| (To Christianize the Heathen)Someone once | | | | good reason to want to keep Christianity subdued |
| asked me about traveling with a missionary group, | | | | in their country. Look at the negatives of what |
| and if I thought it was a good idea.I generally try | | | | Christianity has meant for people throughout |
| to be a positive and upbeat person, and my tone, | | | | history (the Salem Witch Trials, Spanish Inquisition, |
| in responding to her, may have been a bit less | | | | the Crusades, the slaughter of thousands of |
| than positive. The person who emailed me had an | | | | Native Americans via Manifest Destiny, partially |
| email address of proudjesusfrk, and I felt it really | | | | responsible for segregation in South Africa, the |
| necessary to make her aware of some things | | | | wars in England and Ireland, the list goes on). In |
| when I responded to her.My personal experience | | | | the larger cities in China, there are some Christian |
| with her particular religion had been quite negative. | | | | churches which are well attended I believe, but |
| I had a friend go to a private college (run by this | | | | the Chinese government doesn't want people, |
| religion) where she was constantly told she was | | | | well-intended as they may be, coming in and doing |
| going to hell because she was a Christian Scientist. | | | | to their country, what has happened to hundreds |
| Another experience I had with this particular | | | | of thousands of people throughout history. Also, |
| religion was at an amusement park in Denver a | | | | they would like to have people continue to believe |
| few years ago, and three teenaged girls of this | | | | in the power of the Communist state of China. |
| religion had asked my brother and I if we were | | | | That is also understandable, if you look at |
| Christians and believed in God. I said that I | | | | Communism in China in light of Chinese history.My |
| believed in God, and my brother said that he didn't | | | | advice on missionary work is this: Missionary work |
| know and didn't care. My brother is one of the | | | | is awesome, and I think it's an awesome and |
| nicest and most genuine people you will meet, and | | | | noble goal for your life. You must realize though, |
| they proceeded to tell him that he was going to | | | | that no matter where you are in the world, you |
| hell because he didn't believe in God. They then | | | | do missionary work by example. You must show |
| asked me if it made me sad that my brother | | | | your selfless giving and not try to convert people |
| was going to hell. So, all that having been said, I | | | | to believe what you believe. Rather, you walk |
| do realize that there are probably plenty of | | | | your talk. Or better yet, just walk your walk. Live |
| people, or all religions, who don't try to cram their | | | | a life of service. Help other people. Then let them |
| belief systems onto other people, but that hasn't | | | | come to their own decisions about what your life |
| been my personal experience with one religion in | | | | of service means. And you must be okay with it |
| particular.My advice on traveling with any religious | | | | if they decide that your life of service doesn't |
| or missionary group is that if the group is going | | | | have anything to do with God, because in the |
| with the intent of converting people to Christianity | | | | end, some of them will decide that your life of |
| (which much of the group usually is) then I would | | | | service doesn't have anything to do with God. But |
| be cautious. I'm not saying don't go, but just be | | | | you will still have done them the service that we |
| aware that open preaching with the intent to | | | | are all put here on earth to do, which is to love |
| convert people is illegal in many places in the | | | | your neighbor as yourself.Jonathan Kraft is a |
| world. Take for example the country of China. I | | | | global traveler, identity theft expert, author, and |
| don't know that anything would happen to you if | | | | became financially independent at the ripe old age |
| you, as an American, were discovered preaching | | | | of 25! |
| with the intent to convert people, but China has | | | | |