[ianch99]

Originally Posted by Chris

Though if you don't hear it, how do you know if you're going to agree or not ...

Sorry, I don't mean to be facetious. I happen to believe that in postmodern, western and westernised cultures, evangelisation is more effective as a primary means of communicating the good news - basically, that's the approach where Christians live different, sacrificial, serving lives in their communities, resulting in other people wanting to ask them why this is, rather than them standing in the high street yelling about hell and damnation.

But I still don't agree that a Christian cold calling your front door is "forcing". "Highly irritating" quite probably. But forcing? No.

In the very same postmodern, western and westernised cultures, all the information on said "good news" is instantly available and accessible should you *want* to listen.

The individual can make an informed choice and not have it "forced" upon them ..

Here is an article that make my point I feel:

Isn’t evangelism unloving?

I sometimes get the question, “Shouldn’t we just let people believe what they want to believe?” Or, put another way, “Isn’t evangelism unloving because you are trying to force people to leave their beliefs behind and accept yours?” In this age of “tolerance,” as it is called, there is a growing notion that people ought to be able to believe whatever they want and that all beliefs are created equal. To tell someone what he believes is wrong is unloving and, well, wrong!

Sometimes our efforts to persuade people towards Christ are seen as pushy or unloving, but the heart of our intentions are for the good of those with whom we are sharing our faith. Imagine for a moment that you saw a person who was both blind and deaf standing on a railroad track, unaware that a train was speeding his way, and clearly under the impression that he was in no danger whatsoever. What would be the loving response on your part--let him meet his fate with the train or try to move him out of harm's way? Obviously the answer is to try to move him out of harm's way. In fact, I would argue that you have a moral obligation to attempt to save this man’s life.

An individual may resist you.

Now it may be the case that when you come alongside an individual, he will resist you because, after all, he doesn’t know who you are or why you are urging him to move from his belief. You seem like an inconvenience at the least and maybe even a threat to his well-being, but in reality you are performing an act of love with his best interests in mind.

This is a great example of Christian evangelism.