Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Can Money Really Convert People?

 

The idea that people can be converted from one religion to another simply by being offered money is a common accusation, especially against Christians. But the question remains: can money truly change a person’s faith?

If someone were to offer a large sum of money for conversion, anyone could accept it. Yet no one can see into that person’s heart to know whom they genuinely worship. Faith is not something that can be bought or sold—it is an inner conviction, a personal decision of the heart and mind.

The claim that Christians convert others by offering money does not hold up to reality. In fact, the opposite is true. When someone embraces Christianity after hearing the message of Jesus Christ, they are called to a life of responsibility. The Bible teaches giving through tithes and freewill offerings—not receiving money. Far from financial gain, a Christian is encouraged to live a disciplined life: giving up destructive habits like alcoholism and smoking, learning to care for their family, and respecting others. Often, it is this transformation that leads to financial stability, not external incentives.

If conversion were really as simple as handing out money, then why has it not been used on a large scale by others? Temples in India hold immense wealth—some worth trillions of rupees. If money could truly “convert,” then these resources could easily be used to change the religious landscape of the nation. But history and reality both show otherwise.

The truth is that money cannot convert people; at most, it can buy temporary loyalty. Once the money is spent, such individuals return to their old ways. Genuine faith cannot be produced by financial transactions. It is only God who can transform the heart and mind, leading to real and lasting belief.

In the end, conversion is not a matter of currency—it is a matter of conviction.

Who Really Converts? A Question of Heart and Belief

 


Many people in India, especially Christians, are often jailed on charges of “religious conversion,” mostly in Uttar Pradesh. But my question is: who is actually converting anyone?

I cannot convert a person to a religion. If I had the power to convert people to Christianity, then surely I would have converted all Indians by now! But that is not possible, because conversion is not something a human being can force upon another.

What I can do is share the goodness of Christianity and tell people about Jesus Christ—how He came into this world, died for the sins of humanity, and how God opened a path for mankind to be reconciled to Him through Jesus. This message I can share, but whether a person believes and acts on it lies entirely with the individual.

For example, if someone—let’s call him X—hears the Gospel and feels in his heart that he wants a new life, to follow the teachings of Jesus and live righteously, he makes that decision personally. He chooses to follow Christ and becomes a Christian. Now, can you say that the person who simply shared the message “converted” X? Of course not! That would be ridiculous. X made the choice in his own heart and mind. He converted himself—it was his decision, not the preacher’s.

Think about it: the Hindu-majority party is ruling India today. If conversion were something people could do to others, wouldn’t it be possible to convert all Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs into Hindus? Clearly, that is impossible. Belief is a matter of the heart and mind. Mass conversion simply cannot be done.

Can Money Really Convert People?

  The idea that people can be converted from one religion to another simply by being offered money is a common accusation, especially again...