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Christians....
- Jul 2, 2009 at 12:11 AM
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- Comments (55) Total Views (1175) 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:
We seem to be on a similar page... LOL I just journaled something similar myself...
Welcome back- I brought the mead!!lol
I've seen many Christians in my life behave this way. How can you justify your religion and your character and claim to be Christ-like when you call names and treat people like that? It baffles the mind...
The good news, some Christians are just peachy to me !
I'm glad you're back Kristi. :)
Did I forget to mention that I'm glad you're back? I love your posts Kristi. Can I have some cookies too please? I'm having a REALLY bad day. :)
I recently posted something similar myself, but as a Christian making commentary on how religious extremists ( a term often used for terroists these days but, hey, it applies here too... all religions have them ) are making all of us Christians seem like real jerks.
It's getting harder and harder (in my opinion) to tell folks that I'm a Christian without explaining to them also that I'm not the "picket funnerals, gay bashing, freedom denying" Christians.
I often find it funny how some people of my faith forget that we're not meant to be judges of others... but an example to all men of how god's love brings peace and joy to our lives and through that... lead them to the promise of everlasting life through Christ our Savior.
I find it sad how often some people of my faith forget that Christ himself embraced a whore and stood between her and people who would stone her... saying "let ye among you who has not sinned, cast the first stone." Was Jesus saying that he supported prostitution? No. Jesus was saying he loved all people, regardless of their choices. His father's love isn't just for those who realize they've made mistakes and who try to do better... it's especially for those folks who can't see the mistakes they've made or who feel most alone.
As Christians we were asked to go out into the world and share the message that Christ shared with his disciples... to be messengers to all nations. Sadly, somewhere along the way some religious folks began to believe that being messengers meant that we were also suppose to be judge, jury and executioners too and it's not a recent movement (crusades, witch hunts, turning a blind ye in WWII) we just have a bigger soap box for them to stand on these days (major media and the internet.)
Please don't believe that the message of Christ is to judge your fellow man and please accept that we, like you, are human and capable of being prideful and sinful. While my brothers and sisters in Christ may not always use good judgement, I want to believe their hearts are in the right place.
In the meantime, the message is a good one (and not all contained in the bible - but that's a longer discussion) and if you keep looking I'm sure you'll find a Christian who exemplifies the word in your mind.
Kindest Regards, -Dee, a Christian.
Oh Dee, I know SEVERAL women who exemplify the word Christian in my mind. They are the kindest, gentlest and most wonderful women I know. Some of them have already commented on this post!
So very glad to hear that. I hope your readers find folks like that too! :)
Good post, but I have only one issue. YOu don't like the phrase "sinners SAVED by the grace." Well we don't focus on the sin because God doesn't. Its not about superiority but the fact that if we confess God forgives that sin. The saved is focusing on the love and forgiveness we are giving. We don't emphasize the sin because thats what is forgiven, its what we should move past in hopes of a closer relationship with Christ. By no means are we saying that we are not sinners or we are perfect. Just that in eyes of God, after accepting Jesus, we are clean. We don't focus on the sinner part because that is not what God would want us to do...thats all. Its as simple as that.
You mis interpreted that, or at least what it really means. Although I do agree there are some high horse christians out there who DO thing their s**t smells like roses and they think that they can judge because they are "righteous." NOT! We're all sinners TYVM!
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Great post. Great thoughts.
It is my understanding from reading the Bible that Jesus never belittled those who didn't believe, but rather had a few things to say to the religious folks of his day. To bad, there is this superiority complex that runs so rampant that it turns people off.