Christians Move Towards Code on Seeking Converts

Washington Post ^ | August 6, 2007 | Robert Evans

[Between the Lines]

GENEVA - Christian churches are moving closer to a common code of conduct on how they go about winning converts among themselves and from other religions, the World Council of Churches (WCC) said on Monday.

Conversion, sometimes dubbed "sheep-stealing" as it targets another's flock, is a cause of friction and conflict between religions and among different branches of individual faiths.

Militant groups are often accused of underhand tactics in winning over new adherents.

The Geneva-based WCC, working with the Vatican on the issue, said a meeting in Toulouse later this week should bring the year-long process of agreeing a conversion rule-book nearer to completion by its target date of 2009.

"Evangelical and Pentecostal representatives will be taking part in the dialogue for the first time, and we see this as a good sign for the eventual success of this project," said WCC spokesman Juan Michel.

The two strongly proselytizing sects, which have made heavy inroads into membership of other Christian groupings especially in Latin America, Africa and Asia, stood aloof when the effort was launched at a meeting near Rome in May last year.

But this time senior figures from both -- German-based philosopher Thomas Schirrmacher of a group called WEA and Bishop Tony Richie of the Church of God in the United States -- will attend, although in their personal rather than institutional capacity.

"We have always wanted this process to be inclusive and open, so that all religious partners from Christian faiths and others can make a contribution towards the shaping of the code," said Michel.

The first meeting was attended -- alongside the Christians -- by representatives of the Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish and Yoruba faiths. They issued a joint statement saying freedom of religion was "a non-negotiable right of every human being."

[muawiyah]

From a classical American Protestant point of view, when the Vatican sits down with the WCC to lay out rules for proselytization, the result will probably be resoundingly ignored!

Who thought up this nonsense? The only party with a real interest in the outcome is the biggest private sector retirement annuity vendor ~ which I think, is, at this time Fidelity.

[Augustinian monk]

Liberal lukewarm churches meet with Rome about how to further silence the gospel. Nothing to see here.

[Jaysun]

I say do whatever it takes. I was converted by a guy that stalked me for more than 3 years. He’d call from his van at all hours of the night and say, “Beautiful wife and kids you have....it would be a pity if something happened to them....maybe you should consider Jesus Christ, friend.”

[Truth_will_rule_eventually]

This is sad. They ought to be concerned about if the person is saved or not, not if they have been stolen from another church. Salvation is most important thing, to begin the Christian journey. I will be glad when Jesus comes back and destroy the organizations who neglect that important aspect.

[kawaii]

leave it to the WCC to come up with an agreement on how the sheep are allowed to fall to the wolves...

[Logophile]

I say do whatever it takes. I was converted by a guy that stalked me for more than 3 years. He’d call from his van at all hours of the night and say, “Beautiful wife and kids you have....it would be a pity if something happened to them....maybe you should consider Jesus Christ, friend.”

That is one approach, but it takes too long. A quicker method is to get five or six friends together to chase down an unbeliever and beat him into submission. Call it gang-saving.

[Choose Ye This Day]

Isn’t that called “the laying on of hands”?

[LiteKeeper]

If a person leaves a liberal, apostate church/denomination to join an evangelical church/denomination, is that “sheep-stealing?” If that person accepts Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, and joins a church that thinks and teaches biblically, is that “sheep-stealing?”

[Jaysun]

That is one approach, but it takes too long. A quicker method is to get five or six friends together to chase down an unbeliever and beat him into submission. Call it gang-saving.

That's a good idea. I use a tazer myself. They're usually Christian before the third jolt.

[Biggirl]

That is a violation of the “Great Commision” of Jesus, Mathew Chapter 28:19.

[Biggirl]

The truth is that it will be enforced only in the breech.

[muawiyah]

You fine gentlemen are on a one way trip out of this universe.

There is no destination though.

Tough.

[Between the Lines]

From a classical American Protestant point of view, when the Vatican sits down with the WCC to lay out rules for proselytization, the result will probably be resoundingly ignored!

It will be far from ignored. It will be held up by the liberal MSM UN types as an example for all Christians to follow. They will extol the virtues of this code as an example to all the rogue right wing Evangelical Christians to follow. If it is liberal enough they will even put it into law.

[Biggirl]

But as I had posted in a previous posting, this so-called code will be enforced only in the breech, and in the end ignored.

[muawiyah]

Sorry, the MSMS, at best consists of fallen away "separated brethren" ~ not Protestants at all.

One does hope the Pope is not fooled by these guys.

[Between the Lines]

I say do whatever it takes.

I use a tazer myself.

Borg-again Christian: Resistance to prostylization is futile.

[pby]

Liberal lukewarm churches meet with Rome about how to further silence the gospel. Nothing to see here.

BINGO!

[PAR35]

If it is liberal enough they will even put it into law.

I think you have identified the ultimate goal.

[Larry Lucido]

I think the "fishers of men" approach works, but I keep getting my net tangled up.