I want to thank “anonymous” for posting a copy of the letter they wrote to View from Fez. However, one of the first statements made was, “If you have really experienced Jesus Himself, you just can’t help it! It is like falling in love and not being able to talk about it, or finding the cure to cancer and not being able to share it with anyone!”
No, that’s not a very good analogy. Humans all over the world fall in love, it’s a basic emotion. “Experiencing Jesus” is not an emotion, it’s an experience, and it’s different for everyone who goes through it. As for “finding the cure to cancer” (I think you meant “for” cancer), that’s just another way of saying that you know the right way, and all other religions are wrong.
I don’t want anyone to get the idea that I’m Muslim (though I respect that religion), or that I support proselytizing in any form – I just choose to have a personal relationship with God. I feel it’s the height of arrogance to imagine that God needs anyone’s help to bring them to the “right” faith, or that a human could possibly decide that they know what God intends. Let me quote from the “Evangelist’s Toolbox” to illustrate why I think this type of activity is wrong, in more ways than one:
* Are you trying to locate evangelistic tracts or videos to share Christ with friends, available in dozens of languages?
* Do you seek training in how to witness to co-workers?
* Do you need “apologetic-type” materials to defend your faith?
* Are you looking for maps to plan summer evangelistic outreach strategies to reach a foreign city for Christ?
Another Christian site states:
“…we will also answer the question, ‘What is evangelism?’—something every Christian is to be wholeheartedly engaged in. Yes sir, if you are a Christian, you’re in sales! Well, sort of. Actually we’re not selling anything, but we are all about persuading people. What are we trying to persuade them to do? Sign up for forever. How so? We want people to make Jesus Christ their Lord, get born again, and thus have everlasting life, otherwise known as ‘forever.’”
When I get to where I’m going, I’m going to laugh at all the folks who thought that being saved by Jesus or following the five pillars of Islam was some kind of automatic golden ticket to paradise. Then I’m going to meet some old friends, including some animals, and go on to Tír na nÓg. Or be reincarnated. Or…I don’t know. But that’s what’s so cool – being a good person (ok, trying), right now, with no expectations of future reward.
Samir
November 22, 2006 at 12:16 pm
Tír na nÓg sounds the best pick 0(smiles Celtic smile and wanders off…
Felix
November 22, 2006 at 5:51 pm
I’ll meet you there! (but hopefully at least once in this world first!)
Simon
November 23, 2006 at 9:33 am
I won’t meet you there.
Hope it won’t be too warm for you
Felix
November 26, 2006 at 2:24 am
Er, Simon, insinuating that I’m going to hell is uncalled for, and simply confirms the poor opinion that I have of all evangelists. Good luck to you in your misguided and fruitless pursuits.
Simon
November 30, 2006 at 4:31 am
[Sorry, everyone, I had to delete Simon's comment - he's really getting ridiculous. - Liosliath]
Domfree
December 1, 2006 at 4:23 am
It’s a pity you are starting to restrict what people can read because I was enjoying your blog.
I don’t have any problem with Christians sharing their belief with me. I can choose to accept or refuse.
Felix
December 1, 2006 at 10:58 am
Domfree : This blog is not a democracy. Simon posted something along the lines of “You and everyone else who doesn’t believe that Jesus is the ONLY way to salvation – you’re all going to hell.” I’m just tired of him spouting the same stuff over and over.
Most of the time, I’m cool with people sharing their beliefs with me too. However, when the following two conditions occur :
1. I didn’t ask them to share it
2. If I don’t adopt their belief, they think I’m a lost soul
Then I have a problem.
Simon
December 3, 2006 at 4:56 pm
I did not say it like that!
What I said was, this is the message of all the religions – that you go to hell if you don’t believe. That is the message of Islam as also Christianity. We can’t change it.
This is a matter for you to sort out, not me.
Felix
December 3, 2006 at 11:39 pm
You didn’t mention other religions.
And for the record, I’m not Muslim – and I’ve already “got it sorted out,” thank you.