Faith and the Unease of Christian Mission Work

[motheroreily]

I've been thinking a lot about mission work and the idea of converting people from other religions and it makes me feel uncomfortable. I'm not sure why, but something about it doesn’t sit right with me.

Maybe it’s the idea of approaching someone with the assumption that their beliefs are "wrong" or need changing.

Have you ever felt this way? How do you reconcile faith and respecting others' beliefs?

Are you a Christian yourself?

I'm a Christian and this also sits uncomfortably with me. My belief, after a lot of soul searching, is that if people have their own faith we should leave well alone.

People at my church were very 'pushy' with a Muslim lady who attended one of our community groups and encouraged her to come along to services etc. I intervened because had she come along it would have led to all sorts of repercussions with her family and community. She had a solid faith, grounded within her culture and heritage, why interfere with that?

I believe that God is big enough to accept all faiths. I don't understand all the details but I trust him enough to know that he's got it sorted!

Don’t you read the Bible?
That where we find our Lord’s many words concerning the necessity for faith in Him alone for salvation.

Here’s an example
“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
John 3:36

As per the previous post, its quite hard to be "live and let live" about this when the Bible does teach that you must be saved by Jesus.

That said, I tend to towards a more nuanced view on this. You also can't save people yourself. Only Jesus / the work of the Holy Spirit can. So, on that basis imposing my beliefs on others is not only rude (as I consider it to be) but not particularly Biblical.

We are encouraged to share the good news and demonstrate our Christianity though. I therefore think that gor most if us not called to be missionaries and who feel rather uncomfortable with overt evangelising, there's a middle path where we create curiosity about God by showing how he works in our own lives.

Obviously if someone asks overt questions about Christianity I pray for help and do my best. I don't claim any gifts in teaching!

I have Muslim friends, we talk about our beliefs and practises with mutual respect. Its easier to share with some who "gets" the idea of having a religion, that it is with someone who will proselytise their atheism at you.

I think I feel uncomfortable because of the similarities with colonisation and power imbalance between missionaries and communities. But then I understand if you believe Christianity is the only true religion then you'd be doing it out of concern.

I have recently gone back to church after about 15 years and trying to work out what I believe.

@motheroreily welcome back!

A good understanding of the scriptures will help you greatly to work your beliefs out in line with the will of God.

“ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,“
2 Timothy 3:16

I would strongly encourage you to read the four Gospels and familiarise yourself with the life and teachings of our Lord Jesus contained in them.

I agree: I like the bit of the Acts of the Apostles where it says "Then Peter addressed them: “I now understand how true it is that God has no favorites,* *but that in every nation all those who fear God and do what is right are acceptable to him." If people are trying to do the right thing and are living well and kindly that's what's most important; I think time would be better spent on those who do the wrong thing (or where they interpret God's will as an excuse to mistreat others).

I always take the 1 peter 3:15 view to evangelism

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”

It makes me feel uncomfortable too.
I went on a prayer walk a few years ago with members of my church and another local church. Different denominations, but we do a fair bit of things together.

Someone went into the local shop, asked if we could pray for them. They said no thank you as were another religion. Vicar from my church said faor enough, let's move on. Vicar of the other church prayed anyway. It felt all kinds of wrong.

Some of my favourite conversations have been with Muslims and the similarities between our religions.

There are all kinds of theological arguments about what happens to the people who lived before Christ, and the ones who lived afterwards but never heard of Him.

"I am the good shepherd and I know my sheep" is my guiding view. We do not know the mind and will of God absolutely, whatever is written in John's Gospel, and I do not think that a loving Father rejects absolutely any of His children, and we are all His children.

Very good 👍

Me too. I’m a casual catholic & have a new friend who is part of a church that actively tries to convert in Muslim communities. Usually vulnerable women. I’ve worked in those communities - the repercussions can be (literally) deadly. There appears to be no insight into this at my friends church.

Yes, if someone says “no” to prayer I would be inclined to leave it at that and not impose on them.

As far as similarities and differences between religions go, we can all have interesting chats. However, our Lord’s teaching on salvation is very clear, those who reject His Gospel will not be saved.

He has given those of us who follow Him the responsibility to make His Gospel known, in whatever way He leads us to do that, to those around us.

In essence the role of the Christian is that of a messenger. The bringer of good news. Or as someone else said “one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread”.

Then, together, those who have put their faith in Christ and have been born of His Spirit support and encourage each other in love to continue following Him together as we experience the new life into which we have been born.

Do you think that the “deadly repercussions” are the fault of the Christians who are sharing the Gospel?

AFAIC me having those discussions with Muslims is me 'bringing the good news'. In the same way that I wouldn't be happy with a Muslim telling me my religion was wrong, I won't do the same to them.

I honestly think we are worshipping the same God, and he won't turn any of us away on Judgement day. I also don't think non believers will spend eternity in hell as long as they've been good people.

I know that doesn't fit with the doctrine of "the only way to the father is through the son" but ultimately I believe in a God of love.

You only partially quoted Peter.

The full quote shows that He was expressing his wonder and astonishment that not only Jews but also Gentiles were included in the invitation to trust in Christ for their salvation. He was not saying all that is necessary is for people to try to do the right thing and live well and kindly. He was clearly preaching the good news of forgiveness of sins and salvation through faith in Christ alone. The same good news all Christians have a responsibility to make known to those around us.

“Then Peter began to speak: “I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him.

We are witnesses of everything He did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed Him by hanging Him on a cross, but God raised Him from the dead on the third day and caused Him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.

He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
Acts 10: 34-43

No.

It was our Lord Himself who said
“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”.
John 14:6

Now you can choose not to believe that if it suits your concept of who God is.

But it won’t change the reality on the Day of Judgement that God has made a way of salvation, at great personal cost to Himself, and has offered the salvation to anyone who will receive it as a gift, on His terms.

Nor do I. So why criticise them for bringing the good news of Christ’s salvation to those who will receive it?

Right but if a Muslim friend of yours (or Jewish/Sikh insert religion of your choice) here kept telling you that you were wrong and they only wanted what was best for you (eg to believe in the 'right' religion) then wouldn't you start to feel slightly aggrieved? I know I would, it happened. We are no longer friends.

So why would I think it's OK on reverse. I show the love of God by my behaviour every day. I will discuss the God I believe in with anyone who wants a genuine, respectful discussion. If they still don't believe in the Christian God and Jesus then that's fine.

It’s important that they hear the truth. And the notion that we all worship the same God anyway so it’s all going to be ok on Judgement Day isn’t the truth, according to the words of Christ.

I wouldn’t keep on telling anyone the Gospel, though. I would tell them the truth of the good news and let them decide what to do about it. Leave it with them.

We are only messengers. We can’t convince or convert anyone- that’s what the Holy Spirit does. All we do is pray, seek the leading of God as to when to speak or when to be silent and when the time is right we pass on the news, the good news, the message of Jesus Christ’s salvation.

Just make sure that it really is His message that we convey to people and not some watered down version of the Gospel which is no Gospel at all. The penalty for doing that is extremely bad- see Galatians 1: 8-9

Well I guess I'll be joining my non Christian friends in hell then.

I would tell them the truth of the good news and let them decide what to do about it. Leave it with them.
And IMO this is what I'm doing by having those discussions

I demonstrate Jesus in my life. Talk freely with those who are interested. Ensure the bible, church are freely accessible to all drawn to them.

I believe the Gospel is God’s revelation. That doesn’t mean God doesn’t reveal himself in other ways to other people.

I also wonder why people are so hung up on a very human rootedness in time and place when it comes to salvation. I suspect it comes from the desire to feel privileged and superior.

I wouldn’t boundary God’s salvatory action in time and place. He is eternal. Who knows what opportunities for grace we will have at the end of time?

This is interesting I'd never thought about God being eternal and not in our time and what that means for salvation.