How to explain the necessity of Christianity to unchurched?

[Qwikness]

How to explain the necessity of Christianity to unchurched? I can explain Catholicism to Protestants, there is a basic understanding, but unchurched don’t seem to care about Heaven. So how to explain the gravity and importance if they don’t care. The person that I have in mind is Japanese, they see the practice but don’t understand the significance.

 

[dmar198]

How to explain the necessity of Christianity to unchurched? I can explain Catholicism to Protestants, there is a basic understanding, but unchurched don’t seem to care about Heaven. So how to explain the gravity and importance if they don’t care. The person that I have in mind is Japanese, they see the practice but don’t understand the significance.

I think we need to start with two things: God made us and we are separated from Him by sin. Christianity only makes sense once we understand that we need to be saved and we cannot save ourselves. Would your Japanese friend be open to learning about God and sin? Salvation in the Church only makes sense in light of that. Find out if he might be interested in a book or a video about the need for salvation, and that might open a door to a conversation about salvation in the Church.

 

[PJM]

How to explain the necessity of Christianity to unchurched? I can explain Catholicism to Protestants, there is a basic understanding, but unchurched don’t seem to care about Heaven. So how to explain the gravity and importance if they don’t care. The person that I have in mind is Japanese, they see the practice but don’t understand the significance.

Good point:

Perhaps ask:

Why does humanity exist?

And OR, What happens when we die?

Good topic my friend, thanks

Patrick

 

[ChurchSoldier]

The Apostles Creed and Nicene Creed are statements by the church to explain the faith.

John 3:18 explains why a person should believe (with John 3:16 & 17 and 3:36 acting as a good set up).

The first chapter of the Gospel of John is a good start as well.

Good luck.

 

[womanatwell]

How to explain the necessity of Christianity to unchurched? I can explain Catholicism to Protestants, there is a basic understanding, but unchurched don’t seem to care about Heaven. So how to explain the gravity and importance if they don’t care. The person that I have in mind is Japanese, they see the practice but don’t understand the significance.

Do Japanese honor their ancestors? Do they believe in any afterlife? If they have any concept of afterlife, they might be steered to think about Heaven. Are most Japanese atheists? My impression is that many are affected by scientism, where science is expected to be the answer to all life’s problems and questions.

Does your friend read English? I have a short, free booklet on my blog called "Heaven’s Passport" which can be downloaded and/or read online. Perhaps this would give your friend the concept of Heaven and why believing in Christ is so necessary for us in order to get there. You can read it yourself and see what you think. Here is the link:

womanatwell.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html .

It is wonderful you are concerned about your friend’s spiritual welfare and I am sure you will keep up the prayers for your friend!

 

[josephback]

How to explain the necessity of Christianity to unchurched? I can explain Catholicism to Protestants, there is a basic understanding, but unchurched don’t seem to care about Heaven. So how to explain the gravity and importance if they don’t care. The person that I have in mind is Japanese, they see the practice but don’t understand the significance.

Monotheism is unique in that it sets aside a special day of the week to worship God. Non-theistic(Buddhism) or other faiths don’t do this. You go to temple as needed. How one should approach depends on what religion (or lack of religion) the person has. You need to relate it in a way they can understand starting from their own tradition. The root problem in Buddhism (if this person is a Buddhist) is ignorance or lack of knowledge. I would relate it to the Four Noble Truths. These are:

1.) Life is suffering.
2.) The cause of suffering is desire.
3.) There is a way to end suffering(escape the wheel of samsara) and achieve nirvana.
4.) This way is the eightfold path: right action, right speech, etc…

You could relate the eightfold path to the Beatitudes; whatever constitutes common ground. Be advised that nirvana is less like the Christian heaven than snuffing out a candle. God be with you.

 

[josephback]

If this person is a Buddhist there are other things to know. Buddhism is non-theistic in that it isn’t much interested in a personal God. No personal God means Buddhists will refer to “skillful” or “unskillful” action as opposed to sin. Skillful action is held to result in good karma(merit), whereas unskillful action(“sin”) is held to result in bad karma. Where you end up in the economy of merit determines rebirth circumstance. Buddhism is essentially an ethically centered religion rooted in dharma(the moral and natural law), as opposed to the ritual based Vedic world it originated from. Again, use any common ground you can find.

 

[Qwikness]

Very good information,thank you for the (name removed by moderator)ut. Very Helpful. Would talking about God as Creator be of any use? How do you explain it and how does it relate to Buddhist creation story?

 

[PJM]

Very good information,thank you for the (name removed by moderator)ut. Very Helpful. Would talking about God as Creator be of any use? How do you explain it and how does it relate to Buddhist creation story?

Evidence of God for CAF

Your question is a good one.
Here’s a method I have used with some success.

ASK: Did you choose what you’re wearing today? {Or did you dress yourself this morning?}

If you did I can show evidence of God to you.

The Bible has existed for nearly 2,000 years, and we believe it to be the Inspired WORD of God.
In its 1st book:

**Genesis, 1: 26 & 27 **we are taught that we are made in the image & likeness of God.
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them

Then is the Gospel {Meaning the “GOOD News”} of John 4: 23-24, tells us that {our} God is:

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
That God is a “Spiritual Reality”

Q: So if God is a Spirit and man is made in His Image; how can that be? “Man” is human

[1] In all of the Universes BILLIONS of stars, galaxies and planets, only ONE can be proven to be able to support ALL of the Life-Forms that we are aware of. Planet Earth

[2] On Planet Earth with its hundreds of MILLIONS of different living things; only ONE, only Man can choose to love or hate, only Man, can rationalize.

[3] In order for Man to be able to love, hate & rationalize require in an absolute sense:

**A mind {not meaning our brain}

A Intellect {not meaning “I.Q.} &

A Freewill**

[4]** Each of these attributes, are like God**: Spiritual realities & immortal. Meaning that they can’t be killed & don’t die.

[5]** If you’re doubtful? Define for me your “FREEWILL”** What is its size, weight, color & shape?

It can’t be done but only a foolish person would assert that it does not exist.

[6]** Science tells us that like things originate from other “like-things.**”

[7] So** these “Spiritual Realities” have to have a sourc**e, other than our parents, who transmit our physical attributes; but cannot transmit “spiritual {invisible} things”.

[8} further evidence of a Power, a Source greater than man is evidenced in the** Natural Laws: Motion, gravity for example. Then there are the Sun & the Moon both which paly essential roles in sustaining Earths life forms. With many BILLIONS of stars and planets the odds that they exist in the forms NECESSARY to sustain life, and then BE in OUR Galaxy is many BILLIUONS to One. {Impossible!} By luck or coincidence.

[9] Then add to this the Moral Laws: Good and evil too have to have a source, an origin. Because this Power, this Source that WE CHOOSE to identify as our God is Good, we can know that Goodness {LOVE} comes from God; while hate exist permitted by God, so man can freely choose good or evil.

[10] Enter into a discussion of WHY man is given these attributes: LIFE After physical death discussion

[11] St. Thomas Aquinas:
The Existence of God can be proved in five ways.
Argument Analysis of the Five Ways

COLOR=“Blue”]url]Aquinas: Five Ways to Prove that God exists -- The Arguments

The above is too large to cut & paste, but can also be used.

God Bless,
PJM