As a Christian it is my commission to spread the Gospel. Once the nonbeliever hears of the Gospel, they have three options, reject it, want to hear more of it or accept it. Every human being has a spiritual component that is affected by the message. It is up to them to chose how they react to the Gospel. Mormons know that Christians do not accept the Book of Mormons, and many of their major tenants. Knowing that, Salvations is in their hands not mine. Still as Christians we need to treat nonbelievers with kindness, patience and respect. There are many ways we can preach to nonbelievers, and one of them is thru our own behavior. We cannot write people off because they do not immediately accept Christ. Some may accept moments before they die. That is why we cannot be too quick to judge and write off, because doing so is to chase them away from Salvation, not encourage them to seek or think about it. Because Mormons are well behaved is not the basis to determine the veracity of their faith, but from an American citizen aspect (social not faith) Mormons are well behaved, hardworking, strong family value, self control and etc. Something American society can do with more of.
#1: If you were auditioning for godhood -- like temple Mormons are -- you would be on your best behavior, too.
#2: You're not calling for more people to consider themselves as "gods" like Mormons do, are you? (You're not encouraging this kind of social behavior, are you?...just so that America can have more "well behaved, hardworking, strong family value, self control" people)
Because if that's the case, why stop there? You might as well say the same thing about several other cults & some world religions in communist countries...because their criminal rates are lower.
I mean some of the cults that emphasize their "hard working" spiritual ethic to get them to heaven are some of the "hardest working" people I've seen;
Some of the New Age cults that focus on a distinct type of meditation (than portrayed in the Bible) are often able to display amazing "self control"...some even "fire walking" on hot coals...
Many Asians involved in various world religions are from a pure social perspective, "well behaved..." And the Pharisees were extremely outwardly well behaved to the point that Jesus in His sermon on the mount said that unless your righteousness exceeded theirs, you would in no wise enter the Kingdom of heaven. Yet, you wouldn't elevate either these world religions or the Pharisees without the proper caveats and qualifications, would you?
Still as Christians we need to treat nonbelievers with kindness, patience and respect. There are many ways we can preach to nonbelievers, and one of them is thru our own behavior.
Agreed...yet Jesus wasn't always "kind" to the Pharisees (see, i.e. latter part of John 8 & entire 23rd chapter of Matthew). Some of the "debates" that the apostle Paul & Apollos had in the synagogues (read Acts 17; 18, 19) included debating/refuting, etc.
'Tis a lack of discernment of reading the New Testament to not realize that Jesus & His disciples treated religious legalists distinctive from say, the woman @ the well...or those on Mars Hill in Acts 17.
Jesus & His disciples comforted the afflicted; yet they also afflicted the comfortable. And I don't see that in what you just posted.
It is up to them to chose how they react to the Gospel.
This is not 100% true. 'Tis numerous Scriptures which say people are spiritually dead. They are like Lazarus in the tomb. To become "quickened" (enlivened) has something to do with Someone outside of themselves...for example, the Holy Spirit.
The apostle Paul told the Corinthians in an environment of persecution: "No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit." (1 Cor. 12:3)
My thrust is toward the 'believer' in a FALSE gospel.
The ERROR of their belief MUST be spotlighted for them to EVER see it.
Sorry; but go along with the watchman:
Eze 33:1-6
Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take [any] person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.
I figure that I am WARNING them.
THEN my job is done.
To me; it is NOT 'kindness' to let a person CONTINUE on the wrong path; knowing that at any moment their life could be snuffed out.
Dang!
Maybe I should have invited them in for tea and cookies.
Like John the Baptist talked to Herodias?
Like Jesus treated the Pharisees?
Like Paul announced to the agitators in Galatians 5:12?