Condescending 'Christians'....

[asianangel]

Hm...I don't know if this is the right forum for this post but what are your views on them? It really really really disgusts me when someone who say they are Christian, but say things such as "you really need God in your life! Go and read the Bible!" To non-believers in a REALLY condescending way and other stuff such as "you should go to church but I don't think they would let (insert expletive/condescending word here) inside".

I don't mean to be harsh on anyone but it really really annoys me...am I the only one who feels this way? Shouldn't we show respect for all people as a testimony to God's grace??

As a child, growing up in a athiest household, I was brought up with athiestic teachings and at school the teacher would look down on people who did not attend scripture classes. That really made me hate any kind of 'religious' person back then.

Sorry about the long post I just feel really strongly about this issue and I believe that is why people hate Christians so much...well, part of the reason anyway.

 

[Solidlyhere]

The words can be the same, BUT without being condescending.

As the OP said: "you really need God in your life! Go and read the Bible!"

At one level, this could be perfect words to say.
So, please don't trash the words.

But, there are all kinds of condescending people in this world, Christians . . . and non-Christians.

 

[asianangel]

Well it's a sad situation because I believe that Christians especially shouldn't be condescending because it WILL drive people away from God, as experienced by myself in the past.

 

[Solidlyhere]

If a Christian drives people away from God . . . well, that's too bad.

As long as YOU aren't scaring people away, then Life is pretty good.

I am not sure what kind of answer you want.
I mean, what are you going to do? Yell at all of the people who do it?

And, if a person doesn't believe in God anyway, seeing one (or 2) condescending Tract-givers isn't probably going to ruin them for Life.

All it takes is ONE close Christian friend, who warmly shares her Spirituality, to open up the heart of a person who is ready to find Jesus Christ.

 

[live4grace]

Hm...I don't know if this is the right forum for this post but what are your views on them? It really really really disgusts me when someone who say they are Christian, but say things such as "you really need God in your life! Go and read the Bible!" To non-believers in a REALLY condescending way and other stuff such as "you should go to church but I don't think they would let (insert expletive/condescending word here) inside".

I don't mean to be harsh on anyone but it really really annoys me...am I the only one who feels this way? Shouldn't we show respect for all people as a testimony to God's grace??

As a child, growing up in a athiest household, I was brought up with athiestic teachings and at school the teacher would look down on people who did not attend scripture classes. That really made me hate any kind of 'religious' person back then.

Sorry about the long post I just feel really strongly about this issue and I believe that is why people hate Christians so much...well, part of the reason anyway.

You are right that it's wrong for those say they follow the One who said "I am gentle and humble in heart" (Matt 11:28), who came to serve and not be served (Matt 10:45), to condescend to anyone. It sounds like the people you're describing don't really want to get to know and love people, though, and instead come up with things people need to do to please them. They are probably using their faith as a way to establish and maintain an exclusive club or a tribe of people who keep others out as much or more as they think of themselves as special. This is not the church of the Bible, which has people from "from every tribe and language and people and nation. " and cannot discriminate and still call itself the church.

So it *sounds* like Christ is misrepresented by the people you've been in contact with. Like many groups of people, "Christians" can become cloistered and exclusive. It's wrong but people shouldn't take that as the way God is. So, apologies are probably due from the REAL church, but stuff like that has been happening for 2000 years. And other groups can obviously be the same way.

 

[1Newcreation]

You are correct this is wrong, and not loving at all.

If one is being guided by the Holy Spirit then He will give believers the right words to speak to others without sounding harsh, judgemental etc...

So the people you are speaking of are not walking in the spirit and being guided by Him.

I do hear what you are saying, most assuredly, and as disheartening it is to see these things happen around us, We are not to fret about other behaviours, we need to be concerned with our own walk with Jesus, we need to make sure that we are conducting ourselves as individuals in a Godly way that glorifies Him, and that is what really matters.

To also add though, if we actually know the person who is speaking in this brash way, it would be the right thing for us to gently go beside them and kindly show them their error and possibly help them.

1newcreation