Christian persecution in USA

Larnievc said:

What this says to me is that it's not Christians (as a whole) who are racist and homophobic but racist homophobes who are Christians which is the problem.

If people want to be Christian that's great: but using it to promulgate racism and homophobia? Racists and homophobes give decent, good hearted Christians a bad name.

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=== REPLY: Yes, I agree. Actually, it seems, that there's as many types of Christians as there are Jews! There's, at least, the types: 1) Orthodox (bible thumping, literalist, self-righteous, judgmental), 2) Secularist ["member only" CEOs (Christmas-Easter only), no practice needed. Politically expedient.], 3) Reformed (going by their own rules), 4) OT ones (eye-for-eye vengeance w a wrathful God), and 5) Conservative Progressive (tradition based into modern culture).

What if we judged Christians by their practice & words in following Christ rather than, often, spun denominational church interpretations? What a concept, huh?

LovelyGiselle said:

There is no other brand of Christianity

There is only one truth. And that true body of Christ are those who do not seek to change scripture to conform with the world.

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=== RESP: See my post #43.

Armoured, you're not arguing with Giselle because these aren't Giselle's rules, you're arguing with the root of God that has been grown and placed within her through bible study and a relationship with God, therefore you are in fact arguing with God's words and God's laws!

We're living in the end times now, in Revelation is says many will be tricked by false doctrine and go astray and that they'll be cast into the fire (into hell), do not let yourself be deceived by Satan!

Armoured, do one big favor for yourself, if you are indeed a Christian then you don't need to listen to what I, Giselle or anyone else has to tell you-- BUT instead pray to God with all your heart, ask him to open your eyes and show you the truth, ask him to give you discernment, ask him to let you not be fooled by Satan and then God will show you what's what! You don't need to believe us, you only need to ask and trust in God!

Oh boy.

Will I agree that spray painting a church is persecution. This is nothing. SO people call us names. Wait until they come to your house and say you cannot worship anymore. Wait till they say that your religion is illegal and the state has ruled your church must be eliminated. Wait until you are dragged out into the street and accused of being a criminal. Wait until all you have is taken from you. Wait until you are brought before court for your worship practices and falsely accused in public. Wait until you are executed for your beliefs. There are some parts of the world where this happens every day; we hardly hear about it. Not long ago you could be killed if you were caught with a copy of the bible in your house. Read about the Waldenses if you want to know about persecution. Read about the protestant reformation. Those times are coming again, and I suspect we will dream about the times when they only spray painted our churches.

It should be obvious why this is happening. It's to drive people away from the truth and to silence God's people. If Satan can make us afraid to speak the truth because we will be labeled as hateful it plays into his plans. If Christian voices are repelled by the state Satan can lay hold of power that much better.

Armoured this is a rather pointless discussion. You are not going to convince christians that rejecting their religion will make them a better christian. You really need to read though a bible sometime to see that you are missing the point.

That would also help you understand why you are missing the mark with regard to the blaming the victim comment. Someone within a religion who finds a group within their religion rejecting the religion are going to consider that a big problem. Perhaps bigger than some spray paint on the wall. There are two separate issues involved. It is not a case of blaming the victim. Simply the scale of the damage doesn't seem as bad to them. Particularly in the context of previous vandalism of churches such as the smashing of historic stained glass windows:

http://www.christianpost.com/news/m...hurch-vandalized-by-angry-queers-group-73913/

or windows smashed and graffiti sprayed

http://clashdaily.com/2015/04/gay-t...es-and-breaking-windows-leave-10k-in-damage/#
http://www.libertynewsnow.com/carolina-churches-vandalized-by-gay-activists/article1313

or just other graffiti

http://www.catholicleague.org/gays-vandalize-san-francisco-church-2/

"Someone within a religion who finds a group within their religion rejecting the religion are going to consider that a big problem. Perhaps bigger than some spray paint on the wall."

Well said - I think this and Lovely Giselle's commentary address the issue succinctly.

It is difficult for me to understand why anyone would play devil's advocate on a Christian Forum. Brick and mortar church buildings have always and will always continue to be hijacked for anti-Biblical uses. In contrast, the true Body of Christ is a spiritual house made up of living stones and the spirits of just men made perfect - and it can never be hijacked or usurped for the aims and purposes of those who resist God and do not like to retain him in their thoughts and lifestyles.

Yoking with the state through government benefactors opens the door for the ungodly to hide behind the now ambiguous term 'Christianity' while promoting and practicing those things which the scriptures cite in both the Old and New Covenants as "worthy of death". Referring not to those who once practiced such a lifestyle and have now been washed, regenerated by the Spirit and made a new man in Christ - but to those who would seek to synthesize wickedness with righteousness.

Government says it's OK and we're going to accept it; government schools are going to accept it and include it as part of the curriculum; any institution that receives government funding in any way shape or form is now bound to accept it too. What a convenient way to mainstream ungodliness. Those who will only render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar and render to God all that belongs to him do not and will not get caught up in the spirit of the age and carried away by the emotion, soundbytes, and rallying cries -but rather are able to discern good from evil and righteousness from unrighteousness.

Okay, get a neck brace first, then take a number and get in line...LOL. I will always seek the honor that comes from God alone and disdain the praise that comes from men.