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From: garys@bunkerb.UUCP (Gary Samuelson)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Christians: Are you Listening?
Message-ID: <236@bunkerb.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 14-Sep-83 17:19:01 EDT
Article-I.D.: bunkerb.236
Posted: Wed Sep 14 17:19:01 1983
Date-Received: Wed, 14-Sep-83 20:59:25 EDT
Lines: 69

Laura Creighton, writing in net.philosophy about altruism,
brings up an issue which I feel should be emphasized.
I refer to the well-intentioned (perhaps) but aggravating
(and counter-productive) techniques used by some professed
Christians in their efforts to save the lost.
LISTEN to what Laura says.  It's important.

     Suppose that you are a devout believer in X, and
     I am not. Clearly, as a devout believer in X, you think that all
     people should also be devout believers in X. So far, so good...

     You look at me and conclude that there had you been me,
     the best thing that could ever happen is for someone to
     convice you of the value of X.

     You immediately come and try to convince me of the value of X.
     Now I know exactly what I want -- for you to leave
     me alone -- no matter how that suits you. I tell you to go away. You
     are convinced that I need help more than ever, and are persistant.
     This is annoying. if you have my phone number, it can be more than
     annoying! 

Why is it that so many "Christians" do not understand that preaching
someone who isn't interested does not do anyone (repeat: ANYONE)
any good?  It doesn't do the one preaching any good; it's merely
frustrating (unless you like to be rejected; some people seem to
feel that if they aren't being 'persecuted' that they aren't doing
enough preaching, but that's a separate issue).  It doesn't do the
one being preached to any good; it is most likely to drive her
farther away, and make her harder than ever to approach in the future.
It doesn't do people who might be interested any good; the preacher,
by wasting time trying to convert someone who isn't going to listen,
neglects those who might.  Finally, it doesn't do God any good; it
gives Him a bad reputation.  Is that what you want? To reinforce the
notion that God is a busybody, interfering where He isn't wanted?

Perhaps someone who isn't interested now will be, some day.  If
you want to increase the chance of that happening, you have to
refrain from being a pest.  No one likes a pest.  No one actively
seeks out a pest, or someone else suspected, by reason of
association, of being a pest.

And if you think that Jesus is coming so soon that you don't
have time to wait for a particular individual to become interested,
all the more reason why you should be seeking those who are
or would be interested.  Suppose at the judgment a hundred people
ask you why you didn't tell them? and you have to reply that you
were concentrating on one?

If you really want to convince someone of the value of Christianity,
show (not tell) her that being a Christian means living the best
possible life on earth, and then she may believe that it also
means the best possible afterlife.

If Christianity really is the best possible life, then Christians
ought to be more respectful of others' rights than anyone else;
more honest than anyone else; more reliable than anyone else; more
generous than anyone else; more helpful than anyone else; and so
forth.  Or at least striving to be.

Laura also said,

     If I ever want to learn any more about X, I will seek you out.

In the meantime, seek out those who already want to learn more
about X, and stop wasting time with those who don't.

Gary Samuelson
ittvax!bunker!bunkerb!garys