Religious proselyting with no Stile.

[Don Penguinoini]

I do not think you are ignorant Becky, i never thought Americans used that word in that expression. I was JOKING, meaning, not to be taken seriously, so why do you? I know my arguements wouldn't, but, once again, i was joking.

(A little hahA)

 

[*Paul*]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know why this disparity exists?

As I understand it, a mainstream Christian believes that people who don't convert to mainstream Christianity will suffer a much worse fate than that which a Mormon believes will befall a non-Mormon. Why is it, then, that Mormons are so much more active than most other Christian denominations at missionary work?

I mean, I've been approached by Mormons a few times, and the Jehova's Witnesses would talk to people every morning on a path that led to my college; I've been visited by representatives of a non-denominational Protestant church exactly once, and never by other mainstream Christian groups.

Why is it that the Mormons are fairly eager to save me from a fate that is better than Earth but still not as good as it could be, while the mainstream Christians are generally not willing to do anything to save me from what they see as eternal torment? I mean not all mainstream Christians are Calvinist; some do think that they can have an effect on a person's salvation.

That's a challenging question and you have an excellent point - it has been said that only 15% of the evangelical church is active in evangelism, my answer is that we are in a Laodecian age, the church has grown lukewarm, false teaching has infiltrated and the love of many has grown cold, exactly as the apostles and Jesus said would happen in the last days. It is the ministry of some to try and wake up the church and encourage them to evangelise, few seem to be willing to face how desperate it is, few are willing to be hated for the gospels sake.
One thing is for sure, it is easier to tell people that their destiny is a lower heaven or soul sleep than it is to warn of impending eternal sufferings and that is a big part of reason i'm sure.

 

[nutshell]

One thing is for sure, it is easier to tell people that their destiny is a lower heaven or soul sleep than it is to warn of impending eternal sufferings and that is a big part of reason i'm sure.

That's funny. Plenty of evangelicals have had no problem telling me I'm going to hell. :yes:

 

[Katzpur]

One thing is for sure, it is easier to tell people that their destiny is a lower heaven or soul sleep than it is to warn of impending eternal sufferings and that is a big part of reason i'm sure.

We Latter-day Saints present our belief in a heaven that is divided into several different degrees of glory instead of telling people they're going to burn in Hell if they don't believe as we do. We do so because we believe in a mericiful God who loves all of His children, even those who didn't get all the answers right on the big test. We don't do it because it's an easy out.

 

[*Paul*]

We Latter-day Saints present our belief in a heaven that is divided into several different degrees of glory instead of telling people they're going to burn in Hell if they don't believe as we do. We do so because we believe in a mericiful God who loves all of His children, even those who didn't get all the answers right on the big test. We don't do it because it's an easy out.

No one is judging your motives and my point still stands - unless you think you do potentially have a more offensive message?

 

[*Paul*]

That's funny. Plenty of evangelicals have had no problem telling me I'm going to hell. :yes:

Well that's not really evangelism unless they are also presenting the necessity of being justified before God.

Do they just say to you "you are going to hell because you are a mormon" and leave it at that?

 

[Katzpur]

No one is judging your motives and my point still stands - unless you think you do potentially have a more offensive message?

I see nothing at all offensive about our message. But the word "apostasy" does have a way of pushing people's buttons.

 

[Katzpur]

Do they just say to you "you are going to hell because you are a mormon" and leave it at that?

Not as a rule. They generally add that we're an anti-Christian cult, that we are trying to deceive every one else just as we have been deceived, that our founder was crazy as a loon, dishonest as the day is long, and deserved to be killed by a mob (they like to call it a "gunfight"). They accuse us of believing all sorts of things we don't really believe, and tell us that they're doing it all out of love. I'd rather just be told that I'm going to Hell, if you want to know the truth.

 

[nutshell]

Well that's not really evangelism unless they are also presenting the necessity of being justified before God.

Do they just say to you "you are going to hell because you are a mormon" and leave it at that?

No, that's not all they say. They also include some form of the following:

*Joseph Smith was a sex-crazed fraud
*You're brainwashed
*You worship a different Jesus
*You're a liar
*You trick people
*You're a cult
*Mormons are a corporation
and so on
and so on

 

[Scott C.]

I have noticed just lately that when i have had representatives of other religions at my door that they are using sales techniques to try and win you over.
You know you open your door and the first thing you see if this shiny happy face who drops you a line with some kind of small talk, a comment about the weather or the news, something like that to get you to drop your guard.
They, like the gas, electric or double glazing salesmen will be clean shaven, have tidy hair, a smart suit and a briefcase which is all a part of the illusion.
Then the conversation will turn into the world today what you may think is wrong with it and then comes the punch line selling you their particular sect etc.
I find this methodology unnatural, arrogant and a little insulting.
Since when did God need tactics and techniques for His message to reach the hearts of men, did I miss the part in the acts of the apostles where Paul was giving out courses in evangelism?
I really dislike all this and it happens in protestantism too, the gospel is the power of God unto salvation and the message itself needs no business techniques to sell it.
Well if I as a Christian find all this nonsense a bit distasteful how do you others feel about it?

I was a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints years ago. I was in South America. We spent a considerable amount of time going door to door and looking for interested people in other ways. There was a saying in our mission that "nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care". The idea was that if you are doing the missionary work out of love, people need to see that and feel that, before they want to listen. I remember our mission president asking us to spend a couple of hours a day just getting to know people in the neighborhoods, playing futbol with the kids in the streets, and just showing kindness and friendship and letting people know you are normal and compassionate people. The idea was that they may warm up to you and want to hear the message - or, maybe they will warm up to you, but still not want the message, and you gained a friend. I don't think this is a phony sales technique.

 

[*Paul*]

I was a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints years ago. I was in South America. We spent a considerable amount of time going door to door and looking for interested people in other ways. There was a saying in our mission that "nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care". The idea was that if you are doing the missionary work out of love, people need to see that and feel that, before they want to listen. I remember our mission president asking us to spend a couple of hours a day just getting to know people in the neighborhoods, playing futbol with the kids in the streets, and just showing kindness and friendship and letting people know you are normal and compassionate people. The idea was that they may warm up to you and want to hear the message - or, maybe they will warm up to you, but still not want the message, and you gained a friend. I don't think this is a phony sales technique.

No thats not phoney, that sounds like a good idea.

 

[~Amin~]

I have noticed just lately that when i have had representatives of other religions at my door that they are using sales techniques to try and win you over.

Like the jehovah's witnesses, this is no disrespect to them, even they admit it.

You know you open your door and the first thing you see if this shiny happy face who drops you a line with some kind of small talk, a comment about the weather or the news, something like that to get you to drop your guard.

They think there smart don't they Paul.

They, like the gas, electric or double glazing salesmen will be clean shaven, have tidy hair, a smart suit and a briefcase which is all a part of the illusion.
Then the conversation will turn into the world today what you may think is wrong with it and then comes the punch line selling you their particular sect etc.

Very true.

I find this methodology unnatural, arrogant and a little insulting.
Since when did God need tactics and techniques for His message to reach the hearts of men, did I miss the part in the acts of the apostles where Paul was giving out courses in evangelism?

I couldn't of put it in a better way.

I really dislike all this and it happens in protestantism too, the gospel is the power of God unto salvation and the message itself needs no business techniques to sell it.
Well if I as a Christian find all this nonsense a bit distasteful how do you others feel about it?

God has awesome power in how He Guides people, yes no
need of business techniques, i feel its also an insult on God, they make themselves
believe they have the power over Guidance, when this is in the beautiful Hands
of God Almighty Alone.