Being Proselytized. How It Feels From A Non-Christian Persepctive?
478776
You're right. I whole-heartedly agree. A prominent preacher put it this way, to tell someone that you just sold your house to buy them the antidote to (Make up the name of a disease here- we'll say "Moo-Moo disease") and you must take it now!  Well, you don't know what Moo-Moo disease is, what it does, you've never heard of it before- it could be made up, and you think this fellow is kind of crazy for selling his house to buy it for you.  You might politely take the antidote, or you might tell the guy he's crazy, or you might be offended that anyone would think you were diseased.  \n\nNow imagine this same man came to you and instead said something like this, "There's a new disease sweeping the nation called "Moo-Moo disease" It kills people.  I can see that you have all 13 signs of Moo-Moo disease and you have 48 hours to live.  Maybe he'd show you medical journals, news reports, etc.  Then once you're convinced you are dying, you will say "what can I do?"  And the man might reply, "I saw this coming, and I love you and don't want you to die, so I sold my house last night and bought you the antidote." You would be so appriciative.\n\nYou can not convince a person they need an antidote until you are concerned for their ailment, and convince them of it. Now, I believe that not accepeting the gospel will kill you- you've heard it before i'm sure "the wages (what you earn) of sin (anything not of God) is death." \n\nLook at the 10 commandments.  Can we agree just for a minute, for arguement's sake, that all these rules listed out are good to do, and probably were created by God? All the major religions: Judaism, Islam and Christianity all for the most part believe God created the 10 commandments. So let's just say that these really are laid out by God to keep society functioning etc. \n\nIf this is the case, then these are the rules and God is the ultimate referee in the game you're playing. He knows the rulebook (the Bible) perfectly. Would you be disqualified?  Seriously look at them. They're accpeted by all major religions. The wages of commiting acts that go against what God says is eternal death- judge for yourself- have you never stolen anything? Cheating on taxes, board games when you were little- it all counts- Now you can say, "I live by my own rules," but if your teacher asks you to write a paper on flowers and you compose one on dinosaurs- you'll still fail.  The teacher sets up the rules and grades you by them.\n\nThink about a court case. There are laws similar to the 10 commandments set up in our society.  What if you walked in, and said, "Yes judge, I pulled the trigger on a gun while pointing it at that stranger, but I didn't kill anyone!"  or maybe you'd say, "Yes, but I volunteer in my free time- I'm a good person!  I pour into children's lives, I take in homeless people, I found the cure to cancer!"  But the fact would still remain that you broke a law and there is a consequence.  The family of the stranger you shot needs justice.  The judge can not just let you off because he is kind or good, in fact He'd do just the opposite if he were. The penalty for the law you broke is death.\n\nI'm sorry to ramble, please don't think me unkind.  I am not trying to offend you, only bring a little more light to the topic.  The beauty of the gospel is that in that courtroom a man named Jesus stood on the stand and told everyone that He was to blame for your crime.  That it was He who pulled the trigger.  Now you can shoo him off the stand and take your punishment, or you can accept that He did it because He didn't want you in jail to rot.  He thinks you have a lot of potential (-; (especially with all your volunteering!) I hope I have explained it a little better- so you understand why we tell you about Jesus as emphatically as we do- He saved my
962893
Wow!  Thank you very much for that.  I concurr.  \n\nPeople react with fear and/or hatred to things or people that are different than them in some way, and to those who  "overstep" the invisible boundaries they feel obligated to stay within.  I have no problem with someone's convictions.  Whatever you believe is fine - but it does not give you warrant to hate or mistreate others.  This is directly contradictory to the message of Jesus.  I believe he would slap the faces of many so-called christians today if he were not such a loving person.  He called us to love.  He called us to bring togeather - not tear apart.  Remember the parable of the sower and the tares?  Don't rip up what you believe to be tares or you will also rip up the harvest.  Wait and let the Lord do it at the judgement.  Just friggen learn to coexist and play nice....ok?
85155
Well I'm not sure.  I was just  saved on Sunday.  But already I feel my old witchlike ways beckoning me.  If I return to the craft, I hope I am still saved.  Praise Jesus.  He loves me, his righteous followers and washed us clean, amen ;).
1047506
remember we don't live by feelings. if you have given your life to Christ the Holy Spirit is with you. there are times in my walk that i don't feel anything that is when my faith comes in, and when i trust in Him i grow in my faith. i'm not sure how you believe but i speak in tongues and when i do there is such a spiritual connection it is awesome... just make sure that you read Gods Word every day and pray everyday. remember first fruits. first thing in the morning read and pray, you will see a wonderful differance in your daily walk.
371279
I really understand how you're feeling because I have been in similar situations.\nDon't ever let anyone push you into something. The Holy Spirit is not pushy and will not use pressure to get you to do something you're uncomfortable with.\nDo whatever feels right to you, not what people are expecting you to do.\nJust listen to your own heart and let the Holy Spirit guide you, not other people's behavior.\n\nIf you want God to give you the kind of joy, that you see others experiencing, you can ask Him for it. \nDoesn't mean your gonna be laughing or dancing. We're all different and act differently even in church. I'm not the jumping-around type myself and I never will be. I have experienced moments of indescribable joy though.\nGod's joy is available to you and if you want it, all you have to do is ask.
943474
well. I go door to door as every other day preaching about jehovah god and jesus christ. i also attend 5 weekly meetings at my congregation and i do my personall bible reading. i feel extremely happy when i do those things and if i miss one day where i dont praise jehovah i dont feel right.
799646
I hear you, brother. I feel the same way. I have been praying for four years now for God's will, and God's will alone. And I also ask him to help me grow in faith. But when it comes time to ask for something specific, I sort of cower, because I feel so entirely unworthy.\n\nI have spoken with other faithful Christians about this, and what some have said has helped me. Some have said that we're not worthy on our own, but that Christ's blood has justified us. They have told me that if you ask God for something, and say, "If it be thy will"--and if you mean that--then it is okay to ask. God will either provide or he won't, depending on whether or not what you ask for is what he wills. I have also been told that God does indeed like to give gifts and blessings to his children. He is our father, after all--and so we are "allowed" to approach him and ask for stuff. If he sees it best for us, he will provide, and if he sees it as harmful to us, he will not provide.\n\nEssentially, God won't do anything that God doesn't will...obviously. So what I do is continue to seek his will, and I also ask him to teach me how and what to pray for. The key here is developing your relationship with God. And I think the more that God teaches me how to pray, the better I come to know him and myself in relation to him. That is, my unworthiness is based in a number of things, but one of these things is a fear of God--which is a legitimate thing. Fear of his awesomeness, might, and his righteous judgment...very reasonable to fear such a God. It has historically been sort of daunting for me to stand in the presence of such might and ask for something...and hence the feelings of unworthiness. But I think--I think, not know--that God does want us to come to ask him for things, because this deepens the relationship and better teaches us who he is and who we are. If that makes sense to you at all.
987491
Well I have recently found my faith and I do now worship a God through Christianity although I am hesitant about denominations and which to choose to attend church so now I just research.  I understand where people who are nonbelievers are coming from because I was for my whole life.  I have also heard that God is a security blanket, and if so, what's wrong with that?  Why can't we have security in our lives and the feeling that there is some higher power looking out for us when we pray and accept them into our lives, then yes its comforting and what's wrong with wanting security or believing in something that makes us feel better about the world and ourselves.  I'm not about converting people or being a missionary so I respect whatever anyone believes... but I personally like to think there is a higher power.
700225
I have been on both sides of this issue. I was raised to believe, but rationally I could not except the idea that God was the judgmental insecure fruitcake my religion portrayed him as.\n\nSo I stopped believing.  Then this happened to me.\n\nSeveral years ago I had an unusual experience concerning an uncle, a distant relative who lived over a thousand miles away. \n\nWhile driving my car I suddenly felt the unmistakable presence of this relative that I hardly even knew. He was more like someone I had heard about than someone I knew. It was very strange; it felt as though I was momentarily lifted right out of my physical body. I seemed to be suspended somehow beyond space and time, bathed in a love so intense It felt like I could have just disappear into it at any moment if It would have let me. It only lasted for a few seconds, but it seemed to last forever at the same time. I realize how crazy this must sound. The experience was so strong that at first I was afraid I was loosing my grip on reality. I finally managed to chalk it up to an over active imagination.\n\nThree days later I got a call from my aunt telling me that this uncle we are talking about had gone into a coma and died the day I had the experience. It felt like ice water had been poured down my back when she told me this. I had lost any real ideas of God or faith and had become somewhat of an atheist. Needless to say this experience caused me to rethink some of the conclusions I had come to. \n\nI feel blessed to now understand that even in our darkest confusion something loves us so much that it went out of its way to assist me and bring me back to a state of absolute certainty about Gods love for us.\nDuring the experience it seemed like there was a vast amount of information that I was somehow allowed access to. One thing that I came away from this experience understanding beyond any shadow of a doubt was that any Idea that God is unhappy with us or would judge or allow us to be punished for any reason is simply impossible. \n\nI can’t explain the love I felt with words. They simply don’t make words big enough or complete enough to do this. The only way I can begin to convey this love to you is to say that there was simply nothing else there. Nothing but love. No hint of judgment, no displeasure of any sort. It is as though God sees us as being as perfect as we were the day we were created. It is only in our confused idea of ourselves that we seem to have changed.\n\n I hope this is of some help to you. Good luck. Love and blessings. \n\nYour brother don
322066
For me it was odd. I use to be a simple Christian man. I went to church and I loved the Lord.  I knew the bible somewhat.\nOne day i was at a christian meeting and I was called by God. At first I thought I was hearing things or going crazy. But when I got called I started to get a deep yearning to preach and I was answering complex biblical questions for others around me. \nI went home and the feelings I had at the meeting never went away. Next thing I know I am studying to be a Reverend.\n\nSome people think they are called but they don't really do the job well. They don't really get the bible and they use it for profit. They can't counsel people very well and they never have the answers.  Most likely these people got tricked by the devil into preaching.
843838
I was born and raised Southern Baptist.  I never felt at home in that faith.  I always felt like an outsider looking in.  I went to church Sun morn, Sun eve and Wed eve every week without fail for my entire childhood.\n\nI graduated from high school and moved out on my own.  After a period of staying out of churchs completely, I felt empty in my heart.  After a lot of soul searching I figured out that the emptiness in my heart was due to my being out of the will of God.  In order to fill that emptiness I had to reconcile myself to God. \n\nI tried going back to the Baptist Church, but I still never felt like I was a part of that.  At the time I worked with two Catholics.  They had a peace about them that I wanted in my life!  They talked openly about being Catholic, they weren't ashamed of it.  And I could tell that being Catholic was a big part of their entire life--not just a trip to church twice on Sunday and once on Wednesday nite.\n\nSo I did some more research.  I liked what I read about the Catholic faith.  And I began to take instruction in the Catholic faith.  This has been one of the hardest things I've ever done in my whole life.  All my life as a Baptist I was taught that Catholics were going to hell because they worshipped Mary and the Saints.  That they prayed to statues.  That the Roman Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon mentioned in the Book of Revelation.  That you ask Jesus to forgive you, not a man---even if the man is a priest.  And so on and so forth, ad infinitum ad nauseum.\n\nIt took a lot of study and prayer to find the answers to all those bogus notions I'd been taught.  Catholics don't worship Mary or the Saints--we venerate them.  We don't pray to statues---that's just dumb.  I don't believe the Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon.  Jesus gave the power to forgive sins and cast out demons in his Name to his disciples.  And its ok to confess your sins to a priest.  \n\nI took instruction for about six months.  I joined the Catholic Church about 25 years ago and I've never regretted a minute of it.  I finally feel at home in a church.  I'm active in my local Church--I help out at Mass and I teach in our Parish School of Religion.  \n\nI have a peace in my heart and soul that I never felt when I was Baptist.   And I still hear the same bone headed things that I heard as a kid about Catholics.\n\nHas this cost me anything?  Yes.  My father, a die-hard Baptist, never accepted my conversion.  Until his dying day he still would not talk about it.  That hurt a lot.\n\nBut I have a church home now--and a solid faith in my Lord Jesus--who saves me from my sinful nature by his Grace alone.  I can't earn my salvation--its a gift from the Lord.  \n\nWould I do it over again?  Yes---although I probably would've not drug my heels so much and made the conversion much sooner.
768271
Non religious to Christianity: A friend took me to church with her and I liked it for a time.\n\nChristianity to Agnostic: People of the church were disappointing.  They judged a lot more than "enlightened".  I was considered a trouble maker for asking questions.  I found that any place that tries to hide answers has a reason to do so, and that's never really a good thing when they're taking your money.\n\nAgnostic to Atheism:  Over time, I just felt that the concept of God was not logical and not for me.  I prayed so hard for many weeks for him to allow me to believe in him.  I was miserable for a time after realize he didn't exist, but I began living for myself and being truthful to myself and I just became happier than I ever have been.\n\nThis entire process was over the course of ten years.
89065
Not at all. I used to feel wierd about it, but then I met one of my pastors who is a woman. She's also a close personal friend of mine and she inspires me alot. As it is I do teach, but I would love to one day preach God's word. It would be awesome!
385479
Well, I'm not Catholic so I'm not a prime example of what you're looking for, but I'll answer anyway.  I go to a nondenominational Bible Church, and I always get something out of the sermons.  Often times it is a Bible verse that strikes me in a manner that hadn't previously occurred to me, largely due to my inability to see the larger message or simply because I'd not yet read it.\n\nThe pastor delves into important points in the Bible, and applies them to our modern lives, which is very helpful for people, and goes to show that we really can learn a lot from people who lived thousands of years ago.\n\nSometimes his sermons force me to face demons inside that I'd been ignoring, out of fear and inability to do something.  He reminds us that we have to face these things, and that God will help us through them.  I walk away feeling lifted up and yes, sometimes enlightened.  Not in the context of any major revelation; sometimes it's something simple that's been going through my mind, and I find the answer in church that day.  It's a rewarding experience.\n\nIt makes my faith stronger and helps keep me close to God and his Word.  It's a place of community with other people who love and follow God, which is an excellent example for me and a blessing in a world where so many people opt for a different path and don't always understand my choice (to be Christian).  (Even though a majority of people in America identify themselves as Christians, many don't put all their stock and faith in the Bible, or go to church, or reciprocate the necessity of believing in and following Jesus.  A lot of New Agers still identify somewhat with Christianity as well...)\n\nAnyway, sorry to give such a long answer.  It's really more difficult to put into words than I'd thought.  Simply stated, church to me feels a lot like recharging my battery every week.  I never come away empty-handed and it is a firm foundation for my faith.\n\n(However, I do believe that some churches out there may not be able to provide their worshippers with as much guidance and true insight as other churches.  This is my personal opinion, and based on my preference of Biblical Christianity over denominations that become too rigid and focused on the Legalistic aspects, which can often drive people away.  In churches like those, I would probably feel skeptical myself.  But that's just my two cents...)
888582
I've never felt repressed by my religion.  I believe what I want and reject what I don't believe.  So far no fires of hell are licking me and I haven't been shunned from the community so I would say I'm doing okay.  I think in general anyone who has a mind of their own and can think for themselves will do just fine as well.
1045260
I can see why you feel this way. I am a Christian but the ones who say they are Christians are they using it as a name tag or are they really saved or not and living the walk instead of just talking the talk? People should not hide the fact that they are Christians or saved either for that matter. But we have to understand as Christians or saved people that sometimes the only Jesus people see is us! Are we doing and living the way Jesus would and treating others the way he would have .... WWJD What would Jesus do is something to ask ourselves before doing anything that may be questionable in God's eyes. Do we treat others the way Jesus would? Sorry I am rambling on here so i will get off my soap box now lol. Sorry! Real Christians should not have affairs either or ever. But we are not perfect either and can slip up and make mistakes and err but we need to get out of it and ask for forgiveness from God and move on and not live any longer that way ! God hates divorce and adultery!
261419
I think that it depends on the person.  My brother went crazy with christianity.  After his mission, he would take things from us that he didn't feel was alright for us to have and would lecture us about the way we live and what we would do.