When is it appropriate to share your religious faith with others?

[mee]

well Jesus did say GO matthew 28;19-20

and he did sent his followers out to the houses

acts 5;42 acts 20;20



listening to Jesus is the way to go



and its still going on matthew 24;14.

[arthra]

Dondi asked:

When is it appropriate to share your religious faith with others?

There was a pretty heated argument about this on another forum. The question was mostly directed to athiests. I'd like to include anyone of any faith. The OP of that forum listed some methods that have been used to get the 'message' across:

-Knocking on doors

I've never really felt this was an appropriate way to share my faith.

-Passing out written materials

I've done this in conjunction with displays and people take them if interested.

-Inviting friends to religious services

I've invited people to Holy Day events and also responded to invitations so it goes both ways with me.

-Telling friends about your beliefs, with or without invitation

Usually if it's my friend we discuss religion, politics and so on and so it's by invitation..

-Mission trips to share beliefs and do good works

My wife and I visited a Caribbean Island years ago and worked with some people who lived there to teach the Faith. It was an invigorating experience and we had a lot of friends as a result of that.

-Faith-based movements or attempts to change laws or politics, from the Puritans to Dr. Martin Luther King to pro-life groups

I've been involved in civil rights and antiwar demonstrations in the past along with many other people and friends. Lately I think Forums are important ways to educate people so have done that more recently.

-Sharing beliefs with someone who is in distress

If the person in distress is reaching out and wants to talk I've done that.

-Faith-based help projects such as homeless shelters that require text studies, hospitals with religious ministries to patients, drug treatment programs (e.g., Scientology's Narconon), etc.

I've been involved in Inter-faith groups where we've supported services for people as no one else seems to be doing it in an organized way and felt it was meeting a legitimate need.

-Pointing out weaknesses or faults in someone else's beliefs

I usually am more defensive...respond to attacks than attacking.

-"Slacktivist Witnessing" - e.g., holding up signs at football games, religious graffiti, T-shirts, etc.

I've worn message T-shirts about war and peace, race unity in the past... I don't go to many foot ball games.

-Other??

The assumption is that utilize these do so in a polite manner.

What's your take on these?

I think the best circumstances to share one's Faith is in a mutual kind of open dialog and sharing.

[mee]

As christians, listening to Jesus is best way .

And a voice came out of the cloud, saying: "This is my Son, the one that has been chosen. Listen to him." luke 9;35



And Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: "All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded YOU. And, look! I am with YOU all the days until the conclusion of the system of things."

matthew 28;18-20

[path_of_one]

But it doesn't say HOW to make disciples of all nations. Hence this conversation.

[juantoo3]

Originally Posted by wil

Guess where that makes me a little wierd. I get upset when I see a flyer in my door. Upset that I missed the Witneses, or Mormon's or Baptists that were out knockin. Now I guess that is partially because to me there is no better time to share your religion as when someone is sharing theirs. Like gray I do have an interest, but heck if you knocked and I open the door, and I've got the time, it's on! And my favorite thing is them looking at their watch and saying they have to go, while I raise my finger and say, "One more question" Oh and when they come back with bigger guns I like that too. And when I see them walking across the street avoiding my door and pointing, I like that to, as I run out and say come back as they scurry down the street...

Way to go. wil!

Had a couple Mormons knock at the door this evening.

Couldn't let them get away without an invitation to join us here at CR.

[mee]

Originally Posted by path_of_one

But it doesn't say HOW to make disciples of all nations. Hence this conversation.

Jesus Christ set his followers an excellent example as an evangelizer.

Regarding the ministry of Christ and his apostles, God’s Word states:

"He went journeying from city to city and from village to village, preaching and declaring the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him." (Luke 8:1)

What about the apostles themselves?

After the outpouring of holy spirit at Pentecost of 33 C.E., "every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus."—Acts 5:42.

[juantoo3]

Originally Posted by mee

Jesus Christ set his followers an excellent example as an evangelizer.

Regarding the ministry of Christ and his apostles, God’s Word states:

"He went journeying from city to city and from village to village, preaching and declaring the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him." (Luke 8:1)

What about the apostles themselves?

After the outpouring of holy spirit at Pentecost of 33 C.E., "every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus."—Acts 5:42.

Perhaps, but where does it say to be obnoxious and to pester those who aren't ready or willing to hear? There is a correct way and an incorrect way to share one's beliefs.

[mee]

Originally Posted by juantoo3

Perhaps, but where does it say to be obnoxious and to pester those who aren't ready or willing to hear? There is a correct way and an incorrect way to share one's beliefs.

the bible does not say to pester people or be obnoxious ,and yes there is a correct way to do it .


and as Jesus said,. he would be with them until the conclusion of the system .



and even if people do not want to listen that is their choice .


when it comes to the door to door work of Jehovahs witnesses if people are not interested it is on to the next door , they are looking for those who are interested to learn about what the bible REALLY teaches.


and at the end of the day the preaching of the GOODNEWS of the kingdom , is for a witness, or in other words to put people on notice .
and as matthew 24; is talking about the signs of the times, it is all part of the composite sign that Jesus spoke of that would be happening in out time .



And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come. matthew 24;14

[path_of_one]

Originally Posted by mee

when it comes to the door to door work of Jehovahs witnesses if people are not interested it is on to the next door , they are looking for those who are interested to learn about what the bible REALLY teaches.

Maybe this is how it SHOULD be, but it often isn't. I've had many times that people came back every so often, when it was clear I am not and will not be a JW.

Second, Christ said that if someone didn't want to listen, to shake the dust off your feet/robe and move on. But this doesn't seem to happen until all resources have been exhausted- that is, until people come back with an elder or somesuch and eventually get annoyed you don't comply with all their beliefs.

Third, Jesus and the disciples did not just preach. They did stuff. They fed people first. They healed people first. They took care of people's needs and THEN they preached. And they didn't ALWAYS just preach. Sometimes, they just hung out with people and loved them. There is an excellent reason for this: people cannot learn when they are hungry, or worried, or scared, or ill. Most people's brains shut down that learning center due to the negative feelings. Jesus knew to care about the person- to love- first. Preaching came second, and then it was not about doctrine, but about God's love and being good to one another (ethical action).

I have yet to see a truly loving person come to my door. I have seen a lot of people who want to convert me to this or that, but none of them actually shows love. They show that they want to add to their group and validate their beliefs by having me agree with them. I'll hang out and talk, but faith is not about joining any group to me. Faith is about loving others and God, and showing this in one's actions.

[Paladin]

And just to avoid confusion and possible confrontation, the NO SOLICITORS sign on the front door includes, but is not limited to, people who feel it imperative to share their personal beliefs with me. When anyone decides they can ignore my wish for privacy and ring the doorbell anyway I can become very unfriendly.

[Tao_Equus]

Unfortunately here in the UK they recently banned bloodsports so I do not even answer the door anymore.

[wil]

It is amazing how many folks can't read the no solicitation and similar signs.

However when we were 5 bachelors living in a house and had our sign on the door, it seems everyone read it, and we didn't have any issues with any of the typical door knockin types.

Knock softly but firmly. We like soft firm knockers.

[China Cat Sunflower]

Telling people to piss off is a survival skill. There are too many different interests reaching out to snag my attention, time, and resources. I don't have an interest in entertaining salesmen. Not on my precious time. I don't care if you're selling Jesus or vacuum cleaners, don't waste my time and I won't waste yours. That's the Golden Rule, brutha.

Chris

[cyberpi]

This is a mistake... I see the Golden rule more as: Listen to the sales pitch or beliefs of others as you would that others listen to your sales pitch or beliefs. The issue is how to contend with a liar or an empty unsolicited sales pitch, or the bulk misguided SPAM, or the undesired cold knocker, or the person whose vocabulary does not include the word 'NO'. I submit that more innovative techniques are available than to be so closed that it is assumed the unsolicited approach of a stranger is a crime. In the USA the lifestyle of so many allegedly independent folks is hardened or paralyzed to the unsolicited approach of a stranger that it is considered politically incorrect for a person to even ask another person if they are interested in dinner.

We had a snow storm this last year and a lot of people got stuck and were walking miles to get home... so I went out and offered them rides home. Some are brave enough to accept the act of kindness. Some behave appalled as if they are pissed off over the unsolicited act because in that moment they are paying for being an independent stranger. Some would like to accept the kindness but their belief that everyone is a potential criminal is greater than their belief that someone is potentially trying to help them.

Just because the lifestyle of many people in the USA today is to be an independent and unapproachable stranger does not mean it is the best way of life. Yet many of the religious who knock are not really interested in being anything more than a stranger either. The issue is how to contend with them... to reveal to them that what they are doing is also potentially a bit... empty hearted.

[mee]

Originally Posted by path_of_one

Faith is about loving others and God, and showing this in one's actions.

very true indeed , thats what being a true christian is all about but i have to disagree about the feeding with litral food first, because Jesus fed people in a spiritual way first, then he fed them litral food , the fact that the crowds were there to listen to Jesus meant that he fed them with the baskets of fish , if they were not there they would have missed out on good spiritual food and litral food .

the focus was always the spiritual food first , the GOODNEWS of the kingdom is the answer to all of the problems in the world matthew 24;14 Daniel 2;44

Also, in all the nations the good news has to be preached first. mark 13;10



And this good news of the kingdom will be preached
(Or, "be heralded." )
in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come. matthew 24;14


in this time that we are living in , the heralding of the GOODNEWS gives people hope that soon all of the litrally starving will be a thing of the past .
Remember, though, that in the apostle John’s vision the black horse of famine followed the red horse of war. Correspondingly, many of the food shortages of our day have been a direct result of war. (Revelation 6:3, 4)


and Gods kingdom will put an end to all of that


Those who have a proper hunger and thirst for righteousness and truth will always be spiritually filled. (Mt 5:6; Joh 6:35)


This includes those of the "great crowd" who have hope of surviving "the great tribulation" and of whom it is written that "they will hunger no more nor thirst anymore." (Re 7:9, 13-17)


And under the rule of God’s Kingdom there will also come to be an abundance to satisfy the physical hunger of all mankind.—Ps 72:16; Isa 25:6.