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C. S. Lewis wrote in Christian Reunion: The real reason, I take it, why you cannot be in communion with us is not your disagreement with this or that particular Protestant doctrine, so much as the absence of any real "Doctrine", in your sense of the word, at all. It is, you feel, like asking a man to say he agrees not with a speaker but with a debating ...

You basically have three sub-questions here, so let me attempt to answer them in order. Why do christians have to promote their beliefs to other people? For two principal reasons: because we were commanded to at several different places in the Bible, and as an act of love. The Gospel improves the lives of those who live its principles, and we want to ...

There is no consensus among Christians on this question. Assuming that the conversion is genuine and permanent, rather than momentary weakness, the three main schools of thought that apply to this issue are: Conditional Security According to this view, Christians can lose their salvation. Thus, a Christian who converted to another religion would be seen ...

The term "born again" comes from a passage in John 3: Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I ...

This answer presupposes that the claims of Christianity are true. Since Christians believe this, and this site is meant to give a "Christian" view of things, that's the presupposition required to properly answer this. I realize that many people don't believe the claims of Christianity, but the Truth of the claims isn't what's being asked or what's relevant ...

Chesterton probably wrote more than anyone ever so I'm sure he can tell you in his own words why he converted from Atheism to Anglicanism and from Anglicanism to Catholicism. See: Catholic Church and Conversion and Why I am A Catholic and The God With the Golden Key As an avid reader of Chesterton, I'm often perplexed at how much love he gives to ...

I don't think it's important for a Christian to know the exact date/time when they became a Christian, but it is important to know how they became a Christian. Individual testimonies can be incredibly powerful, and often being able to tell the story of how one came to faith does involve knowing where and when it happened. Certainly it's not vital for ...

I like an analogy that Hank Hanegraaff uses to address this question: Imagine you're driving from Las Vegas, Nevada to Los Angeles, California, when you look up and see a sign that says "Los Angeles, 50 miles". Is it important that you remember the moment you crossed the Nevada/California state line? Or is it important that you know where you are now? ...

Short answer: It would appear that the answer to your question that is reliable, and applicable across the board, is a resounding "no". Within denominational or individual Church/affiliation boundaries, there are plenty, but the numbers vary Explanation of the short answer: I've found several sources that give "fall away rates" with varying degrees of ...

I would argue that the moment of conversion is less important than has been stressed as of late. American Christianity is currently very worked up over the sentimentality of the conversion moment, and that is partly due to the tent revivals of the 1st and 2 Great Awakenings, Charles Darby, and Charles Finney (Darby and Finney, however, have had their ...

It's because of The Great Commission given by Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” It's the ...

Approaches First of all, some people may evangelize in ways that would be considered "aggressive", but many others are not. In fact, the situation often determines the appropriate approach, so the same person could approach the same person in completely different ways, depending on the situation. When my mother saw me as a child wandering close to the ...

Here is a evangelical view from the Protestant tradition. The concept of 'birth' means something that happens to you, not as a result of your own work, effort or commitment. The doctrine of new birth pertains to the new life one has the moment they believe the gospel.  The necessity for new birth shows that the old life from Adam can't be improved. It must ...

Let me put it to you this way: If you saw someone about to walk off a cliff, wouldn't you try to stop them? The question is asking about a Christian's motives, so it's fair to evaluate this from the Christian's point of view. Perhaps the atheist about to walk off the cliff is only trying to reach a ledge just below top of the cliff, but if all the ...

A better question is, why wouldn't we? We have the truth, and the truth is that you may have eternal life by believing in Jesus Christ. Pardon me if I say so myself, and I think I speak for all Christians when I say this, but eternal life is not a bad thing. In fact, if we didn't want to convert anyone, if we just kept to ourselves, it either means 1) we ...

David's view represents a Western, largely Protestant worldview. From an Eastern Orthodox perspective, it is because we can't help but share our loving God with you. But we don't do it by being pushy and trying to compel you to join our church. Instead we love you as God loves us. We don't believe we get people into the doors of the church, that is your ...

The question of conversion in Christianity as a whole is very different than when you just look at western evangelicals. For someone raised entirely in a christian family and in a church they stay with their entire lives, there may never be a "conversion" since there may never have been a time when they weren't christian. Most evangelical churches ...

The Apostle John addresses this issue in his first epistle: They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 1 John 2:19 ESV This teaches that those who leave [Christianity] were never really Christians.

Wikipedia has an article on people who have converted to Anglicanism and a category for Catholic-Anglican conversions. Ones specifically listed as converting to Anglicanism from Catholicism as adults include: Madeleine Albright Matthew Fox Alberto Cutie Dinesh D'Souza said he converted from Catholicism to his wife's tradition in a Christian's vs. ...

What is a "born again" Christian? Simply put, a 'born again' Christian is someone who has come to believe in Jesus as their lord and savior in their heart, possibly through baptism. This is not simply believing he exists, but completely giving your heart and soul to God. While this is the biblical meaning, how it is used and portrayed in different churches ...

Christians believe two things (among others): Jesus is the only route to heaven; without him, you go to hell. It's our job to love everyone. If you believe those two things, then you have to try to get everyone to accept Jesus. Letting them go to hell isn't loving them. You might agree or disagree with those two beliefs, but if you want to know more ...