Afterlife doctrine and evangelism

[MoreCoffee]

It is notoriously difficult to gain converts to Christ in cultures that have a well defined and attractive afterlife teaching in their religions. Examples are Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and some others. If this observation is correct then can Christians seriously propose that the Holy Spirit is the one who actively converts pagans to Christ? If the observation is correct then it looks as though human argument fails to impress whenever an alternative to Christianity's heaven and hell exists and that conversion boils down to persuading people to join Christianity which is easier with people whose culture has no attractive afterlife doctrine.

 

[Fritz Kobus]

Human arguments will always fail to convert people to a real Christian faith. Only the Holy Spirit can convert. Our job is not to convert people but to inform them with the Words of God from the Scriptures through which the Holy Spirit works faith. Most of the work of missionaries should be to befriend the peoples they are working with and letting the Gospel shine in the missionary's life and providing Words of God at appropriate times.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Most of the work of missionaries should be to befriend the peoples they are working with

What kind of befriending do you have in mind?

 

[Lees]

@MoreCoffee

Your opening post makes no sense.

What does 'difficulty' have to do with the giving of the Gospel?

What does 'difficulty' have to do with the Holy Spirit being involved or not?

Giving the Gospel is not a 'human argument'. Whether it impreses any one or not is immaterial. We give the Gospel.

It doesn't matter if none are saved by our giving the Gospel. We still give it. Noah was a 'preacher of righteousness'. Yet, he alone was seen righteous in the whole world. And his family saved when all others perish.

Our witness is just as important to those who reject it as it is to those who accept it. (2 Cor. 2:14-17)

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, bust as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ."

In other words, we as Christians witness both life and death. God's work is accomplished irregardless of the response. Perhaps the Roman Church should teach this and they wouldn't try and pervert the Gospel so much and make sure everyone gets to heaven.

Lees

 

[MoreCoffee]

What does 'difficulty' have to do with the giving of the Gospel?

What does 'difficulty' have to do with the Holy Spirit being involved or not?

Giving the Gospel is not a 'human argument'. Whether it impreses any one or not is immaterial. We give the Gospel.

Oddly interesting opinions.

Do you have something substantial to back the opinions?

 

[Lees]

@MoreCoffee

Oddly enough, your opening post is nothing but your opinion. Yet 'nothing' to support.

Myself, I at least gave Scripture for my support. Intersting that you consider that insubstantial. But...not surprising.

Perhaps if you would consider my questions and answer them.....

Lees

 

[XRose]

The Bible quite clearly teaches that on death all thoughts perish so no dead one could know anything.
Jesus said quite clearly that no one had ascend to heaven except himself.
The Bible quite clearly says Enoch and Ezekiel were carried away but unless we call Jesus a liar we have to accept that they both either were taken somewhere else on Earth to live out their natural lives or were taken somewhere akin to the pit in which Satan's First Gang of Angels are chained.
The Bible quite clearly teaches that when Jesus and his angel army have returned to end Armageddon all pagans and nonbelievers will be slaughtered, Satan and his second gang of angels will be confined in a dark pit.
The Bible quite clearly teaches that after his return Jesus will rule Earth for 1,000 years with the help of 144,000 Christian martyrs.
The BIble clearly teaches that during the 1,000 years those who survive Armageddon will rebuild the population but some of them will not have learned and will become evil to some degree.
At the end of the 1,000 years Satan and his First and Second gangs will be released from the pit as shown in the pope's latest throne chair:

which actually depicts Satan and hordes of demons not Jesus - which is why the hair if made like a beast's head.
On their release Stan and gang will have a short season to travel round Earth recruiting the evil people who will join them in committing sin - those people are the tares growing in the good wheat.
When all the tares have been exposed they and Satan's gangs will be permanently destroyed while Satan will burn in real fire.

Has anyone ever heard a pastor preach this?