How do you battle the "Christian" protestors?

Cis.jd

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Normally it is best to just walk away, however an incident happened last night at Union Square in New York City, in where a "Christian" Church was causing a huge commotion. They wearing shirts and yelling on the top of their lungs on how homosexuals, Catholics, jews, and random sinners are in need of repentance or they are going to hell. The crowds in Union Square blew up and it became a huge debate between them and the crowds. They even had the audacity to be a bit racial by saying negative things about Black people (ironically, some of the protestors were black). It was a huge blow up, with cops around and it reached about 4+ hours.

As a Christian who is Catholic but is also very close to a Non-denominational-Protestant church, i found this very offensive because of the fact that it was destroying the true of Image that Christ wanted.. and there just comes a time where you can't just let that happen.

What kind of biblical verse can you give that rebukes this kind of acts? Do you and your church support this yourself - going into a public area with huge signs "Jesus is God", "Repent" and yell at the top of your lungs as to why they should repent?

edit:27 min video of it (I was there for almost 4 hours btw)

 
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Albion

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It might be better not to get involved. Even being an active opponent of that group has the effect of perpetuating what they're about, of keeping the pot boiling. After all, they are not representative of Christians or Christianity, and most people know that.
 
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Cis.jd

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It might be better not to get involved. Even being an active opponent of that group has the effect of perpetuating what they're about, of keeping the pot boiling. After all, they are not representative of Christians or Christianity, and most people know that.

That is true.. I agree that 9/10 times you shouldn't get involved but at the same time there is a rare event in where it is just felt in the inside that you should atleast show a good/true example of who Jesus is. That whole park attracted a huge gathering of the public and the bright side is that even the non-believers (Muslims, Jews, Atheists)were going "Jesus isn't like that".

But just out of curiosity, is there a verse or chapter in the Bible that rebukes this?
 
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yeshuaslavejeff

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Not necessarly.... The "famous" two prophets, if they are in fact 2 individuals, in Revelation, sent by Yhwh,

will proclaim quite loudly, with miracles, things the whole world hears, and doesn't like/ hates.......
 
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yeshuaslavejeff

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For that matter - the apostles stirred up quite a bit of controversy most places they went - turned whole cities upside down -
and
they would not be welcome in most places today either.
 
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Albion

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But just out of curiosity, is there a verse or chapter in the Bible that rebukes this?

Maybe...
"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35)"
 
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OneChristianLight

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I agree with you. Nothing those protesters were doing was Christ-like. Matthew 22:36-40 says the two greatest commandments are to love God and love your neighbor. If we don't exercise those two commandments, then we're not adhering to Christ in the first place.

I've seen plenty of ultra fundamentalists, particularly among Protestants, who castigate Catholics, Jews, Jehovah's Witnesses, and pretty much anyone with whom they disagree. Sadly, I don't think there's much that can be done. I've spoken to these sorts of people before and brought up the fact that we should love and respect our inter-denominational brothers and sisters, and they always respond with hostility by saying things like, "Well, I'm just trying to save Catholics, JWs, Mormons, etc. from hell." My experiences show me that no amount of scripture or persuasion, no matter how well-reasoned, gets through to them. The only thing we can really do is pray for them.
 
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amariselle

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For that matter - the apostles stirred up quite a bit of controversy most places they went - turned whole cities upside down -
and
they would not be welcome in most places today either.

This is true, but it doesn't mean you set out with the goal of "stirring up controversy", and Jesus was clear that we are not to force our faith on other people. If they choose not to believe, that's their choice. Yelling and waving signs around is pointless and will only cause people to turn farther from Jesus.
 
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Cis.jd

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I can't lop Protestants to be this, because I am a frequent attendee at Non-Denominational Church (ironic due to my theological views) and the main reason why i go there is because they present God the right way. A loving God... i've heard these type of christians as examples for Atheists to use and I never really understood why they were examples, but after what happened last night, i can understand now.

The whole "love thy neighbor" was said, but they did have excuses and "scriptural references" to answer back. One of them being the fact that the Apostles did the same during the early times of Christianity --preaching around, telling the crowds that their sins are damning them, turn to christ". Hopefully one of the people there filmed it and will upload it around the net so you can get a visual example.

Nevertheless it was really that bad. The amount of attention drawn and the amount of people they argued with was something i've never seen before.
 
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ChristsSoldier115

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Normally it is best to just walk away, however an incident happened last night at Union Square in New York City, in where a "Christian" Church was causing a huge commotion. They wearing shirts and yelling on the top of their lungs on how homosexuals, Catholics, jews, and random sinners are in need of repentance or they are going to hell. The crowds in Union Square blew up and it became a huge debate between them and the crowds. They even had the audacity to be a bit racial by saying negative things about Black people (ironically, some of the protestors were black). It was a huge blow up, with cops around and it reached about 4+ hours.

As a Christian who is Catholic but is also very close to a Non-denominational-Protestant church, i found this very offensive because of the fact that it was destroying the true of Image that Christ wanted.. and there just comes a time where you can't just let that happen.

What kind of biblical verse can you give that rebukes this kind of acts? Do you and your church support this yourself - going into a public area with huge signs "Jesus is God", "Repent" and yell at the top of your lungs as to why they should repent?
Sounds like they thought Paul's dialog in Athens was a shouting match. I've seen a few baptists interpret the passages concerning the event as such. Non-denoms are really just baptist-lite with a different label IMHO.
 
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yeshuaslavejeff

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This is true, but it doesn't mean you set out with the goal of "stirring up controversy", and Jesus was clear that we are not to force our faith on other people. If they choose not to believe, that's their choice. Yelling and waving signs around is pointless and will only cause people to turn farther from Jesus.

Read all the prophets and the NT,
and Jesus.
Go through and read from Genesis to Malachi,
from Matthew to Revelation.
They didn't coddle anyone, nor soft-peddle nor compromise the message God gave them to deliver.
The 'people' are sinning and destined for God's Judgment - if they don't repent the worst thing in anyone's life is going to happen to them, forever.
People in the NT turned farther from Jesus , they rejected Him directly when He was with them.
People since then continue to reject Jesus, to their own peril/ certain Judgment .

No, don't , and no one can, 'force' your faith on anyone. But do what God says to do, speak what God says to speak.
People will hate you. Jesus says so.
People will humiliate you and denounce you. Jesus says so.
But it is still best to do what God says, all the time.

Maybe 'they' got it wrong. Maybe they're sent by God.

Maybe we all have crucial things to learn before other people die forever separated from God.
 
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amariselle

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Read all the prophets and the NT,
and Jesus.
Go through and read from Genesis to Malachi,
from Matthew to Revelation.
They didn't coddle anyone, nor soft-peddle nor compromise the message God gave them to deliver.
The 'people' are sinning and destined for God's Judgment - if they don't repent the worst thing in anyone's life is going to happen to them, forever.
People in the NT turned farther from Jesus , they rejected Him directly when He was with them.
People since then continue to reject Jesus, to their own peril/ certain Judgment .

No, don't , and no one can, 'force' your faith on anyone. But do what God says to do, speak what God says to speak.
People will hate you. Jesus says so.
People will humiliate you and denounce you. Jesus says so.
But it is still best to do what God says, all the time.

Maybe 'they' got it wrong. Maybe they're sent by God.

Maybe we all have crucial things to learn before other people die forever separated from God.

Absolutely, obey God. However, nowhere does He call us to yell and rant and hatefully wave signs in people's faces.

That behaviour is not helping.
 
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yeshuaslavejeff

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Absolutely, obey God. However, nowhere does He call us to yell and rant and hatefully wave signs in people's faces.

That behaviour is not helping.
Perhaps you are right,(except you are wrong to assume and to claim they are hateful),
perhaps not.
Remember Smith Wigglesworth ? (He healed many people)
 
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revanneosl

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Here's what you do. You make a sign that's just the right size to fit in your briefcase. Write on it "On behalf of all sane Christians, I apologize for these jerks" Then just carry it around with you.

When one of these embarassing debacles pops up, you just whip out your sign, and stand silently in front of the jerks. Somebody will use their phone to take your picture and you will become internet-famous. :amen:
 
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WolfGate

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Perhaps you are right,(except you are wrong to assume and to claim they are hateful),
perhaps not.
Remember Smith Wigglesworth ? (He healed many people)

If they were saying racial things about black people, as the OP indicated, well I think that is a pretty good indicator they are being hateful and not representative of the teachings or example of Christ. Well past assumption if that is true.
 
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Albion

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Sometimes it's best just to tell anyone who cares that you're embarrassed to see any self-professed Christians acting or talking that way...and let it go at that. They'll know what you mean.
 
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yeshuaslavejeff

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If they were saying racial things about black people, as the OP indicated, well I think that is a pretty good indicator they are being hateful and not representative of the teachings or example of Christ. Well past assumption if that is true.
Too many "IF"s, so it is still hearsay, unconfirmed.
 
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WolfGate

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Too many "IF"s, so it is still hearsay, unconfirmed.

I find that an...interesting...response. Nothing in the thread has been raised that was contrary to the OP statement that racial comments were made. So for purposes of discussion on what someone should do in that situation, it's a factor that fully remains on the table.

If you follow that logic of your thought process here, everything in the OP and every response is hearsay and unconfirmed. I mean IF there really was a commotion in Union Square, and IF they really were claiming to be "Christian" and IF they really were wearing shirts, and IF there was a debate, and IF cops really showed up, and IF it lasted hours, and IF someone said all these people are going to hell. With all the IFS it is still hearsay so we can't, even for the purposes of discussion, treat (assume) any of these things are accurate. Effect - no discussion. The OP was asking for help in determining how to respond in the situation described. We can do that based on the factors as listed without having to re-project it in light of what we wish it said.
 
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