@JackDouglas Yeah... I find that Christians really have no concept of self-control when it comes to evangelism. They preach when they want, how they want, where they want, what they want, and not really care what outsiders think. There are some times when I wonder what is going through the Christian mind.
I think it has to do with the Great Commission. Thinking that is what Jesus commanded them, some Christians can't resist the impulse to evangelize licentiously.
I mean, I doubt any Christian would want to hear the Jewish Birkat haMinim. Likewise, Jews probably don't want to hear how Jesus is the Jewish messiah and has come to save the Jewish people, thereby replacing Judaism with Christianity.
Speaking absolute Truth is preaching.
Telling people what to do with their lives is preaching.
Saying that one knows God and what God wants for people is preaching.
Preaching is reserved for the religious institutions. Teaching is reserved for the schools.
It's funny how my attitude towards religion has changed. Back in 12th grade, my own personal motto was "Teaching is not preaching."
At the time, I was presumably influenced by the Creationism vs. Evolution controversy. I didn't really understand why some religious folks would have problems with evolution and suspected it was a misunderstanding. In any case, I was glad I was not religious.
I am thankful for my willingness to learn more about Christianity, so that I don't have to have such negative perceptions of it.
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