Christianity QA

Question:

Out of curiosity, why does it have to be mission work, why can’t you just go to help the people for the sake of helping the people?  Why must you impose your beliefs on them? Jeff I guess that’s a good question, but the previous respondant said it all, in that you are imposing you faith on others right now.

And I answered him: see my reply to that post. I think this attitude is really strong in America.  That being the hypocrasy of those who demand not to be imposed apon, but  they themselves are imposeing apon others.

But here’s the difference: I’m not traveling across the world finding those most desperate and vulnerable and imposing my beliefs on them.  In reality, I’m not imposing my beliefs on you because you are under absolutely no pressure to accept them.  I’m simply offering my thoughts in discussion. Now, if your child was sick and hungry and I said that I would only help them if you heard my message THEN I would be imposing my beliefs on you. So I have to ask what does it mean exactly to impose,anyway?

I would say that it is the act of forcing your beliefs on others who have little option to refute them.  Thus, a teacher preaching in a public school is enforcing his or her beliefs on the students, because they can’t go anywhere, nor can they really say anything.  Similarly, those a missionary is helping abroad often are in an even worse position.  If my child did that I would be proud of him, he would be rewarded and the school would have a lawsuit on their hands.  But if the the person seeking help for their child retorts then they and their child will go hungry and cold, which is a non-option. And is there anything that we believe today that wasn’t imposed on us at one point?

I would hope so (for Christianity’s sake).  I mean, surely SOMEONE here read the Bible read various other information on Christianity and came to a decision based on that…  The original apostles were Christian because they came to their own conclusions, not because someone imposed something on them.  Sadly for Christianity, today’s Christians ARE mainly the result of people’s imposition of their beliefs on them.  What that means is that if say Islam was imposed on them instead, they would be Moslem.  Insert any religion in place of Moslem as well. The exception might be Chrst,  he didn’t impose himself on me.     To put you at ease though, I want you to know that I want to help people for the sake of helping them, that’s why I mentioned the engineering degree. But if someone should want to know about my faith or want to hear the Gospel then I should be ready for that too.

Look, if someone initiates a conversation that is religious in nature I don’t think anyone would demand that you refuse that conversation.  The difference is that in a missionary you are EXPECTED to initiate those conversations.  The primary purpose of a missionary is to convert.  All else is secondary. "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;  having a good conscience, that when thay defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed." 1 Peter 3:15-16  NKJ

Doesn’t apply.  I’m not questioning your belief in God or faith in Christ. I am questioning your purpose in seeking a missionary instead of the regular peace corps.  And you never did mention WHY that is. Jeff

Response:

Everyone imposes their beliefs on others.  You just imposed your beliefs on everyone here with your statement.

There is a time and a place for everything.  This is a discussion group and if you want to convince someone of something then THIS is the place.  What is not the place is somewhere where the hungry are seeking food, or other help.  These people are vulnerable and desperate.  For that loaf of bread and mat to sleep on they will agree to almost anything, especially if the alternative is sleeping hungry outside in the winter, or if they have children. Furthermore, the question arises of WHY one wants to help these people. People who go as missionaries are going for purely selfish reason, to propogate their religion AND to earn brownie points for heaven at the same time.  Maybe they should try going just once for the purpose of helping those who need it, WITHOUT any expectations or hopes of converting people. Jeff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Scott Out of curiosity, why does it have to be mission work, why can’t you just go to help the people for the sake of helping the people?  Why must you impose your beliefs on them? Jeff I’m interested in mission work abroad, I’m not sure where yet.  Maybe Vietnam or Nepal.  I was thinking about getting an engineering degree maybe in agriculture, something that will be useful to the country I’m in. And then study persue an MDiv probably at one of the RTS schools. So I know missionaries exsist, but how does one just get up and go to another country and find their place in their soceity? Is there a Christian type Peace Corp?

Response:

Everyone imposes their beliefs on others.  You just imposed your beliefs on everyone here with your statement. Scott – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Out of curiosity, why does it have to be mission work, why can’t you just go to help the people for the sake of helping the people?  Why must you impose your beliefs on them? Jeff I’m interested in mission work abroad, I’m not sure where yet.  Maybe Vietnam or Nepal.  I was thinking about getting an engineering degree maybe in agriculture, something that will be useful to the country I’m in. And then study persue an MDiv probably at one of the RTS schools. So I know missionaries exsist, but how does one just get up and go to another country and find their place in their soceity? Is there a Christian type Peace Corp?

Response:

Out of curiosity, why does it have to be mission work, why can’t you just go to help the people for the sake of helping the people?  Why must you impose your beliefs on them? Jeff

I guess that’s a good question, but the previous respondant said it all, in that you are imposing you faith on others right now.  I think this attitude is really strong in America.  That being the hypocrasy of those who demand not to be imposed apon, but  they themselves are imposeing apon others.  So I have to ask what does it mean exactly to impose,anyway?  And is there anything that we believe today that wasn’t imposed on us at one point?  The exception might be Chrst,  he didn’t impose himself on me.     To put you at ease though, I want you to know that I want to help people for the sake of helping them, that’s why I mentioned the engineering degree. But if someone should want to know about my faith or want to hear the Gospel then I should be ready for that too. "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;  having a good conscience, that when thay defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed." 1 Peter 3:15-16  NKJ

Response:

I’m interested in mission work abroad, I’m not sure where yet.  Maybe Vietnam or Nepal.  I was thinking about getting an engineering degree maybe in agriculture, something that will be useful to the country I’m in.  And then study persue an MDiv probably at one of the RTS schools. So I know missionaries exsist, but how does one just get up and go to another country and find their place in their soceity? Is there a Christian type Peace Corp?

Response:

Out of curiosity, why does it have to be mission work, why can’t you just go to help the people for the sake of helping the people?  Why must you impose your beliefs on them? Jeff

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m interested in mission work abroad, I’m not sure where yet.  Maybe Vietnam or Nepal.  I was thinking about getting an engineering degree maybe in agriculture, something that will be useful to the country I’m in.  And then study persue an MDiv probably at one of the RTS schools. So I know missionaries exsist, but how does one just get up and go to another country and find their place in their soceity? Is there a Christian type Peace Corp?

Response:

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