A sword to attack the unsaved?

Karlin reminds me of how some "christians?" use scripture as a weapon...

"I am a free man, or maybe you prefer to have me change because you are a fascist, a control freak who is so insecure that any dissent means you freak out? " (Karlin's words)


Will you convert even one person by attacking them with scripture? Maybe at the tip of a sword or by threats of flames and the stake... but any conversion will only last as long as the enemy has his knife at your throat and then they will go back to the way they were before conversion... as soon as the knife is removed from their throat. I for one do not see the use of using scripture as a weapon to attack sinners as uplifting or helpful... Jesus often used scriptures to show the hardened religious folks of his day a different path than the path of destruction they were on... But when Jesus was preaching to the masses, Jesus used parables and stories like the Good Samaritan story to lead the world to the truth... Apparantly Jesus didn't quote word for word from scripture to lead sinners to salvation but rather told a story that showed how we should be to one another. If we follow Christ's example...then what would that look like? I believe Jesus would want us to follow his example and use scripture to soften the hearts of hardened religious folks and use stories of how God's love changed our life to reach sinners without God. There is so much hatred in the world and the little bit more we add or take away might make all the difference...

At the end of the day, we will meet Christ in the sky...
Leave the world behind... I am ready to fly...
What would you leave behind?
Let the judge in you and me decide...
For as you judge...you will be judged that same way...