Duskflamer said:
spacecowboy86 said:
I thought about putting this in my initial post but couldn't think of how to word it just right.
I do not aprove of it, but realize not everyone is christian and have the right to believe in what they want. It's like having a friend, or in this case a fellow human being, who you see doing something you know is wrong but they won't listen to you. Now I, once again, find myself searching for a proper sentence to say "I care, but I know people won't understand why I care" because as a christian I'm just trying to prevent them from going to hell, but they don't believe in hell so... I don't know what to say.
Alright, that is a somewhat valid argument (I remember learning something at some point about how christians have an obligation to 'save' people. Granted I heard that mostly in that it was used as an excuse to wipe out entire civilizations in the Americas but I digress).
Here's the thing though, let's assume for the moment you're wrong. I know you believe you're right, I'm not saying you're not right. But for the sake of argument, let's say you're wrong. There is no God (or, there is a God but not the Christian God), there is no hell for 'sinners,' there is no 'heaven' for the faithful. If we accept this for the sake of argument, then what have you accomplished by forcing others to conform to your ideals? Nothing except making someone else's life miserable for something you thought was true.
Also, assuming everything in the bible is correct, did God not give us free will? Are we as humans not free to choose our own fate? Make all the arguments you like, do your best to convert people to christianity, but there is no reason to impede on the free will of people who a staunchly opposed to Christianity, and you'd have more success trying to save people who are less adamant about the issue.
I appreciate your sensitivity, but I'm an understanding man and I hope you don't read this as me blowing up in your face
you seem to have this idea that christians are all zealots. I tried to say I had trouble wording that sentence because even what I ended up submitting misses that I don't want to force it. I tried to use the example of watching a friend do something you think is wrong because thats
is what its like. I personally would never force someone to believe in something they don't want to. That never truly saves people. I believe the only real way to save people is to let them do what they think is right first. I, as a christian, believe God will uphold his rules, and when sinners defy him they will not be happy people. Then when they are confused, hurt, and not sure where they went wrong,
that is when you go in and talk to them. Tell them that the reason they screwed up their life was because they were constantly doing things that God thought was wrong. My christian fellowship, at least, does not have strict, intimidating, "we're better than you" ideals, we simply do the right thing, such as not drinking, lying, cheating, stealing, fighting, killing, or, for the sake of this thread, having homosexual sex.
A forceful zealot christian has misread the bible because they did not pick up on what you already have when you're not even a christain.
A really good christian simply tells people what they need to hear when they've hit rock bottom and need help. That will truly convert more souls than an inquisition ever will.