Negative View of Conversion (Lies That Keep Us From Mission)

Duane Smets:

Sometimes we find ourselves wanting to talk to people about Jesus and the benefit of having him in our lives, but we know we are different from other people, so who knows if it’s something they’d be into or need? Others may feel more strongly about it and believe their religious beliefs are private and personal. They think they shouldn’t intrude on people by trying to persuade them one way or another.

The interesting thing about this is, whether knowingly or unknowingly, it presents proselytizing or trying to convert someone as being a “grey area,” so that withholding judgment or influence keeps one safe and ambivalent, free from manipulation or coercion.

Each day we live is a gift of God, and the hours of the days do not belong to us, but to him.

The funny thing is it is not a grey area. If you have children, what will you teach them? If you teach them to love God and his son Jesus, you are telling them such a thing is important. If you don’t teach them to believe in and follow Jesus, you are telling them such a thing is unimportant. There is no grey middle road.

The same goes for all our relationships. What we essentially have with the person of Jesus is him living a life of constantly trying to convert people, which should tell us you can’t love Jesus and not love his mission. That would be duplicitous and wrong. If we love Jesus, we will figure out how to be on mission for him and seek to persuade others: “Knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others” (2 Corinthians 5:11).

Read the rest.