Is it ethical to target vulnerable people for conversion?
Introduction
The "Great Commission" commands the Church to make disciples of all nations. This mandate includes the poor, the sick, and those suffering from emotional or social crises, as these are often the very people Jesus prioritized. The ethical question is not whether to share the Gospel with the vulnerable, but how to do so without engaging in manipulation or coercion.
The Christian ethical challenge lies in ensuring that our motive is pure and that the conversion is rooted in the saving power of Christ, not in the allure of temporary material relief.
Main: Two Principles Defining Ethical Evangelism
Ethical evangelism to the vulnerable requires a clear distinction between compassionate service and spiritual coercion.
1. The Principle of Unconditional Love and Dignity
The Christian must provide aid and service without attaching conversion as a condition.
Serving Without Strings: The ethical Christian approach is to emulate Jesus, who healed, fed, and served people without demanding they first become disciples. This means providing unconditional humanitarian aid (food, water, medicine, shelter) because the person is created in God's image, not because they might convert.
Avoiding Exploitation: Vulnerability creates desperation, which can lead to a manipulative transaction: "If you want the food, you must say the prayer." This is spiritual exploitation because it uses the person's material need to gain a religious outcome. A conversion gained through coercion or desperation is not genuine faith.
Honoring Free Will: The Gospel must be received by free, uncoerced will. God respects human choice, and so must His messengers. Any tactic that undermines a person's dignity or freedom of choice for the sake of a quick conversion is ethically flawed.
2. The Distinction Between Physical and Spiritual Need
The Christian must maintain a clear boundary between meeting physical needs and promoting the Gospel message.
Holistic Ministry: The ethical model is holistic ministry: addressing both the body (through service) and the soul (through the Gospel). The two must be offered, but they must not be transactional. We serve because Christ loved us (1 John 4:19), and we share the Gospel because it is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16).
The Power of the Holy Spirit: The true power of conversion rests in the Holy Spirit changing the heart, not in the eloquence of the messenger or the promise of earthly reward. Relying on manipulation indicates a lack of faith in the Spirit's power.
Conclusion
Is it ethical to target vulnerable people for conversion? It is ethical, and indeed commanded, to share the Gospel with the vulnerable, provided the method is rooted in unconditional love and absolutely free of coercion or exploitation.
When a Christian serves the vulnerable, the aid must stand on its own as an act of mercy, and the Gospel must stand on its own as the necessary truth. Your primary motive must be love for the person, recognizing their eternal soul and honoring their dignity above all else.
