Why Do Christians Feel This Need to Share Their Faith?
A better question would be "why don't other faiths feel that same need? I mean, if they are on a path that they think is the way to heaven, then why don't they care enough about you to tell you about it?
What you hear: "Christians are closed-minded, who have to 'be right,' and who need everyone to be 'like them.'"
My answer to that: Well, my initial reaction to that isn't very Christian at all ;-). But the short answer is that, as a Christian, my Salvation is secure, so I have no personal need for anyone else to believe anything. God doesn't give me medals or a set of Ginsu knives for anyone I might lead to Faith. And any attempt to share my Faith, in our relativistic and PC world, has the very likely possibility of criticism and heartburn for me from people who can be confrontational (open-minded?) about it.
So Why Do It?
The reason Christians evangelize is that not doing so would be selfish and cowardly. Since Christ is the (free and only) Path to Salvation (going to Heaven when we die ... more on that below); not telling people about that would be worse than having a diamond tree in our back yard - each diamond being a seed for other such trees - but not sharing it with anyone.
Further, we care about where our friends and family end up after they die. We even care where strangers end up. I would be a coward if I risked their fate just because sharing Faith might be uncomfortable for me.
It's not possible to "force" people to believe, and we wouldn't if we could, so I think it's interesting the way people sometimes say "Christians try to 'force' their ideas on others." Even God chooses to allow us all the "free will" to choose our path, and we as Christians try hard to approach people the same way He does.
Mission Trips
I have been on mission trips to third world countries and had people I know tell me that I was showing disrespect to that culture by trying to "force" my Faith on them. Again, you can't "force" anyone to believe anything...and I would submit that any disrespect is in the idea that the people there are some kind of 'lesser evolved' society who should be insulated from the ideas of the rest of the world...as if they are incapable of deciding for themselves what to believe - like children, perhaps. I have found people in the most remote villages to be just as intelligent and intellectually curious as ourselves. I do respect them for that and it angers me that such people have had to spend their lives 'protected' from alternative ideas.
Further, if you have ever been to a country where there is no openness to evangelism, you will find a dark, hopeless and suppressive atmosphere that is palpable. People who live in such places have an openness to Faith that we have a hard time understanding because we are so accustomed to having access to Hope. It doesn't happen everywhere. In fact, it is a rare thing still today in most of the world.
Christians Are Imperfect
We get it wrong sometimes. Some Christians even become openly self-righteous in their approach to others. In any endeavor, you will find that many people "doing it" don't 'get' the essence of it and are just there for the trappings, outward show, and peripheral ideas. Sadly, Christianity can be this way too. People are people. Don't let such folks - when you run across them - color your perception of how to approach God. Forgive me if I have ever "stepped in it" myself with you.
God Hates Religion
It'd be a shame to let something as shallow as mere religion - or a misguided human being who has become a "religious zealot" - deter your own search for a loving God. His Plan is simply to invite you Home to your First Family. His approach is nearly identical to that of a loving and wise parent...who loves you even though you screw up - and who places no conditions upon your acceptance as a child of theirs. God doesn't have any strings attached, or a cosmic code of conduct for you to sign on with; and there is no Biblically-mandated requirement that you become a nerd. Christians come in all shapes, sizes, and lifestyles, despite pop culture's shallow attempts to make a caricature of us. All God asks is an acknowledgement of Who He is and what He did for you on The Cross. Mankind adds all the other garbage (religion).
Political Correctness
Our modern society is very relativistic, and we fancy "democratic" ideals. Thus, we have this idea that Truth can be different for different people based upon their perception of it - and many would cite that "most people think ________..." as some kind of proof of the veracity of an idea. This is not logical - thinking that there can be more than one truth when multiple ideas are at odds with each other - and thinking so is a huge impediment to finding The Way. I think that most people choose relativism because it's easier and more comfortable for them than having a principled world view.
Furthermore, the very bed rock of philosophy is the search for the essence of Truth - not a comfy perception of it. And going with the majority is never a good idea. Going with the flow may be more attractive because it is more comfortable, but wise people (by definition) will always be in the minority, or we would call wisdom something more common. I choose to strive for their company - not that of the majority. Not that I smugly feel I have arrived there, but that's where I am always trying to go.
"Whenever you find that you are on the side of the majority, it is time to reform."
-- Mark Twain
God even tells us in the Bible that He doesn't change His Plan based upon how "popular" it is from generation to generation. Of course He doesn't. What kind of God would He be if He did? He tells us flat out that "FEW" will find the Path to the Faith that Saves.
Matthew 22:14 Many are called, but few are chosen
God makes no attempt to win any popularity contests...but He calls you Home just the same. How? Click here for that.
God Offers Thousands of Proofs of His Singular Truth so that We Don't Have to be Confused About It
He knows that we are logical beings who don't accept things stupidly and blindly. He welcomes that in us, and questioning is an integral part of how Faith is found and strengthened.
For Starters: The Resurrection of Christ and the fulfillment of thousands of ancient prophesies are just two broad statements on what God has done to "de-muddy" the waters through which we have to swim.
God offers us Proofs that Christianity is unique among the world's mere religions in that it holds the only Keys to God, rather than just a set of "alternative beliefs."
There are better people than me to illuminate this...see below.
-
Proof
of God: The Case for Christ
by Lee Stroebel. I have been reading apologetics
for most of my life, and pretty much every point I have ever heard appears
in this one book written by a nationally syndicated investigative reporter
(and an agnostic when he started the book). He had originally set out to DISprove Christ's Truth, but found Faith when he "looked for dirt."
He objectively addresses pretty much every objection I have ever heard too.
Feel free to contact me at marc@marcsbasecamp.com
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