I would agree that sometimes in our enthusiasm we can unnecessarily turn people off. When we sound like all we are interested in is brownie points for heaven (for lack of a better way to say it), many people will not even listen to us. We should not sound like pushy sales people.
I don't know how many times sales people have tried to sell me a product and when I said "no thank you". They wouldn’t take no for an answer.
In the same way, some well meaning Christians do the same thing when they try to proclaim the Gospel. We shouldn't use the Gospel like a hammer <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bash.gif" alt="" />, we should just proclaim the Gospel as is and if they aren't interested, leave it up to God for the results.
I can remember back 24 years ago when I was just a baby Christian, I did this very thing.
For example I was trying to tell the Gospel to my uncle and when it was clear that he wasn't interested. I kept it up, until he said to me matter of factly: "If you really believed all you said, you wouldn't be harping on me like you are."
I have not been able to get those words out of my head since.
All that said, from what you have told me about these missionaries they are not talking about what I said above, they seem to want to take the edge off the offence of the Gospel itself.
Tom
