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Post by No Screen Name on Mar 9, 2009 20:47:01 GMT -5
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Post by Highly Favored on Mar 10, 2009 11:40:38 GMT -5
I'm disappointed, too, but not surprised. The Bible speaks of a "great falling away from the church" in the last days.
What you said is key when you spoke of knowing Christ for yourself. Your relationship with God has to be so solid that you don't allow others (who call themselves Christian) to influence it by things they do that are not right, however well-intentioned they might be.
I understand that everyone is not at that place. God will judge those who cause others to stumble. Christians have an obligation to live their lives in such a way that they are witnesses to Christ.
On the other hand, nonbelievers have to also stop looking for everything to be perfect all the time in Christianity. Anything that involves humans will be imperfect. I think sometimes that is just an excuse people use not to get involved in church, because their tolerance in other situations outside the church is so much higher. People need to be aware of the devil's tricks.
There is some responsibility on the part of the Christian and the non-believer. At the end of the day, when we stand before God in judgement, I don't think we can blame the evangelicals for not doing what God's word commands us to do.
At the same time, I understand what you are saying and I am even more encouraged to be salt and light.
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Post by kingdelta on Mar 10, 2009 11:55:31 GMT -5
What I think is people are moving away because there is not compassion. We are good at judging but not showing the love Jesus expects us too. I'm not saying we shouldn't tell people they are wrong or their acts are sinful, but we just start shunning people. Why would I want to be a part of that?
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Post by No Screen Name on Mar 10, 2009 12:15:05 GMT -5
What I think is people are moving away because there is not compassion. We are good at judging but not showing the love Jesus expects us too. I'm not saying we shouldn't tell people they are wrong or their acts are sinful, but we just start shunning people. Why would I want to be a part of that? Hey, KD! *waving* I agree with you. There is a lot of LOVE (which is what Jesus is all about) missing from many Christians. Nobody is attracted to a ranting, judgemental, hateful "Christian". It got to the point for me at one time when I'd see somebody in the news or something who was speaking on behalf of "Christian" issues, I'd think, "*SIGH*, here we go with this again...  ). And that's not a good thing. I also have been called "judgemental" and "hateful" from non-Christians who don't even know me, based on the actions of these highly visible, vocal "Christians". I got tired of explaining to folks that that was not what *I*--or Christianity--is all about. |
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Post by Highly Favored on Mar 10, 2009 12:58:33 GMT -5
What I think is people are moving away because there is not compassion. We are good at judging but not showing the love Jesus expects us too. I'm not saying we shouldn't tell people they are wrong or their acts are sinful, but we just start shunning people. Why would I want to be a part of that? I absolutely understand. Some Christians do come across as hateful and judgemental. A lot of times, they don't really even mean any harm, but that's no excuse. As much as God is a about judgement, He is about mercy first. You get no argument from me in that regard. It is people demonizing all Christians because of the actions of some that I am against. To the nonbeliever that says that they can't deal with Christians because they are hateful and judgemental, I say "Are you not judging me (who you may have never met or interacted with) based on what someone else did or said? Just because me and the other person both happen to be Christians doesn't make us the same." In other words, if if being judgemental and hateful is wrong when you are on the receiving end, it is also wrong on the giving end. There are still some Christians in this world that know how to show love to people and "restore in a spirit of meekness" as the Bible instructs us. People will never know that if they write Christianity off because they had a bad experience with or heard things they didn't like from one group of Christians. I'm not saying that are not justified in their hurt or disillusionment. However, speaking from personal experience, there is nothing I consider important that I gave up completely because of one bad experience or even a series of bad experiences. I usually tried again at another time and place. I guess I am saying that I feel that sometimes people don't give spiritual things the effort they should before walking away and deciding it 's not worth it. JMO. |
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Post by kingdelta on Mar 10, 2009 13:10:08 GMT -5
I hear what you're saying HF, but right wing Christianity is thrown in our faces everyday. We stereotype based on our experiences. I agree that we should be looked at as individuals but tell all the white people who believe all blacks are lazy and shiftless and like watermelon that.
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Post by Robelite on Mar 10, 2009 13:33:06 GMT -5
KD makes a good point, but I think the "shunning" of christianity has more of a POLITICAL foundation than a SPIRITUAL one.
Let's look specifically at the ultra-right wing "base" of the republican party. There are those who drape themselves in the clothes of christianity, but as we have witnessed especially during this presidential campaign, and even since Pres. Obama's inauguration...they are some of the most vile and hate-filled people in the country.
They reject all those who don't think, act, and LOOK like them, and for the non-believers who many at least have an idea of what christianity is SUPPOSED to be about, they see this for the oxymoron it is.
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Post by THE emPRISS on Mar 12, 2009 11:16:09 GMT -5
I hear what you're saying HF, but right wing Christianity is thrown in our faces everyday. We stereotype based on our experiences. I agree that we should be looked at as individuals but tell all the white people who believe all blacks are lazy and shiftless and like watermelon that. I dont eat chicken. It flabbergasts white people. Im an anomoly *shrug* I agree with your previous statement. We are in some confusing times. |
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Post by ReignMan19 on Mar 12, 2009 11:25:47 GMT -5
I hear what you're saying HF, but right wing Christianity is thrown in our faces everyday. We stereotype based on our experiences. I agree that we should be looked at as individuals but tell all the white people who believe all blacks are lazy and shiftless and like watermelon that. I dont eat chicken. It flabbergasts white people. Im an anomoly *shrug* I agree with your previous statement. We are in some confusing times.  .. I refuse to believe this until I see you sitting in front of a plate of chicken and not touching it |
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Post by THE emPRISS on Mar 12, 2009 11:28:48 GMT -5
I dont eat chicken. It flabbergasts white people. Im an anomoly *shrug* I agree with your previous statement. We are in some confusing times. .. I refuse to believe this until I see you sitting in front of a plate of chicken and not touching it Ask Sapphy or Damie...tis true. lol I dont eat any meat though. Hey, every time I have waffles, I think about you! True story. I dont know how you eat yours, but I heard that its "odd". I can only eat waffles standing up...I make two...prepare them, then put two more in the toaster just in time to finish the first two. Its really weird. lol |
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Post by ReignMan19 on Mar 12, 2009 11:45:42 GMT -5
.. I refuse to believe this until I see you sitting in front of a plate of chicken and not touching it Ask Sapphy or Damie...tis true. lol I dont eat any meat though. Hey, every time I have waffles, I think about you! True story. I dont know how you eat yours, but I heard that its "odd". I can only eat waffles standing up...I make two...prepare them, then put two more in the toaster just in time to finish the first two. Its really weird. lol Its not odd... per' se .. I just kinda tear them apart and roll them up.. |
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Post by QUIET As Kept on Mar 12, 2009 12:10:12 GMT -5
I GUA-RAN-TEE its not as weird as Reign's waffle-eating method! .. I refuse to believe this until I see you sitting in front of a plate of chicken and not touching it Ask Sapphy or Damie...tis true. lol I dont eat any meat though. Hey, every time I have waffles, I think about you! True story. I dont know how you eat yours, but I heard that its "odd". I can only eat waffles standing up...I make two...prepare them, then put two more in the toaster just in time to finish the first two. Its really weird. lol |
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Post by ReignMan19 on Mar 12, 2009 12:44:12 GMT -5
Whatever.. at least I can sit down and eat mine... I GUA-RAN-TEE its not as weird as Reign's waffle-eating method! Ask Sapphy or Damie...tis true. lol I dont eat any meat though. Hey, every time I have waffles, I think about you! True story. I dont know how you eat yours, but I heard that its "odd". I can only eat waffles standing up...I make two...prepare them, then put two more in the toaster just in time to finish the first two. Its really weird. lol |
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Post by THE emPRISS on Mar 12, 2009 12:49:19 GMT -5
Whatever.. at least I can sit down and eat mine... I GUA-RAN-TEE its not as weird as Reign's waffle-eating method! HEY!!!  I didnt judge you!  |
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). And that's not a good thing. 
I didnt judge you! 