With so many people out there hating Christians, you'd think Christians might be inclined to, I don't know, look into that.
Why do they hate us? Oh, maybe because we act like jerks, and USE ALL CAPS ALL THGE TIME (spelling error left on purpose) to display our displeasure, and call them names, and tell them we hate them, that God hates them and on and on goes the list. Maybe Christians should stop doing these things.
Johnny Christian Boy: "Oh, but the Bible says we will be hated."
Me: Yeah, so? The Bible also says we'll be faced with trials and tribulations of many kinds, I don't see a whole lot of you voluntarily lining up for that or trying to bring that on yourself. Better to be hated for doing good than doing evil (1 Peter 3:17).
Susie Q Christian Girl: "But they're going to go to hell if we don't tell them!"
Me: You told them, and guess what? They still don't want to be a Christian! Why do you think that is, hmm?
Mr. Christian Pastor Dude: "Jesus said..."
Me: *cuts him off* Love your neighbor (Mark 12:31)? Think of others more highly than yourself (Phil 2:3)? Look to the interests of others (Phil 2:4)? Speak with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15)? Be gentle as doves (Matt 10:16)? Are you doing any of these?!
Ms. Church lady: "I do love them, I am thinking about them. That's why I have to tell them to stop being homosexuals or they will go to hell!"
Me: And how's that been working for ya? How many people have actually come to Christ via that method?
Back to Johnny: "What matters is that I am obeying God."
Me: Obeying God how? God said to make disciples (Matt 28:18). How do you plan on doing that if you've already made them hate you (and every other Christian by association)?
Did anyone ever stop to think maybe they should take a page from Jesus' book? (haha, literally even) He was kind, loving, understanding, hopeful, gracious, a friend, a comforter. Not this scary man waving a stick around screaming about hell and what sinners they all were. He talked about hell and he talked about sin, but he never singled people out in public forums to discuss their private sins (except for the religious leaders, of course, who were abusing the poor lay people in such ways).
Every Christian says they wish they lived in Biblical times. Guess what? You got your wish! We're overflowing with hypocrites! Line up, pick your sides: would you rather be a Pharisee or Saducee? I hear they've both got rockin' jerseys!
Christians: How do you justify the way you treat non-Christians? Non-Christians: Am I totally off-base here? Do you hate us for what we believe or how we treat you?
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Comments (547)
As an agnostic, I say you're spot on. I can't stand christians because they won't let up on their belittling. I don't care if you believe in a God, whatever works for you is fine, but it doesn't necessarily work for the rest of us.
couldn't agree more. i do not believe in forcing my beliefs on others. every person has a right to make a choice. i am open enough that people know i go to church, but i don't push it on anybody. overall, God gave us free will for a reason. it's each person's individual choice. i believe it's my job to answer questions and bring people to church, if they are interested, but it's not my place to attempt to force people into anything.
Last time I checked, none of my Christian friends ever did this. And I don't either. Some people are naive and think that ALL Christians are these Bible-waving, holier-than-thou saint wannabes, which of course isn't true. As for the ones that know we aren't all like that, they have their own reasons for not becoming Christians. I can be the most compassionate, logical, and understanding person while sharing my faith, and my non-Christian friend may still not want to change their ways. There's nothing I can do about that, and yelling at them and telling them they're going to burn in Hell isn't going to help.
So if I weren't a Christian, I'd be one of those understanding non-believers that knows not all Christians are as you describe.
@KasumiCelesta@xanga - Not all of them are, you're right. Just a vast majority. =]
It isn't a good idea to divide the world between Christian and non-Christian. The disciple who is really digging in to Christ's teachings becomes too occupied with prayer, fasting and charity to make such distinctions.
Christians are in just as great a need of evangelization as non-Christians.
SPREAD THE LOVE BABY!
(I just LOVE those capital letters!)
Really great post. Great points. Enough said.
I am a practicing Hindu growing up in a very Christian society. I do not hate Christians. Most of my friends are Christians. Yet, some of the things that people do in the name of God are disappointing. Personally, I think Christianity, like most other religions, is great. Jesus's teachings of love, compassion, and kindness are universally applicable, and everyone can learn from what he preaches. The things I see happen in the name of Christianity, however, appall me. It really pains me to see conversion of the poor slum-dwellers in India for money. Jesus would never have advocated such conduct. I have had Christian Preachers and Ministers tell me the same thing. And yes, I do not like people telling me that I'm going to hell for not being a Christian. It doesn't happen very often, but it has. Yet, I do not hate Christians. Not at all. I think Christianity is great, and I think that most Christians are wonderful people.
You're so right. Being atheist, I get this all the time from Christians... And sometimes they don't even realize they're doing it. I'll say something about how gay people should be allowed to get married, and a Christian friend of mine will scoff at me and nonchalantly say something about going to hell... It's like, hello? Earth to Christians? Do you realize what you're saying?
As an atheist, I can't say I hate anyone of the christian faith. I hate how it's been used to do hateful and awful things to others. I hate the intolerance, non-acceptance, and general ignorance. That's what I hate.
yay it got put on here! congrats princess1505angel
@misswonderj@xanga - I wouldn't say a VAST majority, but certainly a significant population, which is disappointing. They overshadow the Christians that are doing the right thing, i.e. not shoving the Bible in people's faces and showing them an angry and hateful God. It seems more like a stereotype to me, or perhaps it depends on where someone lives, because I've never really seen that anywhere in my neighborhood. The Christian community varies with location, I guess.
If I weren't a Christian, I'd hate a lot of people. As a Christian, I find myself tempted a lot.
Well said. Got my rec
I'm glad this is here. This issue should be brought up more often.
that was very well said :)
awsome post
@KasumiCelesta@xanga - Stereotypes arise when a majority of a population carries the trait. Note that a population is limited by area; it does not necessarily represent all possible members of a particular community.
And considering that Christians basically run America now I would dare to say its a majority.
Even being a Christian, I still strongly dislike some Christians I've met. It is not our place to judge, and any Christian who judges is the worst of hypocrites. Remember the parable Jesus told about the king who had a servant that owed him a great debt, and this servant was owed a small debt by another servant. We didn't deserve our salvation, it was a gift. We are but filthy rags, the lowest of the low, and by treating others as if they're beneath us is terribly hypocritical. We are called to be humble servants, not holier-than-thou loudmouths.
Jesus said "Go and make disciples," right? "Go"ing is an action; it's a walk. We are to make disciples not by screams or threats or protests, but by actions and examples.
ok well as a Christian... I do agree that there are hypocrites in the Christian faith... you're reading a comment from one... and here's the thing... so what?
Every antagonist against a Christian is just as hypocritical as we're being accused of... and there is a reason for the hypocrisy... you're dealing with imperfect, flawed, broken human beings... last I checked, we breathe and walk and have a heartbeat the same as you... i'm not denying hypocritical behavior... nor am I excusing such...
but before the judgment lot is cast... be mindful folks that a Christian isn't a Christian because of what he or she did right... by no stretch of the imagination... and anyone who throws the hypocrite card at a Christian is just as guilty of BEING the hypocrite that they are accusing Christians of...
a Christian never started off as a Christian... a Christian got his or her start as a sinner... the only difference between a Christian and someone who isn't... is this one solid truth. A Christian is a sinner who has been redeemed from their sins and absolved of any and all offense against God through the person and work of Jesus Christ... it's through repentance of sin, surrendering their existance over to Jesus Christ and in turn living in complete obedience to Jesus Christ as expressed in His Word we affectionately call The Bible...
Christianity is never about being perfect... Christianity is about imperfect people living second by momentary second desiring to live towards perfection... through the power of Jesus Christ...
so from one hypocrite to another... don't judge the Christian faith by it's flawed followers... judge the faith from the Founder of the faith... why don't you cast your judgment upon Jesus and see how He fits your judgment call... get back to me when you do your research...
and don't judge me and be intolerant for my church attending Jesus following alternative lifestyle...
THIS IS ON POINT. and now we gotta talk about the Christians!
Stop judging not only non believers, but believers as well.
I went through a rather WEIRD encounter this week.
I met a guy at school who was doing a promotional mixer at a lounge, but for art students to meet and greet each other, and talk about, and trade services. So after talking I felt like this would benefit me, so I agreed to going to the mixer. Later on in the week, I seen him with a friend, and the promotion guy asked me was I still going, and I said yes, I was. I asked the other guy was he going and he said "No, I won;t go"> I was like what? Why? and he said b/c I am a Christian.
Puzzled, I told him "Yes, I am a Christian too."
Then he goes on to saying "Yes, but I am a serious Christian getting serious about being serious as a Christian." I was soooo absolutely offended. So I told him to explain, and he repeated himself. So I was trying to speak up for myself on that matter which really I didn't have to, but wanted to school him for a minute about my relationship and other biblical facts I wanted to concur on what he was trying to imply about me, but he just blew me off.
I was highly offended b/C:
1. He didn't know me worth a lick, and just judged me.
2. WHAT KIND OF EVANGELISM WAS THAT!?
Man, People got it all twisted up, and wrong. Look all over Matthews, and others books where Jesus evangelized, and see exactly what it means to do that. What happened to having compassion, and helping one another out, and showing love?
It's crazy. Some people just go to far for ALL the wrong reasons.
That is the religious spirit. God is love. And those in the religious form of things, are living in fear and by 2 Timothy 1:17 it says we do not have a spirit of fear. People just fall so easily into that lie of the world. Not every "Christian" is like that. When you put God in a box such as a religion, you're limiting yourself. By deciding not to live solely on faith. And with free-will he cannot pursue His acts, when you're not trusting Him entirely. There are people who are like that, but by spreading His truth, and love, you're already making a difference. Pray for that lie to be abolished. It's one that the Devil thinks he has a hold of. But don't ever underestimate the power of prayer.
very well put
@yoursecretsong@xanga - U SAID IT!!!
Yep. I think you hit the nail on the hand.
And it is completely past their thought pattern that not everyone is Christian...
YES!!! This says exactly everything honestly and barely! I'm nonreligious, because people decide to be so judgmental to the point in hurting others feelings and making them look more like devils themselves. But this finally helps to understand the true meaning of being a Christian OR a human being, better than ever.