Proselytizing

Question

Hello Dr Craig, I report a question a christian brother shared with us but couldn't answer properly, and even let me think a lot. Some food for thought and questions on the ethics of proselytizing: As I’ve been doubting my Christian faith one of the issues I’ve been wrestling with (and frankly have always been averse about) is the reality of forced proselytizing. Those of us raised in a Christian (and specifically evangelical) churches are all too familiar with being shamed, guilted, and forced to have awkward conversations with friends and strangers in which we were expected to sell them our brand of Christianity. This sell was to be aggressive. We could not take no for an answer and we were to continually pester and compel the person until they either converted or broke contact with us (for obvious reasons). Given that the message of Jesus seems to be that we are to give up our lives and enjoyment of them for the kingdom, to wear ourselves out in serving the poor, all while carrying a heavy moral burden, it appears all the more immoral to compel this message on people and to be indignant when they don’t take it. This is not even mentioning the threat of hellfire for the salesman and prospect. With all that as background, some questions: 1. Can there be such a thing as ethical proselytizing? How is it done? 2. If the threat of hellfire justifies abusing and harassing friends and family, why isn’t inquisition style torture justified? “Compel them to come in” after all. 3. Does the great commission apply to all of us or merely the apostles and those called like them? I note that Paul’s letters do not speak of this aggressive, forced proselytizing to church layman. Often it is merely asking to pray for him as he evangelizes. Might this explain why not every Christian feels “called” to evangelism. 4. Given how problematic much of evangelism and missions are, is the concept of evangelism inherently problematic? If not, how can the issues surrounding them be addressed? Thank you for bearing with my long thoughts and questions. I appreciate your thoughts in advance Becky

Accepted Answer

Thank you for sharing with me your struggle, Becky! I want to tell you candidly and forcefully that the church background that you describe is incredibly dysfunctional and even perverse. You need to do all you can to throw off its twisted view of evangelization and free yourself emotionally from its grip. The very word “proselytize” is ugly. Most Christians whom I know prefer to speak of “sharing Christ” or “having spiritual conversations.” There is no shaming, guilting, or forcing people to share the Gospel. Ideally, it is the natural overflow of our lives. The idea that “We could not take no for an answer and we were to continually pester and compel the person until they either converted or broke contact with us (for obvious reasons)” would be laughable as an evangelistic strategy, were it not so tragic. As Bill Bright, the president of Campus Crusade for Christ, used to say, “Don’t bruise the fruit!” If the fruit isn’t ripe, then leave it for someone else to harvest at a later time. It’s just mystifies me how some churches come up with such an inane, unbiblical view of sharing the Gospel! The fault here does not lie with Jesus or the Gospel, Becky, but with these perverters of the Gospel. Now in answer to your specific questions: Can there be such a thing as ethical proselytizing? How is it done? Obviously, there is such a thing as ethical evangelization or sharing the Gospel. After all, Jesus and the apostles did it! It can be done in endless ways, from having a personal conversation with a friend to giving a talk on a university campus. In terms of what is called “personal evangelism,” one of the most effective things you can do is to memorize a brief account of how you came to know Christ that you can share with someone else when the opportunity arises. I’m surprised how often I get the chance to tell of how I came to faith in Christ, even though it occurred decades ago. People like to hear your personal story. There’s no pressure or appeal—just sharing what happened to you! But if the person wants to hear more, then it’s good to have a short outline of the Gospel message in mind that you can share. Or just share with them our newest Zangmeister video “Is It Possible to Know God?” But frankly, Becky, I worry that you may be so burned out by your negative experience, you may not be ready yet for this advice. If the threat of hellfire justifies abusing and harassing friends and family, why isn’t inquisition style torture justified? Neither is justified. Abusing and harassing your friends and family is evil. Does the great commission apply to all of us or merely the apostles and those called like them? Although some of us are called to vocational Christian service, all of us are called to share the Gospel. I Peter 3.15 says, “Always be prepared to give a defense to anyone who asks the reason for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect.” Here we see both our preparedness to share the Gospel and the proper attitude that we should have in doing so. Let me add frankly that one reason that many Christians are not interested in evangelism is because they are not filled with the Holy Spirit. To such persons evangelism appears as a chore and a burden. As I said earlier, sharing the Gospel should be the overflow of our lives. In a sense, our interest in evangelism can serve us as a kind of spiritual thermometer. Have we grown cold in our love for Christ, so that we are no longer happy to share him with others? If our hearts are burning with love for him, why would we not be eager to share him with others when the opportunity arises? Given how problematic much of evangelism and missions are, is the concept of evangelism inherently problematic? If not, how can the issues surrounding them be addressed? No, evangelism and missions are not problematic, but biblical. What is problematic is evangelistic strategy. How best to reach people in our contemporary secular culture? How do we reach non-Christian countries effectively? New methods need to be constantly explored. This is precisely what we are trying to do at Reasonable Faith. Let me close with a final word, Becky. Your unfortunate church background should not lead you to doubt the truth of the Christian faith but rather the intelligence and spirituality of those who tried to force you to proselytize. Don’t allow them to stand between you and Jesus. There are good arguments for the existence of God and solid evidence that Jesus was who he claimed to be. The perversity of your church leaders does nothing to overturn that evidence.

Questions and Answers with Dr. William Lane Craig

Proselytizing

Questions and Answers with
Dr. William Lane Craig