Are Christians who are trying to "spread the word" always annoying?

The reason for my inquiry is simple. I am a Christian. I don't really consider myself a part of any denomination however, because I have never found a church with which I could completely agree on semantics. Most sects of Christianity are too much of something. Too judgmental, too relaxed, too unreliant on Biblical scripture (not that I think the Bible is infallible or anything, as it definitely is), etc. So yeah, long story short, I don't really attend church regularly.

Anyway, I make it a point not to preach to people. I generally like to believe the simplest and most effective way of following the correct path in life is by setting a good example through your actions. However, there have been a few times in my life when I've sat down and suggested to a friend that they pray, or told them that God would be there for them if they would reach out. Reactions vary from embracing what I say wholeheartedly to all-out anger.

So, OT, would you consider this annoying? Should I stop?

Depends if they believe in God or not.

Some are, but their are extremists in just about everything. If they're making the point of "Your faith is wrong!!! You're going to burn!!!" Then it is most certainly annoying. But the whole "This is what I think and where I'm coming from." then I guess that's OK. You've got to find that mid point.

Anyone who is trying to "spread the word" is annoying.

Some are, but their are extremists in just about everything. If they're making the point of "Your faith is wrong!!! You're going to burn!!!" Then it is most certainly annoying. But the whole "This is what I think and where I'm coming from." then I guess that's OK. You've got to find that mid point.

mmofnbs

Yes I agree. If they can atleast sit down and have an agree-to-disagree type conversation, it would not be bad at all. And like you said, there are always extremes.

mostly yes. Especially when they spread the same "evidence" I've heard like a million times before :x

Its nice and all; but it does annoy me.

only if they are persistant.

if they come to my door, ask me about Jesus, I will tell them "Sorry, not interested, have a nice day" and hopefully they will walk away. I can handle those guys

but if they go "Are you sure? Everyone needs Jesus" then I get annoyed.

So no, I find the majority of Christians are not annoying. Theyre people, just like me, 99% of the time

this is , my friend , the same thing that happened to jesus , and to all the prophets , thats cuz the humans dont like that , they are turning away from GOD evantually , but the right thing to do is to keep doing it , its a blessing , its good , and if they were really friends they would agree that you are saying that for their sake !

Some are, but their are extremists in just about everything. If they're making the point of "Your faith is wrong!!! You're going to burn!!!" Then it is most certainly annoying. But the whole "This is what I think and where I'm coming from." then I guess that's OK. You've got to find that mid point.

mmofnbs

It doesn't bother me. I'm not a Christian and I don't imagine I ever will be since I subscribe to evolution and the Big Bang Theory. But still, I think it's a nice gesture that someone would take time out of his day to try and help me get to his idea of what heaven will be like.savebattery

I know this is a controversial viewpoint in the Christian community, but due to the (in my opinion) largely metaphorical nature of the Bible, or at least the Old Testament, I don't think that accepting the Big Bang Theory and the Evolutionary Theory necessarily negates the possibility of also subscribing to Christian beliefs. Personally, I'm a very logical thinker, so I try to keep an open mind when it comes to scientific discoveries while also keeping my faith intact.

But meh, that's just me.

It doesn't bother me as long as the person is respectful. I give what I receive.

only if they are persistant.

if they come to my door, ask me about Jesus, I will tell them "Sorry, not interested, have a nice day" and hopefully they will walk away. I can handle those guys

but if they go "Are you sure? Everyone needs Jesus" then I get annoyed.

So no, I find the majority of Christians are not annoying. Theyre people, just like me, 99% of the time

mrbojangles25

this is , my friend , the same thing that happened to jesus , and to all the prophets , thats cuz the humans dont like that , they are turning away from GOD evantually , but the right thing to do is to keep doing it , its a blessing , its good , and if they were really friends they would agree that you are saying that for their sake !

gubrushadow

I think many Christians (regardless of denomination) should seek to be more like Jesus rather than focus on making sure that they themselves and other people just believe that Jesus once existed, died, and was resurrected.

[QUOTE="gubrushadow"]

this is , my friend , the same thing that happened to jesus , and to all the prophets , thats cuz the humans dont like that , they are turning away from GOD evantually , but the right thing to do is to keep doing it , its a blessing , its good , and if they were really friends they would agree that you are saying that for their sake !

Lockedge

[QUOTE="Lockedge"][QUOTE="gubrushadow"]

this is , my friend , the same thing that happened to jesus , and to all the prophets , thats cuz the humans dont like that , they are turning away from GOD evantually , but the right thing to do is to keep doing it , its a blessing , its good , and if they were really friends they would agree that you are saying that for their sake !

gubrushadow

Yes, you should definitely stop.

I think it depends on ones perspective on the subject of religion, my perspective say's yes, but that is just me.

Yeah, I think they can get annoying, espically when they tell me being a muslim is wrong, and I'm going to go to hell. I really don't like being preched to. If I wanted that, I would go to a Church, and listen to them talk about everything. Reminds me of a story while I was with my family, and we were going someplace. There was this guy sitting on this bench, with a megaphone and was preaching to every car. They had to listen to him because there was a red light.

I've never been to a church where they've been all fire and brimstone, "you sinners will burn in hell". It's not the 1800's people.

Don't come to me spouting about your god or gods because I don't care nor do I want to hear it. Tread lightly if you continue because some people are really fed up with people trying to talk to them about their god.

I always mess around with those people that come knocking on my door to believe.

No, but I have a high tolerance for preachy theists, I grew upon around many girls a lot of guys called "bible humpers." Basically when they found out I was atiest I was the worst person in the world, even though a few of them are promiscuous, which when I pointed that out, and said they should confess their sins, I got slapped. Forgive me for trying to show them the path of enlightenment.

Just as annoying as those atheist who try to denounce religion at every turn they can.

yes. preaching is annoying, in any form if you ask me. i'm a christian. i suppose you couldn't call me a "genuine" christian because i denounce the bible, i don't go to church and i generally don't like christianity. why do i still believe in god? idk, i spose my tiny mind couldn't comprehend a world without a superior being. but, the thing is, i can. i mean, the world works without god. maybe i should just let go. would there be a point in that, though? it won't change my life, and it'll do little to change the way i view the world.

man, i need some sleep.

The reason for my inquiry is simple. I am a Christian. I don't really consider myself a part of any denomination however, because I have never found a church with which I could completely agree on semantics. Most sects of Christianity are too much of something. Too judgmental, too relaxed, too unreliant on Biblical scripture (not that I think the Bible is infallible or anything, as it definitely is), etc. So yeah, long story short, I don't really attend church regularly.

Anyway, I make it a point not to preach to people. I generally like to believe the simplest and most effective way of following the correct path in life is by setting a good example through your actions. However, there have been a few times in my life when I've sat down and suggested to a friend that they pray, or told them that God would be there for them if they would reach out. Reactions vary from embracing what I say wholeheartedly to all-out anger.

So, OT, would you consider this annoying? Should I stop?

Assassin_87

[QUOTE="Assassin_87"]

The reason for my inquiry is simple. I am a Christian. I don't really consider myself a part of any denomination however, because I have never found a church with which I could completely agree on semantics. Most sects of Christianity are too much of something. Too judgmental, too relaxed, too unreliant on Biblical scripture (not that I think the Bible is infallible or anything, as it definitely is), etc. So yeah, long story short, I don't really attend church regularly.

Anyway, I make it a point not to preach to people. I generally like to believe the simplest and most effective way of following the correct path in life is by setting a good example through your actions. However, there have been a few times in my life when I've sat down and suggested to a friend that they pray, or told them that God would be there for them if they would reach out. Reactions vary from embracing what I say wholeheartedly to all-out anger.

So, OT, would you consider this annoying? Should I stop?

MuddVader

I'd say your reaction is reasonable, and I definitely wouldn't be angry if this is how you chose to take my advice. As I said though, I'm not pushy about this kind of thing because it's hard to say when is/if there's ever a right time to "preach" to someone. Generally, as I said before, I think Christians would do well to display their faith simply through actions. The Bible doesn't command followers of Christ to be annoying and arrogant, after all.

They can be. I think the biggest problem, though, is that quite frankly what people offer in that sense tends not to appear particularly better than what one already has. The top ten states in terms of divorces per 1,000 people (i.e., those with the most divorces) identified themselves as 35% born-again on average; the bottom ten states identified themselves as only 20% on average. The top ten states in terms of teen pregnancies identified themselves as 31% born-again on average; the bottom ten states identified themselves as... 31% on average. Those who wish to claim that all one must do is become born again and one is suddenly a new person and all is now changed have a rather rough hill to climb in their quest to prove that assertion, considering that all the evidence we have indicates that being a born-again Christian appears to have absolutely no effect at all on the extent to which one sins or has healthy relationships.

I think it's really little wonder that many non-Christians look at the statement with disgust that one must believe in Jesus and then one will go to heaven, and that without Jesus one will go to hell, considering that those who have accepted Jesus don't exactly seem to be particularly better than those who haven't. I ask myself, what is the ultimate message that Jesus brought? To love God, and to love one's neighbor as oneself. He even went as far as to say that this sums up the entire Old Testament, which is to say that the entire message in that text can be summarized in that one single statement. Yet, people look out at Christendom, and all they can see sometimes are people whose only real concern is validating themselves and showing themselves as more righteous than all those godless heathens - just like, I fear, the Pharisees in the time of Jesus whose actions such as these were so harshly rebuked by Jesus.

So, to answer the question, do I find the people described annoying? In a sense - but not in the sense that I wish they would go away; rather, in the sense that I cringe at the damage that they are doing, and in the sense that I sigh at the sight of those who just fundamentally do not seem to get it. I weep for the path that Chrsitianity has taken over the years, and I can only sincerely hope that more will come to the realization of what it is truly all about.