Does it Show Respect to Proselytize?

The cover article of Christianity Today’s current issue, “Proselytizing in a Multi-Faith World” offers a helpful portrait of what it means to respect people who don’t see the world and religious issues in the same way without avoiding the topic altogether. He offers four points to consider:

Let each religion speak for itself

Talk with and about individuals, not generic “faiths.”

Respect the sincerely held beliefs of people of other religions.

Grant each person the freedom to make his or her faith decision.

The article goes into detail about each of these four point.

Ed Stetzer argues that sharing our faith (which does not mean insisting that others adhere to what we believe) demonstrates respect. He shares the story of an atheist blogger who writes, “I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize, [who] believe that there is a heaven and hell and people could be going to hell (or not getting eternal life or whatever) and you think that, well it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward… How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize?”

What do you think? Is it respectful to tell someone what you think about God, salvation, and heaven and hell? Is it loving to proselytize?