Christians believe in sharing the good news of the gospel and making disciples of all nations because Jesus Christ commanded it before his ascension. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus tells his disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” This command from Jesus is known as the Great Commission, and it encourages Christians to spread the message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ throughout the world.
There are several key reasons why proselytization is important to Christians:
Obedience to Christ’s command
As mentioned above, the Great Commission in Matthew 28 gives a direct order from Jesus to make disciples of all nations. Christians take obedience to Jesus’s words very seriously. Sharing the gospel is seen as a matter of obedience to Christ. Christians believe they are called to emulate Jesus’s ministry of preaching the good news of the kingdom of God (Luke 4:43).
Concern for the lost
Christians believe that faith in Jesus is the only way to salvation and eternal life. Passages like John 14:6, where Jesus says “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” underscore this belief. Out of love and concern for those who do not know Christ, Christians feel compelled to spread the message of salvation so that others may come to faith.
Desire to make Christ known
Christians want to make Jesus known throughout the world. They believe Jesus is the Son of God who revealed God’s love by dying for the sins of the world. His resurrection displayed his power over sin and death. Christians feel gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice and want to make his name great among all peoples (Philippians 2:9-11). They find joy in declaring the praises of God who called them out of darkness into light (1 Peter 2:9).
Belief in the power of the gospel
Christians believe the gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). Therefore, they seek to spread the message far and wide out of confidence that God can use it to draw people to saving faith in Jesus Christ. They believe that faith comes from hearing the word about Christ (Romans 10:17).
Sense of urgency
Knowing that life on earth is temporary, Christians feel it is vitally important to tell others about salvation in Christ before it is too late. Bible verses like 2 Corinthians 6:2 emphasize the urgency of responding to the gospel in a timely manner. This gives Christians a sense of urgency to tell others while there is still time.
Desire for God’s glory among all peoples
Christians believe that people from every tribe, language, and nation have been redeemed by Christ (Revelation 5:9). They want to declare God’s glory to the ends of the earth so that people from all backgrounds will worship Him. Passages like Psalm 96:3, Isaiah 42:10-12, and Romans 15:9-11 all point to God’s desire for all peoples to glorify Him.
Belief that proselytization is an act of love
While some view proselytization as offensive, Christians see it as an act of love. If Christians believe that knowing Christ leads to eternal life, it would be unloving not to offer that gift to others. They seek to balance speaking the truth with compassion and humility (Ephesians 4:15, 1 Peter 3:15).
In summary, Christians believe strongly in spreading the gospel of salvation through faith in Jesus because it is a direct command from Christ Himself. They also want to see people from all nations come to know the love of God. Christians find motivation in scriptural promises that God’s word will not return void (Isaiah 55:11). Although proselytization is controversial in today’s relativistic culture, Christians believe making disciples of all nations is a divine calling rooted in biblical truth.
The Bible consistently presents proselytization or evangelism as an important responsibility for followers of Jesus. Below are some key verses that shape the Christian perspective on this topic:
Mark 16:15
“And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'”
Acts 1:8
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
2 Corinthians 5:20
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
1 Peter 3:15
“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
Romans 10:13-15
“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'”
While Christians believe they have a mandate to share the gospel, they also believe proselytization should be carried out with sensitivity, compassion, and cultural awareness. Unethical practices that disrespect human dignity or agency are not condoned. At its core, Christians see proselytization as an act of love – extending to others the same grace they have received in coming to faith in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14-21).
When Jesus charged his followers with making disciples of all nations in Matthew 28:19-20, he set the pattern for global dissemination of the gospel. But even from the beginning, we see evangelism being practiced in Acts. After receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Peter preached the gospel boldly and 3,000 people believed and were baptized, even though preaching Christ was extremely dangerous at that time (Acts 2:14-41). We also read about nameless early Christians who scattered after Stephen’s martyrdom and preached the word wherever they went (Acts 8:4). Philip evangelized crowds in Samaria (Acts 8:4-8) and an Ethiopian eunuch on the road (Acts 8:4-40). Saul, who once persecuted Christians, converted and became Paul, the greatest missionary-evangelist in the New Testament after his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road (Acts 9). He planted churches throughout the Roman world and trained other leaders like Timothy and Titus to carry on the work.
Paul summed up his evangelistic motivation when he wrote, “For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). He felt obligated to spread the word since God had transformed his life. Paul drew upon the Old Testament prophetic expectation that the nations would one day come to the light of Israel’s God:
Psalm 96:3
“Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all peoples!”
This prophetic hope undergirded Paul’s missionary zeal to see people from all nations become followers of Christ.
Paul said that faith comes from hearing the message about Christ (Romans 10:17). So believers must spread the word far and wide. He also described the gospel as “the power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16). Therefore, Paul was eager to preach Christ where the gospel had never been heard before rather than building on someone else’s foundation (Romans 15:20). By the close of the book of Acts, Paul has proclaimed the kingdom in Rome, the hub of the Gentile world. The story concludes with the gospel message going forth unrestrained despite Paul being under house arrest (Acts 28:30-31). This ending reveals the unstoppable progress of Christianity in the world.
Several theological reasons can be gleaned from Paul’s writings and the broader New Testament on why Christians are devoted to proselytization:
1. Christ’s love compels them (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
Paul says Christ’s sacrificial love overwhelmed him and drove all his missionary efforts. Believers feel constrained to share the message of reconciliation and new life in Christ with others.
2. They want to see people saved from God’s coming judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10-11).
Paul speaks of knowing the fear of the Lord and trying to persuade people toward faith in view of God’s imminent judgment. Christians proclaim the gospel so that others can be saved.
3. They believe Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6).
Since salvation is exclusively through faith in Christ, Christians have a sense of urgency to tell others before it’s too late.
4. They are commanded to make disciples and teach obedience to Christ (Matthew 28:19-20).
As discussed earlier, the Great Commission provides direct marching orders from Jesus himself to evangelize and make new converts.
5. They want to see people transformed by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Believers testify to the change God works in hearts through the Spirit when people receive the gospel. They want to spread the word so others can experience similar regeneration.
6. They see the church’s mission as worldwide in scope (Mark 16:15).
Jesus said to proclaim the gospel to the whole creation, signaling a global mandate. Christians interpret this as their mission field.
These theological motivations propel proselytization efforts throughout church history. Christians believe that evangelism is central to their calling and purpose in the world. They view living out and spreading the gospel as their supreme act of devotion to God. While some Christian traditions have emphasized proselytization more actively than others historically, the desire to fulfill the Great Commission and make disciples remains strong today across all traditions. There is a sense that all nations must have access to the gospel before Christ’s return. Understanding these biblical and theological factors provides insight into the Christian perspective on proselytization despite criticisms of the practice.
Proselytization raises ethical concerns about aggressive tactics, exploitation, and preserving indigenous cultures. In response, contemporary missiology emphasizes principles like:
Cultural sensitivity
Working respectfully within cultural norms instead of against them. Adapting methods.
Contextualization
Presenting the gospel in ways that resonate with local customs and worldviews as much as possible.
Incarnational ministry
Living among the people, learning language, embracing lifestyle, building trust over time.
Focus on discipleship over conversion rates
Prioritizing spiritual maturity and training over quantity of new converts.
Holistic ministry
Addressing spiritual as well as physical, emotional, and social needs. Social action in addition to evangelism.
Indigenous leadership
Empowering local leaders to direct ministry rather than all outside missionaries.
These principles aim to articulate how proselytization can be carried out with integrity and avoid negative associations from colonial abuses. While practices should be ethical, Christians still point to the clear biblical mandate to make disciples as justification for continuing global outreach efforts in appropriate ways. There is an openness to learning from past mistakes and developing more just, contextual models but not abandoning the missionary call altogether. Healthy criticism can refine methods but does not negate the core vision of sharing Christ’s love and truth cross-culturally out of obedience to the Great Commission.
Proselytization faces several objections in today’s postmodern context of relativism and pluralism. Common criticisms include:
Exclusivity
The claim that faith in Jesus is the only way to salvation seems intolerant of other belief systems.
Imperialism
Christian missions reflect colonial expansion and impose foreign cultural practices.
Arrogance
Telling others their religion is wrong or inferior is viewed as arrogant, elitist, and disrespectful.
Hypocrisy
The church’s imperfect track record leads critics to accuse it of hypocrisy in evangelistic efforts.
Unwanted intrusion
Proselytization can feel intrusive, coercive, manipulative when targeted at unwilling audiences.
Undermines culture
Spreading Christianity is seen as destabilizing to traditional customs, rites, and community identity.
These objections present challenges for thoughtful Christians engaged in outreach. In response, believers are called to:
1. Articulate the theological basis for sharing faith.
The Great Commission and love of neighbor should motivate evangelism, not imperialism.
2. Aim for gospel fluency and cultural intelligence.
Witness with humility and sensitivity, not arrogance. Know when to speak and listen.
3. Focus on living out the gospel.
Authentic Christian love and virtue validate the message. Our life should match our lips.
4. Allow the gospel message to critique our methods.
Present the truth in ways that honor human dignity and contextualize appropriately.
5. Major on building relationships first, conversion second.
Earn trust and respect over time. Don’t pressure. Let the Spirit work.
6. Celebrate salvations but also small steps of openness.
Even reluctance to outright objection can signal progress in some cultures in God’s timing.
With prayerful sensitivity, the offense of the gospel need not be exacerbated by offensive Christian conduct. In the end, Christians try to live out Peter’s charge: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).
Proselytization raises many ethical questions. But Christians ultimately see the central issue as theological in nature. Is Jesus indeed the only way to God? If so, love compels Christians to share this good news humbly yet urgently. They believe the spiritual stakes are eternally high. So out of hearts of compassion, they must preach the gospel while also doing so wisely in light of history. Rather than imposing truth on other cultures, Christians aim to live out biblical faith within all cultures in life-giving ways. Trusting the Holy Spirit’s guidance and direction, they move forward knowing their mandate but with openness to continued reformation in putting faith into practice all over the world.