery not so bad. You convert someone in chains to Christianity and they may have a bad life here but if they're good they'll go to heaven and that's great.
    
    Other religions have also conquered and converted. Islam is doing it right now in the bloodiest of ways. Religious in fighting also seems to be part of the deal.
    
    Often those who want to push the idea of converting others to some form of Christianity use the old 'be fruitful and multiply' excuse.
    
    Arguably preachers have done both a lot of bad and also a lot of good over the centuries. Both Vincent de Paul and The Salvation Army do good work in Australia.

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    Snøwmanposted 9 years ago

    No, our purpose on earth is to live the Gospel, which includes sharing it. Why do we share the gospel so much? If you found something that's really awesome wouldn't you want to share it.?

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