It has been quite long since anyone posted a question, so here I go.

I love to share good stuff with my friends through emails, especially Christian things which I come across internet. One of my friends, deletes my email when she finds that it contains Christain material. She says that she is not going to follow a structured religion. She says her prayers to God, but not in the name of Lord Jesus. About Christianity, she says that pastors and church leaders do/had sexually expolited people so she can not be a Christian. I explained her that coming to Jesus is having a relationship with Jesus and believing in Him is not a structured religion. Yet she is pretty adamant. I remember her in my prayers for her to come to Lord Jesus. I know that only Holy Spirit can change a person.

Should I keep trying to reach her or am I wasting my time and should "dust off my sandals?".

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Originally Posted by Triund

It has been quite long since anyone posted a question, so here I go.

I love to share good stuff with my friends through emails, especially Christian things which I come across internet. One of my friends, deletes my email when she finds that it contains Christain material. She says that she is not going to follow a structured religion. She says her prayers to God, but not in the name of Lord Jesus. About Christianity, she says that pastors and church leaders do/had sexually expolited people so she can not be a Christian. I explained her that coming to Jesus is having a relationship with Jesus and believing in Him is not a structured religion. Yet she is pretty adamant. I remember her in my prayers for her to come to Lord Jesus. I know that only Holy Spirit can change a person.

Should I keep trying to reach her or am I wasting my time and should "dust off my sandals?".

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Keep praying, and keep the door open. Sometimes after the seed is planted, it takes time to come to fruition. We cannot convince a person into salvation. It takes us planting the seed, and the work of the Holy Spirit on the person's heart to bring the person to the point where they are open to receiving the truth of the gospel.

As far as how much to talk to her about it, or to send emails, that is something as a matter of prayer. There is a fine line sometimes between making sure that she knows that you are there to talk when she is ready, and perhaps being seen as an annoyance. Stay in prayer and follow God's guidance on that point.

What does the person mean by structured religion and why is that so offensive to this person? All religions have a set of beliefs that they adhere to, in that respect you could say they are structured. And the fact that someone in a particular religion has done something wrong should have nothing to do with accepting or rejecting a certain religion. Is there anyone who is without wrongdoing in their life?

Religion and Christianity has been structured from shortly after the death of Christ.

One merely has to start reading the writings of Paul to see rules that churches need to follow and how they are suppose to behave.

She is merely making excuses, the actual of others should never be something to stop your faith.
Those who don't want to admit their own desire not to accept something normally attack it by showing those that failed.

That is what I love about the bible, it tells you about how so many failed, but still were used by God or how they were able to change.

Think of which major Old testement prophets or leaders may have married a prostitute, or sleep with his daughters or perhaps had someone killed so he could marry their wife.

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Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

Think of which major Old testement prophets or leaders may have married a prostitute, or sleep with his daughters or perhaps had someone killed so he could marry thier wife.

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This is a good point. The person's focus should be on the infallible word of God, and on what God has done, not on what fallible men do and have done. We will always make mistakes, but all of us can be forgiven through the blood that Christ shed on the cross.

Sooner or later everybody will run out of excuses. Some it happens when there is a major catastrophe in their lives. Sadly for all to many it will will not be until after death and they are standing before the throne to answer for their actions. All we can do is keep telling our friends about the love and grace of God. It is still up to them to make the decision.

Thank you very much folks. I would not give up on sending emails or telling about Jesus and Christianity to her and my other friends. This is a challenge I am taking up to see how long can they resist Lord Jesus. And let's see which way Holy Spirit works on them. Please remember me in your prayers.

Why are you trying to force religion on her?

I too have friends that send me religious emails, I may read them if they're interesting, but it's just for the read, not because I'm interested in joining.

If it's all about Christianity, church, etc. then it gets deleted and I ask the person to stop. I have my beliefs, I don't need or want someone else shoving theirs down my throat.

If the person insists on sending more, even after I've asked them to stop, then I block their emails.

It's almost like being raped, you've said no but they won't listen or respect it. I have no tolerance for people like that.

That's my take on it.

The more someone bullies (which is what you're doing in my opinion) the more unsavory it becomes. You won't get through this way.

She's made herself clear, why don't you respect her wishes?

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

Why are you trying to force religion on her?

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I don't see anyone trying to force anything on anyone. It is no more forcing it on someone that you would be forcing to give a needy person to accept food that you know that need.

Praying for someopne to be saved is done out of care and love for others.

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Originally Posted by Tj3

I don't see anyone trying to force anything on anyone. It is no more forcing it on someone that you would be forcing to give a needy person to accept food that you know that need.

Praying for someopne to be saved is done out of care and love for others.

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Tom, she made it very clear that she didn't want any more religious emails but the OP is still going to send them because he believes that Christianity is the only way.

That's forcing.

If I sent you emails about Deism, my beliefs and you request I stop and I don't, that would be forcing you to see my views.

Pray all you want, but stop harassing her.

Also, giving a needy person food, I think we can all agree that food is a necessity. Religion isn't.

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

Tom, she made it very clear that she didn't want any more religious emails but the OP is still going to send them because he believes that Christianity is the only way.

That's forcing.

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Then you and I have a different of forcing. If he went up to her and ordered her at gunpoint to accept his religion, that would be forcing.

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If I sent you emails about Deism, my beliefs and you request I stop and I don't, that would be forcing you to see my views.

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Did she say to stop? If so, I missed that - I saw that she was adamant about not becoming a Christian and deleting the emails, but I did not see where she said stop. If she did tell him to stop, then I would still disagree that it is forcing, but would agree that it would be best to stop.

As for your example, due to my ministry, I get email such as you are suggesting at a rate of dozens per day. I don't consider anyone is forcing me. Let's not exaggerate.

If your friend continued to drive drunk and told you to stop pestering her about it, would you stop?
Your friend is going down the wrong path in a deep dark forest and thinks that groping in the dark is better than using the flashlight you're offering.

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Originally Posted by homesell

If your friend continued to drive drunk and told you to stop pestering her about it, would you stop?
Your friend is going down the wrong path in a deep dark forest and thinks that groping in the dark is better than using the flashlight you're offering.

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You cannot use drunk driving as a comparison.

Driving drunk is not only against the law but proven to be dangerous, even deadly. Religion is a belief, not a fact, it's not proven.

You believe what you believe, but some people's beliefs are different. My beliefs are no less then yours.

I believe that I'm going down the right path as much as you believe you are. Who are you to say I'm wrong? Who are you to say that I should follow you?

The OP's friend has beliefs, just not his. Continuing to send emails about his beliefs when she's told him she's deleting them, doesn't share his beliefs, well that's harassment.

What part of no do you not understand?

You're probably wasting your time and should dust off your sandals. But I will say this ; remind her that we're all sinners. That even includes clergy who've molested little boys, etc. Like the bumper stickers say, "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven." Anyone who cannot fathom that is not going to appreciate Christianity and it sounds like your friend falls into that category. One of Satan's most powerful tools is to exploit the inherent sinfulness of Christians (who, like everyone else inherited Adam's Original Sin and thus the propensity to sin of their own accord) and use that to turn people off to Christianity.

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

You cannot use drunk driving as a comparison.

Driving drunk is not only against the law but proven to be dangerous, even deadly. Religion is a belief, not a fact, it's not proven.

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I disagree, and a while back was prepared to provide evidence of it reality to you, but you were not interested.

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You believe what you believe, but some people's beliefs are different. My beliefs are no less then yours.

I believe that I'm going down the right path as much as you believe you are. Who are you to say I'm wrong? Who are you to say that I should follow you?

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People can believe many things and believe them sincerely, but it does not make all beliefs true.

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The OP's friend has beliefs, just not his. Continuing to send emails about his beliefs when she's told him she's deleting them, doesn't share his beliefs, well that's harassment.

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I share emails with people all the time who do not share my beliefs and they share emails with me. I consider it conversation and exchange of views, not harassment. But I guess that is all in a person's perspective.

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I disagree, and a while back was prepared to provide evidence of it reality to you, but you were not interested.

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That was a year ago, when will you get over it?

Also, like I've said over and over again, I'm willing to listen, you just aren't willing to provide the info. There's a difference Tom.

It's funny how you always bring this up. Why? Don't you have anything else?

Will you ever let it go? I doubt it, but I will no longer respond to that, I won't beat a dead horse, it's pointless.

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People can believe many things and believe them sincerely, but it does not make all beliefs true.

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Exactly! Follow your own words Tom. Just because you believe doesn't make your beliefs true.

All you can do is believe.

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I share emails with people all the time who do not share my beliefs and they share emails with me. I consider it conversation and exchange of views, not harassment. But I guess that is all in a person's perspective

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If they accept the emails then it's fine. Read the OP again. His friend told him she deletes all religious emails he sends, that she's not interested in his faith. He came here asking if he should continue to shove his beliefs down her throat (before you say it, yes, I know, those weren't the words he used but it amounts to the same thing).

If the person is okay with getting the emails then fine, send them, all the more power to you. But the OP's friend isn't, yet he's decided to continue. That's harassment Tom, like it or not.

I'm more surprised that she hasn't deleted the friendship. If someone can't take no for an answer they won't be in my life for long. No means no. Do you have a problem understanding that?

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

That was a year ago, when will you get over it?

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Truth does not fade with time.

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Also, like I've said over and over again, I'm willing to listen, you just aren't willing to provide the info. There's a difference Tom.

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Not true. I have never said that I am not willing to provide the information. What I indicated was that I am not going to waste time if someone decides to prejudge the information before seeing it.

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Exactly! Follow your own words Tom. Just because you believe doesn't make your beliefs true.

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I do and I agree. Just because I belieev it does not make it true. There must be more to the Christian faith to make something other than an empty belief - and there is.

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All you can do is believe.

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That may be true for you - I don't follow a blind faith.

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If they accept the emails then it's fine. Read the OP again. His friend told him she deletes all religious emails he sends, that she's not interested in his faith.

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I delete many emails also, and from some sources, almost all of them, but periodically one catches my eye. Who knows. The Holy Spirit may yet be working on her heart and I hate to see anyone go to hell.

If the person is okay with getting the emails then fine, send them, all the more power to you. But the OP's friend isn't, yet he's decided to continue. That's harassment Tom, like it or not.

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I'm more surprised that she hasn't deleted the friendship. If someone can't take no for an answer they won't be in my life for long. No means no. Do you have a problem understanding that?

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You keep saying that, but once again, did she say "no". Where did you read that she did? Deleting emails does not mean that the person has sent a cease and desist order. That is something for the person who knows her to best be in a position to assess.

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You keep saying that, but once again, did she say "no".

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She says that she is not going to follow a structured religion. She says her prayers to God, but not in the name of Lord Jesus. About Christianity, she says that pastors and church leaders do/had sexually expolited people so she can not be a Christian. I explained her that coming to Jesus is having a relationship with Jesus and believing in Him is not a structured religion. Yet she is pretty adamant.

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Read between the lines Tom, you should be good at it, you do follow the bible after all.

As for going to hell, we'll see. I'm just as confident about my beliefs as your are about yours.

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

Read between the lines Tom, you should be good at it, you do follow the bible after all.

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She is adamant about not following Christianity - so where does she say cease and desist?

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As for going to hell, we'll see. I'm just as confident about my beliefs as your are about yours.

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That is the point that I made earlier beliefs, no matter how sincere and strongly held, are not necessarily true.

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That is the point that I made earlier beliefs, no matter how sincere and strongly held, are not necessarily true

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And will your belief stand the test of time?

If you wanted to kiss me and I told you I didn't want to be kissed, that I don't like being kissed, that kissing is not something I do, would you still kiss me? After all, I didn't say no, not outright.

That's what the OP is doing to his friend. She doesn't want religion, she doesn't want religious emails, but he'll continue to do what he wants because he wants to.

There's a word for people who don't take hell no for an answer.