Compulsory faith?

There are many religions where faith is not a matter of personal choice. It is either a matter of following the cultural norms or of coerced acceptance. This is common in many parts of the world, but in most nations nowadays this doesn't apply to Christianity, though it has in times past and still does in some places. But I assert that this is anathema to the Gospel of Christ.

Let's start with considering compulsory religion

Some religions take the stance that it's better to compel a person, for the sake of their eternal soul, to hold to a faith; participation is not just expected, but the consequences of deciding one doesn’t believe can be literally life threatening. But while you can compel an outward adherence to a required set of behaviours, you cannot proscribe a person's thoughts or state of heart. So, I can only make any sense of such a religion if it is based on maintaining outward behavioural standards: "keep these rules and you will be saved, regardless of your thoughts or the inclinations of your heart".

How different was Jesus’ approach!

For some reason Jesus did not take the route of compulsion or coercion. He took it upon himself to come to Earth as a human being to tell people about God the Father’s saving love. And not just to tell them, but to demonstrate servant-heartedness, dying in the place of those who were at best misunderstanding, and at worst disinterested or disbelieving.

When you look at His life, it was lived out as an example of service and sacrifice, not of power (at least, not as usually conceived by human beings). His life and words were certainly challenging, but there was no ‘take over’, no hard sell, no manipulation, no compulsion – merely an offer that each one could take or leave. No robbing people of their personal responsibility.

But why, given that He said the consequence of our decision was either eternal life or eternal separation from God? Why is personal responsibility so important to God, when He, of all Beings, could certainly compel?

The answer lies in the nature of love, for God is love. Love includes giving people the freedom to make up their own mind, to turn away from Him, and sadly many do!

Compulsory faith is a contradiction in terms.

Implications for Christian mission

It’s been said that ‘mission is seeing what God is doing and joining in’. So, Christians involved in mission - and how can you be a Christian and not be involved? - have an example to follow in Christ's life. We are to tell people about God’s love and demonstrate this through a life of sacrificial service. Our responsibility is to inform and to show by example, but never to force.

Are we really content to leave each person to freely make up their own mind, or are we tempted to go beyond that and add subtle manipulations, incentives or veiled threats?

Even where the pressure is more informal - a cultural expectation of compliance - then it becomes hard for people to distinguish a personal belief from merely conforming with others. Many 'Christian countries' will have fallen into this position. If the great majority go to church, where is the personal challenge to consider one's own faith as we go along with the crowd?

Love demands giving those we love the freedom to say "no". Otherwise we are exerting power, which puts us 'over' the other and is the opposite of servant-hearted love.

However, we should be clear that when others reject our loving approach, it is not simply a matter of saying to ourselves: "Well it's up to you; now I've done my job". It also leaves us open to the deep pain of others choosing to go their own way and reject Christ - a grief that is shared with Christ Himself.

So, be very wary when you see people of whatever religion - including Christians - trying to force others to believe. That is not of God; it's not His way.