What is the sharp end of the needle?

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An Evangelical pastor I know [there is redundancy for you, if I just spat it out I would not need to specify Evangelical, now would I?] once said - in my hearing, I do not remember if I was one of those addressed:

"The whole purpose of a Christian is to make more Christians."

This does not quite align with the Westminster Catechism:

"Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever."

And then there is the not irrelevant piece from Micah:

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

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So, brethren and sistren in the Lord, how see ye the purpose and calling tof the Christian in this vale of tears and best of all possible worlds?

The whole purpose of a virus is to make more viruses. So far as others are concerned, the most we can do/are expected to do is to make God known; what comes of it is out of our hands. (And anyway, we don't "make Christians". Christ does.) So far as self is concerned, it's what you've said - the Micah quote, with the New Testament addition that that 'walk with God' is a walk to the Cross.

Good to see you, even with the effect that stare has on my eye phobia.

The pastor in question - basically a good guy, a neighbour, some very good instincts struggling against a tendency to swallow seminary teachings unexamined, a rather unimaginative Baptist wife, and an urge to increase church size without worrying about quality.

I think this was one of his undigested lessons from Dallas Seminary.

While in touch with him I occasionally tried to steer him with a very light touch. But he was VERY fresh out of the Seminary at the time.

Sounds like a Catholic.

Seriously, he has a point. Christians are supposed to witness to others and lead them to Christ. In that sense, a Christian's job is to produce more Christians, but I think you really have to take that with a grain of salt. You can't force people to convert (and have it count), and at some point, most "Christians" will abandon the faith because they really don't want to follow it.

Quality is always better than quantity.

Some revival meetings count coup with decision cards - and the next one to come down the pike may see the same name as it converts a backslider.

@Phil - Yes...I couldn't let the world end without piping up one last time. (Unless it's just the Rapture? If that's all, then this Catholic has years of opining left in her!)

@Zero - No...he doesn't sound very Catho...Oh!

No, you can't force people. If they become Christian because of you, and not because of their own free response to grace - a process you're at best only secondary to - then you have a name to your credit. Nothing else. That's not the purpose of Christianity, or evangelization.

I have not checked. but there have to be "evangelists" rejoicing over Facebook "likes" as victory over the Enemy.

Have YOU friended Jesus?

my good sir thats a lot of truth in that statement, I'll me look at it from my experiences with the LDS faith, first of this Melchizedek Priesthood (myself) will need a lighting conduit on standby with what am about share with about you.

Lets first look at the "mission statement" of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
(NB: my IMO will be shown in italics)

The Threefold Mission of the LDS church

• Proclaim the Gospel
  This is basicly get more people to join
• Perfect the Saints
  This is keep them in our ways!!
• Redeem the Dead
  This is basicly that they take the dead as member of the church, another way of getting more.
  If that can't get you when your alive they will get you when your dead

Also to note via my sources in Europe about the church, over the last 10 years in Europe that church as been focusing getting men between the ages 18-30 back & "active" into the church, for following reasons:

1. Theres a big shortage of new leaders in the church, most of the priesthood is of old stock.
2. Single men in that age range are candidates to go on missions for the church, get then on missions & get more members!
3. Also these single men can then marry female church members & get more church members in via sex
4. Married men of this age range can then be talked into getting me wife & kids to become members, again more members!

THANK THE LORD AM NOW 32 YEARS OLD

\pointy at both ends topic

I have suffered numerous injuries by jabbing myself from both ends of the needle.

The purpose of religion is to stab both ways.

Just love it when metaphors and reality can meet and explain together.

It matches God's first command:



Ok, the actual quotation is:


But that's basically the same, isn't it?