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Christians....
- Jul 2, 2009 at 12:11 AM
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- Comments (55) Total Views (1181) Everyone can see this journal post.
***The following is NOT directed at ALL Christians but rather thoughts that had crossed through my mind while observing a few. They were in fact a response to a post at one point in time but I had accidentally deleted it all and re-typing it on my cell phone wasn't worth the effort. I apologize if it seems a little scattered. I am trying to remember exactly how I had worded it the first time. *****
How does telling someone of a different belief system that they are "wrong, going to hell, or evil" improve YOUR relationship with Christ?
How does it make you a better person/ a better YOU through him?
Forgive me for saying so but I thought the whole point of striving to be more Christ-like was to become more gentle, patient, humble, and compassionate. By telling someone any of the aforementioned things you are actually doing opposite of being Christ-like but rather acting like the Pharisees in Luke 18. The ones that spoke of how much better they were than "other" sinners.
While I am on THAT subject. I often see the response from many Christians who acknowledge they are "Sinners SAVED by the Grace of God". However, they put the emphasis on being SAVED rather than on being a sinner. The problem with this is it leads to a Superiority Complex. The whole point of recognizing they are a sinner is to HUMBLE themselves. To admit that they are NO BETTER than anyone else. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, our virtues and vices. NO ONE is any better than any one else, regardless of religious affiliation.We are ALL HUMAN. The Bible mentions this too, though the way some Christians act you would think otherwise.
I actually commented on a Christian's Journal who failed to ask forgiveness from women she had offended and apologize to them and her response was that she did not apologize to "evil". The evil she was referring to was nothing more than people of a differing religion that she had called names such as "broom-riders" and "terrorists". She has missed 2 lessons completely. The one on forgiveness and the one on humbling oneself.
I don't think it matters what religion or lack of religion a person claims. As long as it helps you to become a better person then what does it matter? However, when you use the beliefs to belittle others than WHAT are you accomplishing other than pretending you are somehow better than anyone else in order to make yourself feel better? Really it's no better than a high school girl gossiping about what's wrong with EVERYBODY else's looks in order to raise her own self-esteem.
Think about it, ask questions of me if you wish. I will be formulating my next journal on asking WHO is God Rather than WHAT is God. Hopefully I'll be able to express my thoughts a little more clearly. I am off to find a notebook and pen to start my rough draft. Something I did not do with this post.
Comments:
Some days I think what a great Christian you'd make, Kristi. You really do understand so much and you'd be a shining example to those who just don't get it. Are the cookies over there really that good? :-)
Only when I bake them Mik!!! How's the Baby doing?
YAY!! You're back!! You've been missed!! I agree with Mik ;-)
Ya know, you're absolutely right. The people who have offended and hurt me the most have been Christians. It's not my intention to bad mouth any brother or sister in Christ, because I DO know we're ALL sinners, and I'm painfully aware of my own shortcomings.
I guess I just learned that I can't expect Christians to be much different than anyone else because then that makes me guilty of thinking they're better than others. I know people think we should live up to a higher standard of conduct, and I agree, however, I also realize sin rules this world and any of us can succumb to it. After all, the Bible tells us that satan roams the earth, like a roaring lion, seeking those whom he can devour.
Christ-like qualities are spelled out for us in the Word of God, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, and we should strive to model God's character to the best of our ability. Yet, there's the constant struggle going on that Paul spoke about in Romans chapter 7."So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin."
I'm in no way trying to make excuses for sin and bad behavior, I'm just pointing out the struggle that goes on between the flesh and the spirit. We're told that in our flesh "dwells no good thing." And Jesus told us that apart from Him we could do nothing. We couldn't save ourselves by being good because as Paul pointed out...we CAN'T. Jesus died to set us free from the penalty and guilt of sin, but we won't be free from the presence of sin until we get to heaven.
Oh, and save me some cookies please ;-)
It took me a long time to get here, but I strive to avoid being the type of Christian you are referring to. I hope that I succeed at least once in a while. Turning people away from God and/or Christ by way of a self-righteous attitude defies the entire point of being a Christian, now doesn't it?
TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU!
There is no excuse for calling people names, I don't care who you are, but when I see my fellow Christians do it, I really don't get it. What example of Christ does that show? How many people are won over to Christianity that way? It just doesn't make any sense.
And here..... 
I was able to get the first batch of your famous cookies from the oven for you.
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You're back. You're really, truly, officially back!!! Yay!!!!
Oh, yeah...great post. I'll be back later for the inevitable popcorn and cookies. Hope someone brings drinks. I have chocolate Twizzlers. :O)