Why are some christian missionaries so opportunist ?

[marwen]

I have nothing against christian missionaries in general, and I have no problem with christians' will to spread their faith and to share their knowledge, I mean any religious community will feel happy to see their religion prevailing in numbers.

But what I can't understant why some christian missionaries have this strong will to bring to christianity every person they find at all costs (by hook or by crook) ? if they fail to convince people to enter to christianity, they exploit poor and illiterate people and tempt them with money and better life so they enter in christianity without understanding anything about it, and the same poor people will get out christianity when they don't get the money they were promised.

The main target of this type of missionaries is poor african countries where people can sell their sons to get money and have no problem to enter any new religion just to get food. I really find this type of behaviour just immoral, and non religious. I feel really angry because they exploit the weakness of people to tempt them and drag them to their religion. And why are they trying to spread christianity in poor country, there is many other rich countries where christianity is not expanded. I mean they actually send missionaries to Africa, and now to north Africa, and I heared in tv that one algerian poor man has become christian after receiving €5000, and that's just disgusting !

I just want to ask christian brothers and sisters here : Is this behaviour really allowable in christianity ? or are they just corrupted people used by politics to spread their control over the under-developed world ? I don't think it's allowable in other religions. In islam for example, it's not allowed to help people on condition that they enter in islam, we think it's horrible. We have to separate between da'wa and helping people : we should either help poor people without mentionning the religion. Or presenting our religion to people (in other contexts, other than charity works) and give them the total freedom to chose to enter in our religion or to refuse. I think that's what should every religious person do.

I don't think all christians agree with these despicable behaviour of some christian missionaries, but I just want some christian brother or sister here to present me the true christian opinion about this.

 

[Supreme]

I don't think bribing someone to become Christian is right. Honestly, even though I support the work of Christian missonaries, they can only do so much- inform someone of Christianity, what it's about etc, and let that person decide. Converts should only become Christian if it's what they want, not simply because someone forces them to or bribes them to. I certainly know that in my case, becoming Christian was what I truly wanted. I didn't convert purely out of fear of Hell, but because I genuinely was interested in becoming Christian.

 

[Amadeus85]

Lte's note that its mostly one group of christians that do such things.

 

[islamirama]

All the missionaries christians from the west do this thing. They bribe you into buying you as a convert. There are numerous stories of these opportunist extremists denying aid and what not to the poor in africa and other poor areas until they converted and accepted the bible. When the tsunami hit asia they went with trucks load of aid to offer to the indian villages that were wiped out, they also offered bibles for conversion. when the locals refused to convert and accept the bibles, to their dismay the trucks turned around and took their aid with them. This made india news. The local christian charity groups hate western missionary "charity" groups and says these frauds don't have respect of others faith, don't come to help the needy, care only about their conversion quotas and are giving all charities bad name, making it harder for us to go help those in need. All of these news stories are available on this forum if you search for them.

 

[Supreme]

Lte's note that its mostly one group of christians that do such things.

??? Missionary work should be a job for all Christians, Catholic or Protestant and indeed it is. Try and deny that Christianity isn't a missionary religion, ans you're not reading you Bible right.

 

[Predator]

The main target of this type of missionaries is poor african countries where people can sell their sons to get money and have no problem to enter any new religion just to get food. I really find this type of behaviour just immoral, and non religious. I feel really angry because they exploit the weakness of people to tempt them and drag them to their religion. And why are they trying to spread christianity in poor country, there is many other rich countries where christianity is not expanded. I mean they actually send missionaries to Africa, and now to north Africa, and I heared in tv that one algerian poor man has become christian after receiving €5000, and that's just disgusting !

Agree ,what's pathetic is that they try to target kids as well , who cant really be expected to engage them in an intellectual debate

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I81wqNqPMqc


Its Really very sad to see what Christians have resorted to. No wonder many people are reverting to the only true religion of Islam.

These " missionaries" are just afraid that if Islam spreads they can no longer enjoy their pleasures of having alcohol , pork, prostitution , pornography etc , thats why they attempt to evangelize muslims.

 

[marwen]

Lte's note that its mostly one group of christians that do such things.

??? Missionary work should be a job for all Christians, Catholic or Protestant and indeed it is. Try and deny that Christianity isn't a missionary religion, ans you're not reading you Bible right.

There is nothing wrong with christianity being a missionary religion. The problem is that some christians are doing the missionary job the wrong way. The right way is to present the religion and let people decide. Unfortunately we see everywhere missionaries using immoral behaviours and exploiting people's weakness. And what made me confused is that this behaviour is done by some religious christians (not uneducated christians) I mean it's supported by some churches.

... they try to target kids as well , who cant really be expected to engage them in an intellectual debate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I81wqNqPMqc

that's really horrible. I mean even if you're sure you're religion is the right religion, you have not the right to change kids' religion untill they reach an age where they can decide. That's really scary.

Its Really very sad to see what Christians have resorted to. No wonder many people are reverting to the only true religion of Islam.
These " missionaries" are just afraid that if Islam spreads they can no longer enjoy their pleasures of having alcohol , pork, prostitution , pornography etc , thats why they attempt to evangelize muslims.

Yes, and I can add that some of these missionaries are just used for political targets, I mean what's that immense desire to guide people ? they're just used to spread their control over the underdeveloped countries like those poor African countries. You know it's more easy for european (and western) governments to "colonize" a "christianized" population rather than a non-christian one whitch is not submitted to the same european culture.

 

[Supreme]

There is nothing wrong with christianity being a missionary religion. The problem is that some christians are doing the missionary job the wrong way. The right way is to present the religion and let people decide. Unfortunately we see everywhere missionaries using immoral behaviours and exploiting people's weakness. And what made me confused is that this behaviour is done by some religious christians (not uneducated christians) I mean it's supported by some churches.

Indeed, and that needs to stop. Christians should present the religion the right way, and not exploit people's weaknesses. I just got the impression from Amadeus' post that he was pointing the finger at Protestants proselytzing badly, when Catholics have massacred people in the past that refused to convert to Christianity.

 

[Grace Seeker]

There is nothing wrong with christianity being a missionary religion. The problem is that some christians are doing the missionary job the wrong way. The right way is to present the religion and let people decide. Unfortunately we see everywhere missionaries using immoral behaviours and exploiting people's weakness. And what made me confused is that this behaviour is done by some religious christians (not uneducated christians) I mean it's supported by some churches.

You are right, the things your describe of bribery and worse don't promote genuine Christianity, and any missionary who uses such means is actually hurting the cause not helping it. So, it is equally disturbing to me to hear these reports. I can neither explain it nor defend it. I would dispute that it is done by "all" missionaries, for I know some personally who are serving in Africa and their missionary efforts consist of flying planes with supplies and people that serve already existing churches into remote areas of the Congo unaccessible by ground transport. I know another couple who are engage in translation of the Bible into languages in which it is not yet available. These folks are not engaged in proselytizing of any type accept for those neighbors they become friends with over time.

But the reports of these other forms of endeavors are made often enough here that I don't doubt that some of this does go on and it saddens me, for such does NOT build up the kingdom of God. And that is what I give my missionary dollars to support, not forced, fake, or falsified evangelism. Can you identify the names of the organizations these so-called missionaries claim to represent? I want to know if I might be contributing to them unawares.

they're just used to spread their control over the underdeveloped countries like those poor African countries. You know it's more easy for european (and western) governments to "colonize" a "christianized" population rather than a non-christian one whitch is not submitted to the same european culture.

That may be so, but that is distrubing for me as a western Christian as well. For I know that our western governments are in fact most definitely not Christian. And when those in power do occassionally cloak themselves in the garment of religion, it is usually for an end that is decidely unChristian in nature. So, if these supposed missionary efforts of which you complain are being driven by political motives rather than misplaced relgious ones, that is actually doubly distrubing.

 

[marwen]

But the reports of these other forms of endeavors are made often enough here that I don't doubt that some of this does go on and it saddens me, for such does NOT build up the kingdom of God. And that is what I give my missionary dollars to support, not forced, fake, or falsified evangelism. Can you identify the names of the organizations these so-called missionaries claim to represent? I want to know if I might be contributing to them unawares.

I'm happy because there is a lot of christians like you who don't agree with these "extreme" ways of doing missionary work. Concerning the organizations supporting this, I don't really have accurate information about there names, and I don't want to accuse a specific christian sect. But from my own experience here in north Africa, I think the most of them belong to the Protestant Church (check out this thread, Sorry for the caricatures). I don't mean they represent all the protestants, and I'm not saying it's just Protestants who do this, because it's a general behaviour I hear about every day.

That may be so, but that is distrubing for me as a western Christian as well. For I know that our western governments are in fact most definitely not Christian. And when those in power do occassionally cloak themselves in the garment of religion, it is usually for an end that is decidely unChristian in nature. So, if these supposed missionary efforts of which you complain are being driven by political motives rather than misplaced relgious ones, that is actually doubly distrubing.

But governments don't have to be religious to use religion. I'm not affirming this, but if the motives were really religious, these missionaries would use more "Christian" manners. Religion recommands to advice people about what we see is truth, not to invade them. I just feel some political intentions here. I may be wrong.

 

[KAding]

Missionaries that do this (which I suppose is only a small minority) are out to 'save' these people. Saving people from ****ation is the core business of missionaries, why would they not use money to save even one human being? Surely saving one person is almost priceless? I would assume they think the end justify the means? From a religious perspective, surely that makes perfect sense? Heck, isn't Zakat also supposed to be used to "attract the hearts of those who have been inclined towards Islam"?

 

[marwen]

Heck, isn't Zakat also supposed to be used to "attract the hearts of those who have been inclined towards Islam"?

Good point KAding ! Yes, some money collected from Zakat can be used to make people inclined towards Islam ("Al mo'Allafati qulobohom" in qur'an) . But that's different: Islam doesn't make the condition of entering in Islam to get this help. It's just to show non-muslims that Islam is a religion of mercy and kindness, and then it's up to them to be muslim or not, and if they don't decide to not enter in Islam, they are free and we still help them.

 

[جوري]

since zakat differs from sadaqah in that it is given to Muslims only, I don't see how it is used to attract kaffirs to Islam? and sadaqah should be done so that your left hand doesn't know what is in your right so how can that be used to lure anyone to Islam?

Not the same thing.. further how can you get a sincere conversion with a bribe? do you think god cares for the number of rucks you have collected in his name if their hearts haven't accepted faith?

 

[Ramadhan]

Missionaries that do this (which I suppose is only a small minority) are out to 'save' these people. Saving people from ****ation is the core business of missionaries, why would they not use money to save even one human being? Surely saving one person is almost priceless? I would assume they think the end justify the means? From a religious perspective, surely that makes perfect sense? Heck, isn't Zakat also supposed to be used to "attract the hearts of those who have been inclined towards Islam"?

Obviously you haven't seen any missionaries in action in third world or underdeveloped countries.
They spread lies against Islam and the prophet Muhammad SAW, and even lies against their own theology just because the core of their theology is so absurd.
Here in Indonesia christian missionaries use aid as a condition for reversion.

which is abominable.

 

[ardianto]

Here in Indonesia christian missionaries use aid as a condition for reversion.

Their aid : 1 pouch of cooking oil, 12 packs instant noodle, 2 Kg wheat flour. for a family.

 

[Grace Seeker]

Missionaries that do this (which I suppose is only a small minority) are out to 'save' these people. Saving people from ****ation is the core business of missionaries, why would they not use money to save even one human being? Surely saving one person is almost priceless? I would assume they think the end justify the means? From a religious perspective, surely that makes perfect sense? Heck, isn't Zakat also supposed to be used to "attract the hearts of those who have been inclined towards Islam"?

It is certainly worth spending money to save souls. My concern is that I doubt that bribing people to convert is good use of such money. I doubt that anyone who converts as a result of a bribe is truly saved, since it isn't one's name on a dotted line that save a person, but if the individual "believes in one heart and confesses with one's lips" that one is saved. These people may be confessing with their lips in order to get money, but unless they are truly believing in their heart they aren't any more saved than they were before taking the money. Now, I don't blame poor people for taking money when it is offered to them, I blame those who offer it on no better terms than to get someone to say a particular prayer (be it the "sinners prayer" or the Shahada) because they, erroneously in my opinion, think that doing so means something either for the individual or is some sort of feather in their own cap. Unless the heart means what is being said, nothing has changed beyond dollars changing hands.

 

[Pygoscelis]

The primary problem with religion is the tribalism (us vs them mentality) it creates, and this sort of missionary is one of the nastiest examples of it. You'll also find "good christian" charities that will only help those who will convert. I don't know if muslims have a similar thing going on regarding chartity, but I have seen a number of times muslims supporting other muslims over non-muslims even when they are clearly in the wrong.

 

[KAding]

I have to say, though, that I don't know how anyone could ever be bribed into conversion? I mean, you could give me a billion dollars, but I still wouldn't be able to start believing in God, let alone a particular religion. It just doesn't work that way, at least not in my head! What I could do though, is pretend I'm an adherent of the religion I was bribed by. But in that case, it isn't 'real', so what are you accomplishing?

 

[Supreme]

I have to say, though, that I don't know how anyone could ever be bribed into conversion? I mean, you could give me a billion dollars, but I still wouldn't be able to start believing in God, let alone a particular religion. It just doesn't work that way, at least not in my head! What I could do though, is pretend I'm an adherent of the religion I was bribed by. But in that case, it isn't 'real', so what are you accomplishing?

It's good on paper for demographics- every religion likes to claim its got a large of followers, but that actually doesn't mean anything, when those adherents have been bribed, forcefully converted, or threatened with death if they choose to convert to another religion.

 

[aadil77]

It's good on paper for demographics- every religion likes to claim its got a large of followers, but that actually doesn't mean anything, when those adherents have been bribed, forcefully converted, or threatened with death if they choose to convert to another religion.

Exactly those people aren't true believers