Forcing Beliefs

From Matthew 13:34, here is Jesus explaining the kind of love He has,
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!"

Jesus wants people to know that He is forgiving even of the worst kinds of things. He longs to love, protect, & comfort people. Jesus doesn't violate someone's choice to reject or disbelieve Him. Those who want nothing to do with Him get what they want.

While I think it is good to humbly admit potential ignorance and suspend your disbelief the idea that someone should accept something with no evidence is absurd and that was never the way Jesus presented Himself nor was it ever how the gospel was presented in the first century.

Just as Jesus didn't force Himself on anyone it is not a good idea for a Christian or anyone else to try and force their beliefs on someone else. I mean that not only for individuals but also on on political, national, & legislative scales. Compassion does not consist of entitlement because you think you are right or fighting against something because you are afraid of it.

There is no record of Jesus bursting into pagan temples and telling them how wrong they are nor is there of Jesus going to Rome to get Caesar to change the laws and practices of the empire. Jesus allowed people to not follow Him. While it may not look like it because of the people who claim to follow Jesus, that was His way.

It is ok for everyone to have a voice but it is not loving to try to remove someone else's choice unless you are legitimately protecting another person from them. Sadly it is hard for people to understand that their personal fears do not equal compassionate protection for others.