I am completely disgusted with the fact that there are some charities and sponsorship organizations out there that will force a child in need and their families to convert to Christianity before they will help them. I did not even realize this was happening until just a short time ago. I want to know how on earth can they think that what they are doing is right? It's like they (Christians) think that these people in third world countries owe them something because they are helping them!
This act should be made illegal, these poor individuals should not have to choose between converting to some religion they probably know nothing about or eating to live another day. When given that decision realistically,
it's not much of a decision at all, is it?
I've read a few other articles on this same sort of subject and I've seen comments such as, "who cares either way, they are getting fed right?". Yes they are getting fed but at the expense of having to give up their own beliefs and values. If a Christian were given the option to either convert to Buddhism or starve to death, I highly doubt they would be very pleased and would probably start some sort of protest, and threaten that they would starve to death before ever converting.
Everyone, no matter how rich or how poor, should have the right to choose their religion, or if they even want to choose a religion at all. Maybe most these poor individuals don't really care one way or another what religion they are involved in, but I still think they should have a choice. They should even have the right to refuse all the preaching, without any repercussion. We should be helping people for the sake of helping them and not expecting anything in return, that is what charity is all about.
If there is a "god" as such, I doubt that he would be in favor of forcing one's beliefs upon another. Somehow I don't think he would be very impressed with his Christian followers for acting in such an inhumane way.
And before anyone gets all bent out of shape about my opinions, I just want to say I'm not against Christianity, I'm against anyone who forces their beliefs upon others.
I agree 100% and I follow Christ, so I guess that makes me a Christian...
As with untold numbers of centuries gone by, the evil one is using those who profess to be "followers of Jesus" to do his own bidding...I mean think about it - if the 'Christian's' are doing it, it has to be good, right?.....W R O N G ! ! !
It has been my pleasure to be somewhat of a Bible student since 1982, and I do not find anywhere in the Word that says to do things the way you have described here. On the contrary, if one would simply look at our Example, Jesus, one will find Him taking care of the needs first and foremost. Did Jesus try to convert people? Possibly, but that was not His main "objective".
Anyone who has "studied" the life of Christ will read about such things as feeding 5000 men (and women and children too, by the way) with a young boy's lunch...We can read about Him giving sight to a man who was blind from birth. We can read about a women that was sick with "an issue" for over thirty years who simply touched His garment and was healed instantly....
All too often I also see/hear of things that you have touched on here, and it turns my stomach..."All in the name of the Lord" is the "excuse" I have heard in the past...I would challenge anyone who thinks that someone has to "join the church", or become a christian, in order to receive help from a "christian organization" to find some scripture to back up what they are "teaching"...Their witness is not of Jesus, because He did no such thing...
I ask that you not give up hope on Christianity, Precious...The closer we get to the "end of time", the more the (worldly) church will be looking like something that it really is not...There are still people in this world that would give you the shirt off their backs if they knew you needed it...That is what Jesus would do...
Your comments are 'painfully' to the point, and I think it was necessary for this article... I appreciate your honesty, and I hope you will be able to see that these people or organizations that do this type of terrible thing cause the Angels to turn away...Hang in there...God is still on the throne, and He sees all that is happening...
Harry