FIRST off, what's wrong with Bob Marley?
Perhaps the quote was even more appropriate than Veritas realized, since so quickly there was an objection to it.
Are we to understand that you'll even judge your fellow CHRISTIANS if they aren't your preferred type of Christian ? Just so we're clear, perhaps you could tell us which denominations we should consider our brethren, and which ones we should reject ?
Like Veritas said, there are some people who aren't going to convert. We need to ALL understand that. We don't have to ACCEPT it, but I DO think we should tolerate it. Why? Well, a good example is a joke I borrowed from author Claire Wolfe years ago, and have been using ever since-
If you pre-tribbers turn out to be wrong, you're gonna wish you were nicer to the Mormons.
When Yeshua quoted the Tanakh, in giving the second greatest command, which He likened to the first (Hear Oh Israel! The L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is one! And you are to love the L-rd our G-d with all your heart, all your soul, and all your might) which was
Love your NEIGHBOR as yourself.
We didn't say "brother" but NEIGHBOR.
I think a lot of people have trouble with that. And I think a lot of people think that cramming their beliefs down somebody's throat equates to love.
But do you know that for YEARS, the single biggest hindrance to me getting to know my Creator, was His people?
There is a sort of unwritten rule among evangelical denominations that if you aren't pissing people off, you're doing something wrong; that the gospel is offensive to the world, and so if you aren't offending folks, you aren't preaching the Word.
I disagree.
I believe it to be impossible to love someone, without also treating them with respect. The two just go together, naturally.
And while I sympthasize with what you guys are saying, about the Great Commission, and it being our responsibility to bring the Gospel to the world, there is a time and a place. There's a time and a place where that can be effective, and there's a time and a place where the ONLY thing you're going to accomplish it pissing people off.
While we don't need to be AFRAID to piss people off, neither should that be our goal.
In THIS context, of having accepted an invitation to a ceremony which is a deep seated part of someone else's culture, it would not ONLY be rude, tactless, and offensive, I really can't imagine any of them are going to respond to that. In that situation, you are a guest, and it is fully appropriate to keep that in mind.
Would you want to debate calvinism with your neighbor on Christmas morning? What about getting into a heated discussion on pre- or post- tribulation rapture at Easter servce? Probably not, right? You're not in the mood, you are there for a different reason entirely, and while you may be perfectly willing to discuss such matters as a general statement, it is simply in bad taste for someone to ambush you with them during your holidays. And you are going to be exceedingly unlikely to even consider the arguments that the person did make, aren't you?
It's just human nature.
But this is exactly what G-d was talking about, LOVE your neighbor as yourself. Your neighbor isn't going to believe as you. If he did, he'd be your brother, instead of your neighbor. Nonetheless, despite that status, we are STILL instructed to not only LOVE him (or her), but to love him AS OURSELVES... to give him the same consideration that WE would want.
"To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.."
I know some people take the Great Commission a little more seriously than others, and I know that evangelists pride themselves on doing their best to fulfill that role, as well (some of) they might.
But, brethren, let's keep in mind, that WE are mere mortals. We can't save ANYbody. We can't even save ourselves. So a modicum of restraint is not out of place here.
If you think for ONE SECOND that G-d needs YOU, in order to fulfill His Word, then, brethren, you've got a dangerously inflated sense of self-importance. His Word will be fulfilled, regardless. Even if Heaven and Earth should pass away, His Word will remain, just as true as the day He gave it to us.
You might think "Oh, I'm in contact with these heathens, so I need to preach to them RIGHT NOW, or they might lose their chance." Personally, I don't think that's going to be the case, and I don't think this depends on my beliefs anyway.
Calvinists already believe that G-d created some people, who were predestined to go to hell. So are you really failing, if you fail to prevent that? The rest of you, that believe in free will, STILL must admit that not everyone DOES get reconciled to our Creator. Is that our fault? Ultimately, no.
Perhaps there were things we could do better, but perhaps this is just one such thing. Perhaps we could have counted on the way we live our lives, and our testimony to bring people around, insist of relying on our insistence on preaching every time we open our mouths, even when it's inappropriate.