Ask a Question - or - Return to the Faith and Spirituality Forum Index

Question Title Posted By Question Date
What do you make of this? Apu Qun Tiqsi Wiraqutra Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Question:

Heres my question for, where does it say in the bible to convert as many people as possible if they are pagan. Oh yeah and when I say convert I mean force, because I see that around me all the time ultra-extremist chirstians trying converting people



Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Apu Qun Tiqsi Wiraqutra:

That is quite a name Wink

Since you have defined "convert" to mean "force", the Bible does not give any teaching or mandate to do such a thing. God Himself does not force anyone to do anything.

We are to imitate our Lord who never forced anyone.

God has given the ability to choose as we will. If one wishes to convert to Christ, then praise God. If one wishes to reject Christ, then pray for the person, but we do not attempt to force them in any way.

Jesus said, as reported in John 6:44a, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him..."

Jesus said we are to go out and evangelize, but we do that as his ambassadors and messengers. We spread the message of the Gospel, but it is God who actually draws a person to conversion by offering that person a choice -- and God respects the choice the person makes, even if it is to reject Him.

Those who attempt to force people to convert, as Muslims have done for 1400 years trying to convert people at the point of a sword and as happened a few months ago in which Christians were kidnapped and held hostage in Pakistan for refusing to convert to Islam, or as Christian fundamentalists tend to do in beating people over the head with a bible, are failing in the God's call to evangelize.

Evangelists who use forceful techniques violating the dignity of the person and denying their right of conscience to not be Christian are not working for God.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary


Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum