loved this post.  i know exactly how you feel... there are many things i can accept about Christianity, but many things i can't. 

to me, evangelizing works only with one principle: the Christian wants to show the non-Christian why he/she is wrong.  Christians who do that can rarely demonstrate why, in turn, they are right.  because Christians operate in a "one true faith" mindset, it seems like they believe that all people think like that... and that all they need to do is show them the flaws in non-Christian belief.  as an agnostic, i'm already open to the idea that i may have it wrong.  telling me i may go to Hell doesn't mean much.  i'm not going to accept faith out of fear. 

Simply; are you not capable of taking a New Testament to a  quiet place and reading and listening, and making your own mind up?

Faith is between yourself and Jesus.

He is there; He is alive. why listen to any other voice? Just read, listen and let Him speak to you. 

Blessings from Ireland.

I applaud your perspective. As I said in a blog post I wrote not too long ago, when I tell you I'm not interested I mean absolutely nothing personal by it. To be fair, most people of your ilk are just fine to say "OK, thank you for your time" and move on. However, the very vocal minority is who REALLY gets my goat. It's those that think they have to save everyone (and you know if you're one of them, I know there are those that are like that on Xanga too!!!) that drive me batty. I've had to use physical force a time or two to get them to leave me alone. 

Jesus' message did not center on where you were going when you died, nor was his main emphasis on "saving souls". He came to demonstrate that he was the way to a relationship with his Father which was the key to really living, now and forever. He made friends with sinners because he cared about them whether or not they received his message. If Christians would lift him up by the way they lived and loved, those who don't know him would be drawn to him.

Unfortunately, Christianity has become a religion rather than the expression of a relationship with God and one another. Religion breeds shame and performance based motivation which drives its adherents to "witness" among other perceived imperatives from a sense of religious obligation. The focus tends to be on doing rather than being. Of course doing is important, Jesus did more than anyone else, but if it doesn't flow naturally from being like him, it's simply dead works.

My sentiment exactly...thank you!

I've been trained with these questions, been given these tracts and guides, poured through them....and then after having my intelligence insulted and not finding a single point of interesting evidence or any reason more than a guilt trip I politely crumpled them up and threw them in the general direction of my trash can where they remained on the floor for a month or two until I did the same thing all over again (except I would usually set it in the trash rather than repeat this in another month). I have yet to find a tract with any sort of intelligent basis...just guilt tripping and fear mongering.

That's why I befriend people rather than go on various outreach and evangelism surges...

My problem with all this is:  how exactly do you know my soul needs to be saved?  What if my soul is perfectly okay just the way it is?  I'm a Christian, and I'm not evangelizing.  Instead, I prefer to teach my children to love God, and make sure my actions reflect that wherever.  If I'm asked what I believe, I certainly will tell of my beliefs.  But in the meantime, I prefer to take Jesus's word to heart and worship God in private, not out loud "like the hypocrits do."  

propagation of heartfelt thought like this and time loving and serving others -

- that may be the only way to "do it"...

@David Fredrickson -  You wrote:

He [Jesus] came to demonstrate that he was the way to a relationship with his Father which was the key to really living...

I agree with that. Only as Christ's Spirit dwells in us can we live the life Jesus modeled and taught about in the Beatitudes.

However I have disagree with the following:

Jesus' message did not center on where you were going when you died, nor was his main emphasis on "saving souls".

Jesus did talk about hell, weeping and gnashing of teeth. He said He came to seek and save what was lost and whoever does not believe in Him is condemned already. Jesus told us that the Father sent Him into the world that whoever believes in Him might be saved. Unless someone is saved they never can never enter into the relationship with the Father about which you speak.

I do agree that as we speak of Christ with people we should be loving and respectful, but at the same time there should be a sense of urgency. We can have that right balance when we understand someone's salvation does not rest w/ us but with the work of God in their life. We present the Gospel keeping in mind that God alone is the one who can bring life to dead souls.

I'm sorry about your obvious bitterness.  I'm sure the heart of the Lord is grieved that people have treated you in such a way that this has occurred.  One of our former pastors said "The Church is the light of the world, and, like any light, it draws bugs."  While that is funny, it also is true and sad. 

I hope the our Benevolently Sovereign God will wrap His arms around you today and make His love, mercy and grace very real to you today.

@cornerstonechwk - Sorry, I find your blind faith terrifying.
God is a cruel monster because if he created the world then he created evil blah blah blah.

P.s Brainwashing is a NEGATIVE thing. People should think for themselves.

@cornerstonechwk - I am evil?! Are you kidding me?
What facts if I may ask? 

@abilene_piper_lg@xanga - how does that answer the belief reality? (or were you joking? :) )