Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: oracle@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Brian T. Coughlin) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: One way to Heaven Message-ID: Date: 11 May 91 03:09:33 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH Lines: 69 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu Re: Janet Baird In article jbaird@bbn.com (Janet Baird) writes: >I am a born again Christian and believe that Christ is the only way to >Heaven. This is understandibly an unpopular belief with many people >because that means that everyone else is going to hell (whether you are a >good person or not). I find this belief is probably one of the most >difficult things about being a Christian. > >My question is: How do you explain to your friends, who are good people >with their own various beliefs, that only through Christ can someone get >to Heaven? This is the kind of question that starts arguments and pisses >everyone off at you. >I feel somewhat inadequate as a Christian witness for this reason. I >realize that "winning souls" is not every Christian's job. That we are to >be simply witness and that what we say may only influence the person a >little bit, who then may come to Christ years later after many such >encounters. Hi, Janet! I've puzzled over much the same thing, as I'm entering a Catholic seminary in a few months, and am thus forced to evaluate my attitude toward all walks of Catholic life. In this "analysis", I was hit slap in the face with, "evangelism is a solemn duty of a Christian", but at the same time, the idea of actively "tearing" someone else's beloved worldview/religion from them disgusted me. I've come to the conclusion that I, personally, am "called" to be an "evangelist by example". That is, I will try my very best to live up to God's hopes for me. During this, I will gladly answer any questions about my [Catholic] faith to the best of my ability, and I will try my best to be alert to "pleas for conversion" from anyone. But I cannot bring myself to go knocking door-to-door, "peddling" Christ like some second-hand encyclopedia collection. Nor can I bring myself to tear someone's faith away from them "by force", even if I truly believe that their beliefs are mistaken. Not only do I see that as an act of cruelty, but I believe that even a CONVERT to Christianity who has had a past faith/worldview "ripped" away will not be a contented, peaceful, fulfilled Christian. God will bring His people to Himself in due time; I believe that it's not up to me to try to "force the issue". (It's a bit like rushing the making of ice cream: you end up with unpleasant mush.) As far as your question goes: I'd recommend that you de-emphasize your "active" evangelism, and try to bring out the "passive" evangelism within you... by being more and more caring, loving, unselfish, understanding, non-judgemental, and open every day. Your friends WILL see the difference... believe me! It's a common mistake, in this "fast-food, microwave, USA Today" world, to assume that the "fast and dirty" method is best for everything, including faith. That is, "the only way to convert is by force, and with as much speed as humanly possible." I'd like to convince you that this idea is not only false, but is downright counterproductive. Remember the old adage: "One can't rush perfection." Don't think that, because the "passive" evangelism-by-example is less dynamic, speedy and flambuoyant, it's any less effective or worthy. Try it; it's a LOT less stressful on you, much less aggravating to your friends, and you might be surprised at how well it works! Good luck, and take care! Sincerely, Brian Coughlin oracle@eleazar.dartmouth.edu