What Would Be The Best Way To Spread The Gospel of Christ?
- Thread starter Dayton3
- Start date
Nigerian email scam.
Allegedly.
I'll second the nothing of keeping it to yourself. If people want religion in their lives they'll seek it out.
Don't act like a sanctimonies git...
Really, it's to be like Christ. Jesus didn't hard sell folks in their house, He had and was something people wanted.
So what you need to do is:
: study every action of Christ.
: Try to think how Christ would act, speak and live
: Imagine how you could do the same thing in everyday life
: Do that.
So what you need to do is:
: study every action of Christ.
: Try to think how Christ would act, speak and live
: Imagine how you could do the same thing in everyday life
: Do that.
Airborne?
Let's not let this Thread become a train wreck, everybody; be civil and respectful, please.
Here's my advice to anybody who sincerely wants to spread the Gosepl of Christ:
Don't focus on the occult; focus on kindness and compassion, and do so by example.
Don't tolerate the dark side; denounce those who are anti-gay, anti-sex, anti-woman, anti-imagination and otherwise anti-American.
Don't tolerate the stupid side; falling into the trap of Creationism or seeing the Virgin Mary on a sesame seed bun will do nothing for your credibility.
Don't politicize or legislate; the internal rules of religious factions do not belong on the law books.
Don't lead with hatred; if you want to end Abortion, accusing people who have had one of murder will only alienate them.
In short: Before you spread the Gospel of Christ, be sure you understand it.
Here's my advice to anybody who sincerely wants to spread the Gosepl of Christ:
Don't focus on the occult; focus on kindness and compassion, and do so by example.
Don't tolerate the dark side; denounce those who are anti-gay, anti-sex, anti-woman, anti-imagination and otherwise anti-American.
Don't tolerate the stupid side; falling into the trap of Creationism or seeing the Virgin Mary on a sesame seed bun will do nothing for your credibility.
Don't politicize or legislate; the internal rules of religious factions do not belong on the law books.
Don't lead with hatred; if you want to end Abortion, accusing people who have had one of murder will only alienate them.
In short: Before you spread the Gospel of Christ, be sure you understand it.
A
Amaris
Guest
Let's not let this Thread become a train wreck, everybody; be civil and respectful, please.
Here's my advice to anybody who sincerely wants to spread the Gosepl of Christ:
Don't focus on the occult; focus on kindness and compassion, and do so by example.
Don't tolerate the dark side; denounce those who are anti-gay, anti-sex, anti-woman, anti-imagination and otherwise anti-American.
Don't tolerate the stupid side; falling into the trap of Creationism or seeing the Virgin Mary on a sesame seed bun will do nothing for your credibility.
Don't politicize or legislate; the internal rules of religious factions do not belong on the law books.
Don't lead with hatred; if you want to end Abortion, accusing people who have had one of murder will only alienate them.
In short: Before you spread the Gospel of Christ, be sure you understand it.
I would hug you for that post.
J.
Kind of a downer to get crucified at 35.
Putting it in the water may work, thankfully I only drink bottled to avoid the shit the Government already puts in...
E
Elmo Dukat
Guest
Frankly, even though I'm an atheist I find the history of Christ extremely interesting. I'm interested in all the lost Gospels, and would like to think I know a fair bit about the history and teachings of both the official, pared down Church-accepted version (which was a highly political decision), and the unofficial, wider, more historically accurate version (which includes the Gospel of Mary, the Gospel of Judas, the Gospel of Thomas).
It's a great, great story. And there are a lot of lessons there. However, I think some of the most important lessons got lost in the politicizing of the creation of an 'official' Church.
If you want to appeal to people who are resistant, appeal to them on the level of history, not faith. Talk about Christ the philosopher, Christ the man. It would still spread his Gospel (i.e., make others aware of its particulars), but it would remove the forced, irrational element that many people object to. There is no requirement to believe in a Heaven or a Hell, but you can know what Christ apparently thought of them.
Remember that Christ the man was a rabbi, a teacher, and was fundamentally opposed to a system that would see one cast out, rejected, whipped, etc for not adhering to every single one of his beliefs. Oh, you know, like the Roman Empire that eventually killed him for daring to be called a King when the Empire was already ruled. Keep on that tack of tolerance, and a lot more people, of different faiths (or none), will listen to you.
Additionally, listen to them, if they want to tell *you* something about why they believe what they believe. There's nothing like quid pro quo when you're trying to get someone to do something for you.
It's a great, great story. And there are a lot of lessons there. However, I think some of the most important lessons got lost in the politicizing of the creation of an 'official' Church.
If you want to appeal to people who are resistant, appeal to them on the level of history, not faith. Talk about Christ the philosopher, Christ the man. It would still spread his Gospel (i.e., make others aware of its particulars), but it would remove the forced, irrational element that many people object to. There is no requirement to believe in a Heaven or a Hell, but you can know what Christ apparently thought of them.
Remember that Christ the man was a rabbi, a teacher, and was fundamentally opposed to a system that would see one cast out, rejected, whipped, etc for not adhering to every single one of his beliefs. Oh, you know, like the Roman Empire that eventually killed him for daring to be called a King when the Empire was already ruled. Keep on that tack of tolerance, and a lot more people, of different faiths (or none), will listen to you.
Additionally, listen to them, if they want to tell *you* something about why they believe what they believe. There's nothing like quid pro quo when you're trying to get someone to do something for you.
^^^ All very good points, but in some cases... well we were there and found our way out.
There is no best way except to be true to yourself and model the behavior. All people respond to different messages as we like different music, movies, etc. At different points of our lives we respond to different messages.
At some times and places in might be love we respond to. At other times it might be the need for forgiveness, if not from society and friends then by someone. Some respond to a book, a set of rules and rituals to feel normal while others will respond to the euphoria of people laying on hands and rolling in the aisles.
All faiths gain converts and lose membership to competing systems. Dispite many faiths claims that we are the one true.... or only through us can you reach fullness of faith....assured salvation......people will choose their own path assuming a specific faith does not have a government and police acting as its enforcer.
At some times and places in might be love we respond to. At other times it might be the need for forgiveness, if not from society and friends then by someone. Some respond to a book, a set of rules and rituals to feel normal while others will respond to the euphoria of people laying on hands and rolling in the aisles.
All faiths gain converts and lose membership to competing systems. Dispite many faiths claims that we are the one true.... or only through us can you reach fullness of faith....assured salvation......people will choose their own path assuming a specific faith does not have a government and police acting as its enforcer.
I really don't think you can be faithful to the gospel and message of Christ without mentioning heaven, hell (mentioned by Jesus more than anyone else in the Bible) or condemning sin.
Ultimately, if you believe the message in the New Testament of the Bible, following Christ and being saved from hell does involve at some point turning from sins and not committing them again.
Obeying Christ always involves turning away from some things you might enjoy.
Ultimately, if you believe the message in the New Testament of the Bible, following Christ and being saved from hell does involve at some point turning from sins and not committing them again.
Obeying Christ always involves turning away from some things you might enjoy.
Condemning "Sin" is one thing(if that's the path you choose) but far too often it falls to condemning people,
which was never in Jesus "teachings". Judgement was supposed to be left to "God" not imperfect Humans.
which was never in Jesus "teachings". Judgement was supposed to be left to "God" not imperfect Humans.
Except that is nowhere in the Bible.
And arguably Jesus condemned the sin and not the sinner when he told the woman caught in the act of adultery to "go and sin no more".
He didn't consent to her stoning and in fact mocked those who wanted to punish her in that way.
But he did tell her to "sin no more".
