Can we pity the zeal of proselytizing?

──Considering the commonalities between Jehovah's Witnesses and Christianity

Introduction

While browsing X, I have occasionally come across posts that, after observing the proselytizing activities of Jehovah's Witnesses, state that "people who love the Bible are crazy."

It seemed that those remarks were directed at the "zeal for proselytizing" or the "attitude of conveying biblical teachings" held by Jehovah's Witnesses.

If what is being pitied is limited not to the "doctrines themselves" of Jehovah's Witnesses, but specifically to the point of being "zealous about conveying biblical teachings to others," then does that really apply only to Jehovah's Witnesses?

Proselytizing is a fundamental characteristic of Christianity

I believe it can be seen that Christianity has been a "missionary religion" since its very inception.

It is said that Jesus' disciples spread throughout the world as witnesses to his resurrection.

The Apostle Paul, as a Jew who believed in Christ, traveled to various places while enduring persecution to proclaim the death and resurrection of Christ to non-Jews.

Francis Xavier also came all the way to Japan at the risk of his life to proselytize.

I think it is possible to consider that all these figures were driven by a "zeal to convey the teachings of the Bible."

In other words, I believe that being zealous in proselytizing is the essence of the biblical teachings themselves, and not a characteristic unique to any specific denomination or group.

At whom is the pity directed?

If one were to say, "They are crazy because they are too zealous in their proselytizing,"

then I think it would also be possible to consider the Apostle Paul and other disciples,
and furthermore, Xavier and all missionaries throughout history,
as "crazy" using the same logic.

In other words, if one were to pity the zeal of proselytizing, it seems that, as a result, one would end up pitying Christianity itself.

From the perspective of a believer

If I consider this as someone within the Christian church, I cannot pity Jehovah's Witnesses solely on the point of being "zealous in proselytizing."

This is because, although the important content of our teachings differs, I believe we share a common sense of mission that "we should convey the teachings of the Bible to lead people to salvation."

For a believer, I think that pitying the zeal of proselytizing would simultaneously mean pitying the very foundation of one's own faith—"conveying the death and resurrection of Christ."

Conclusion

I believe it is possible to pity or mock them by saying, "They are so obsessed with proselytizing that they are crazy."

However, that zeal can also be considered a universal characteristic of Christianity, a figure that has persisted throughout history.

That is precisely why I believe that the attitude of Jehovah's Witnesses itself cannot be treated in that way.

Although their core teachings differ, I also think that when we face the question of "why fellow Japanese people would go to such lengths to convey their message," we might be touching upon the essence of Christ's teachings.

Thank you for reading.