Evangelism

[Nick Douglas]

I have always had a very low opinion of evangelists. All scandals aside, I found evangelists, especially Christian evangelists, to be particularly offensive due to the way they often seem to exploit tragedy in an effort to bring people towards their religion.

Evangelists seem to show up wherever there is suffering. Prisoners will have a Qu'ran waiting for them as they start their life sentance just as surely as many Tsunami victims will receive a bible with their plate of food. And when athletes or celebrities find religion, frequently it is only after they hit rock bottom.

Though those thoughts still are with me on a lesser level, my opinion has changed some. Being in Dallas this week, evangelism is everywhere on television. After my initial revulsion I watched for a while and realized that these people truly have been touched by their religion. Contrary to the somewhat shady purpose of stuffing their pockets or growing the clan for political reasons, I find that evangelists have had their lives turned in a positive direction by taking a certain leap of faith and they just want others to feel what they've felt. They believe so strongly that they just know that the best way to help someone is to convert them.

Evangelism is still objectionable in some ways. One only has to look at the way the late Reggie White was ostracized by some in the Christian evangelical community when he began to question his Christian beliefs after his retirement. This, "with us or against us," attitude is troubling, but the whole lot of evangelists shouldn't be smeared with that brush. I think anyone is apt to spread the word to others when they experience something enlightenting in their lives, and that is the true nature of evangelism.

 

[dr. freeze]

i have no problem with them going and spreading the gospel, as a christian we are commisioned to do so

the gospel is built around love and that in itself is a testament christians can share to mankind

as far as the televangeliists, most christians consider most of these people blasphemers, severly distorting the word of God.....these healings and such are an absolutely abomination

and White wasnt really ostracized by anyone i know....i wonder where you got all that? seems like a story out of nothign

everyone in the Christian community should be encouraged to question his or her beliefs....most Christinas believe that this questioning will substantiate the faith....that is what led Luther, Calvin, and others to reforming the church....they encouraged this questioning attititude....

church history is a very interesting subject....especially during the time of the reformation....a subject i have not explored in depth but one which i hope to in the future....lots of lessons that need to be taken to today's church again....

there are so many groups on the finge out there though that who knows what is taught....the church has gone from denominations with clear cut theologies to many independent churches and although this has good things about it also it is very easy for these to get out of line with sound doctrine.....and the result can be dangerous with people like Mr. Jones and Mr. Koresh just as it can in Islam with people like Mr. Bin Laden

what disturbs me is the impression some of these people can relay to nonChristians about Christianity....granted, we shouldnt cater to a quick to judge attitude, that is exactly how people operate and when a lady with purple hair starts babbling nonsense or a guy in a white jumpsuit starts making popping sounds into his microphone and presses on the carotids of hysterical, obese women tellling them they are healed, one may esaily conclude we are all kooks

 

[djv]

Man goes wild in Hillsboro Wisconsin. After he got the message from god to kill his wife and two kids 14 and 6 he drove to his sister house and killed him self. A devoted Christian it left the little town in shock. We can only hope this is not same god Bush talks to.

 

[dr. freeze]

nah, Bush talks to the same one George Washington, Abe Lincoln, Dwight Eisenhower (your hero), FDR, Martin Luther King Jr., John Adams, Ronald Reagan, and other leader have talked to

so don't worry about it too much even though you like to bash bush as much as you can, your insinuation rings hollow once again

 

[Nick Douglas]

You make good points, Freisz. I am only going by what Reggie White's widow said in an interview about his time since retirement.

Reagan was terrible. I've always wondered why conservatives love that guy, but then again they usually wonder why liberals love Clinton.

 

[MrChristo]

Reggie White was ostracized by some Christian groups for 'turning Jewish'.
He went back to study the original, unedited...well, untranslated might be a better word.... version of the bible... learning Hebrew to do so.

I personally have never understood the Christian v. Jewish thing anyway?...Is it because Christians believe that Jews killed Jesus?

...Sorry. Off topic. Just explaining the White thing.

 

[dr. freeze]

what "groups" were they?

 

[MrChristo]

Couldn't tell you.

Just going on what I saw on the news or some NFL film thingy I saw not long after he died.

I should have said, "some Christians" I guess.

 

[smurphy]

Islamofacists are bringing Christians and Jews closer together. When I was a kid, my youth groups used to bash Jews and Mormons relentlessly - basically because they were the main competition. Much more common ground these days. Politics and Muslims have brought many of them together. I've even been hearing some rationalizing by some Christians as to how Jews can still get to heaven - even though they don't acknowledge in this world that Jesus is the lord and saviour.

 

[gardenweasel]

proselytizing is relatively harmless.....even when abused in instances like the recent tsunami.....at least,they are trying to help....given the circumstances,that`s a good thing.....a little religious brow-beating is a small price to pay...

i have no use for money grubbing t.v. evangelists and their like...

caricatures....scam artists...bilking little old ladies out of their meager retirement....it`s pathetic...and troubling...

but....that`s life in the good ole u.s. of a.....the ugly underbelly...

but,this stuff isn`t all that worrisome in the larger scheme of things,imo....

i`ll get righteously indignant right along with nick when they start kidnapping and murdering holymen of other religions.....and chopping off the heads of those that choose not to convert....that won`t "tow the line".....

saying you won`t be admitted to heaven is one thing.....sending you their prematurely is another issue altogether...