Why is religion such a "hot button" topic?

[CitizenD]

Why is religion such a hot button topic? Why is one's belief in God considered personal to some but not to others? Is it a personal and private matter to any of you? Is it something that goes against God's Word as far as sharing our faith publicly or no? Should expressing our religion be just a private thing between the believer and the Lord in your humble opinion or not?

For most people, religion is often a part of the core beliefs that comprise their identity.
Core beliefs are often foundational. The are almost never examined, and almost reflexively defended. You can almost never convince someone to abandon a core beliefs because it is tantamount to suicide.

Not everyone holds religion as a core belief.

Different people hold different religions as core beliefs and will argue, literally to the death to distinguish them.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

It reminds people that there more important/disturbing things than discussing the latest Netflix show.

 

[thesunisout]

Why is religion such a hot button topic? Why is one's belief in God considered personal to some but not to others? Is it a personal and private matter to any of you? Is it something that goes against God's Word as far as sharing our faith publicly or no? Should expressing our religion be just a private thing between the believer and the Lord in your humble opinion or not?

In the name of tolerance we are allowed to talk about anything except our faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot say that He is the only way to God, or that through Him our sins are forgiven and we receive eternal life. It is offensive to say truth is absolute because the society believes it is relative.

The bible tells us to preach the gospel to every creature, so God isn't really concerned whether people find the truth offensive or not. It is our duty to share it with every human being, but of course we need Gods wisdom to tailor that to each person. When I say tailor, I don't mean water down; I mean sharing the whole counsel of God, but using wisdom to share the message in a way the person can understand. Some people need the direct approach, others can only handle a little at a time.

Let the Holy Spirit lead you in this, praying for Him to give you wisdom and boldness to share His truth, the truth of the gospel of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

[Tom 1]

Why is religion such a hot button topic? Why is one's belief in God considered personal to some but not to others? Is it a personal and private matter to any of you? Is it something that goes against God's Word as far as sharing our faith publicly or no? Should expressing our religion be just a private thing between the believer and the Lord in your humble opinion or not?

Yeah it’s curious. I suppose in some way it touches something deeper than we’re aware of, an understanding that we need to be right with God but don’t always want to be. I’m thinking of my Mum, who’s an atheist but who gets very touchy whenever the subject comes up. On the other hand there’s groupthink - I used to work in a field where being PC was very important, once anyone found out you were a believer you were treated with some suspicion as being probably this or that phobic.

 

[Blood Bought 1953]

You really should read your Bible brother and not make such contentiously false statements... there is a true "religion" that involves humility, repentance and the fruits of the Spirit.

James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.[/QUOTE

You really should read your Bible brother and not make such contentiously false statements... there is a true "religion" that involves humility, repentance and the fruits of the Spirit.

James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Well, I read

You really should read your Bible brother and not make such contentiously false statements... there is a true "religion" that involves humility, repentance and the fruits of the Spirit.

James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

I read

Hey

You really should read your Bible brother and not make such contentiously false statements... there is a true "religion" that involves humility, repentance and the fruits of the Spirit.

James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

I read my Bible, brother and here is what I concluded. All religions have one thing in common—keeping certain rules in order to be “worthy” of salvation. Despite what “weak” Believers think , (you know the ones,those that insist on worship on certain days or one is lost) Christianity is different—we don’t have to be “worthy” to get to Heaven— we are MADE WORTHY by the shed blood of Jesus .saved by FAITH in the promises of our God.... not by rule-keeping.Rule keeping is great if you want a better life on earth and rewards in Heaven....if you practice faith God will put His Spirit in you and you will “find” yourself obeying rules in spite of yourself.All great stuff!!! But it ain’t what saves you.

P.S.....this is not a ploy to get out of church-going....give me a break.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

as being probably this or that phobic.

Yahweh (God) may be considered "phobic" by so many different groups of people.
"They think" since He won't let them into heaven, that HE'S AFRAID OF THEM !?!?

I don't think so...

 

[Tom 1]

Yahweh (God) may be considered "phobic" by so many different groups of people.
"They think" since He won't let them into heaven, that HE'S AFRAID OF THEM !?!?

I don't think so...

I don’t think I understand your post. Or maybe you misunderstood mine?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

once anyone found out you were a believer you were treated with some suspicion as being probably this or that phobic.

Believers are called phobic(and much worse also) when they go along with Yahweh. No worry since the Word of Jesus was that that and worse would happen to His followers just as it happened to Him. (as He was treated, so are His followers)

 

[Tom 1]

Believers are called phobic(and much worse also) when they go along with Yahweh. No worry since the Word of Jesus was that that and worse would happen to His followers just as it happened to Him. (as He was treated, so are His followers)

Ah yes ok, that’s pretty much what I was saying

 

[tz620q]

Religion is the incorporation of required ceremonies, formulae, procedures, obligations, rituals, policies, systems, created lines of authority outside of THE creation / Creator, and so on. Fractured Christianity has shattered into a million belief systems known as denominations and/or cults. Authentic Christianity remains as Faith, Hope and Trust in our Savior and nothing else. There is NO structure in authentic Christianity.

I looked it up in Merriam's Dictionary.
Definition of RELIGION
Definition of religion
1 a : the state of a religious, i.e. a nun in her 20th year of religion
b : the service and worship of God or the supernatural commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2 a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
3 archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness
4 cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith

I think many get hung up on disliking someone else's system as defined in definition 2 above and don't realize how much that hatred is detrimental to doing what you define as authentic Christianity above. Let me propose a study for you. Read the book of Joshua and then read the book of Judges. In Joshua, you will see a leader that trusted God and led all the tribes of Hebrews as a united force. As long as they stayed united they prevailed. In Judges, you will see what happens when the Hebrews fractured into tribes and tribal lands. They stopped trusting God, starting worshiping false gods, and over time became slaves of some other power.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Religion requires us to do that which is anathema today, that is to throw away our personal beliefs in favor of a corporate belief system.

Jesus came along, and called the disciples to follow Him,
and the corporate belief system that had been setup originally by God Himself
hated Him, and hated His disciples.

Nothing much has changed . Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. His followers/ disciples are hated just like Jesus is, same as in the first century,
just as He said to expect.

 

[tz620q]

Jesus came along, and called the disciples to follow Him,
and the corporate belief system that had been setup originally by God Himself
hated Him, and hated His disciples.

Nothing much has changed . Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. His followers/ disciples are hated just like Jesus is, same as in the first century,
just as He said to expect.

Strange though that many Christians today seem to thrive on and actually seek this hatred as though it validates their beliefs. Do you feel called to worship with other Christians? If so, I submit that this is a humble act, pleasing to God; and it should lead to peace and joy, not dissension and fighting.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Strange though that many Christians today seem to thrive on and actually seek this hatred as though it validates their beliefs.

This is a common temptation, both to do that (seek validation), and to think that that applies to all. Freedom in Christ is rare, and free.
Realize that even though some or many might be mis-directed,
all the time that anyone seeks to follow Christ,
all the time that anyone stands up for the truth, anywhere on earth,
they are hated.
Jesus did not say otherwise - there is no exception in other words.
So even if , and no matter how many, there are those who are not true believers,
the true ones are still hated by the world.
If they are not hated, they cannot be true believers, according to all Scripture and especially Jesus' Own Words.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

peace and joy, not dissension and fighting.

All of the ekklesia immersed in Yeshua were (and are today) filled daily, continually, with peace and joy and righteousness. (as written in the New Testament).

The hatred of the world Jesus warned about was so that the joy would not be diminished at all when this happens as it must necessarily happen.

ie. the dissension and fighting that Jesus faced, is still present today, and will be until He Returns. Only that dissension and fighting like Jesus faced,
did not take away His Joy and Peace and Righteousness,
nor does it today. "COUNT IT ALL JOY, when you encounter fiery trials" JOY, not worry, nor fear, nor doubting.... PURE JOY !

 

[Tom 1]

Some insight on what made Christians so unpopular at the beginning -http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/article/are-most-christians-today-not-really-christians

 

[tz620q]

All of the ekklesia immersed in Yeshua were (and are today) filled daily, continually, with peace and joy and righteousness. (as written in the New Testament).

The hatred of the world Jesus warned about was so that the joy would not be diminished at all when this happens as it must necessarily happen.

ie. the dissension and fighting that Jesus faced, is still present today, and will be until He Returns. Only that dissension and fighting like Jesus faced,
did not take away His Joy and Peace and Righteousness,
nor does it today. "COUNT IT ALL JOY, when you encounter fiery trials" JOY, not worry, nor fear, nor doubting.... PURE JOY !

I finally pegged your thought. You are like the Apostle Paul, fiery and resolute.

May the Peace of God be with you today and always.
Byron

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

I read

Hey


I read my Bible, brother and here is what I concluded. All religions have one thing in common—keeping certain rules in order to be “worthy” of salvation. Despite what “weak” Believers think , (you know the ones,those that insist on worship on certain days or one is lost) Christianity is different—we don’t have to be “worthy” to get to Heaven— we are MADE WORTHY by the shed blood of Jesus .saved by FAITH in the promises of our God.... not by rule-keeping.Rule keeping is great if you want a better life on earth and rewards in Heaven....if you practice faith God will put His Spirit in you and you will “find” yourself obeying rules in spite of yourself.All great stuff!!! But it ain’t what saves you.

P.S.....this is not a ploy to get out of church-going....give me a break.

So obedience means nothing? Seems to me the ones not wanting to be obedient to all of God's requirements are ones that still foster rebellion in their hearts.

Obedience is not "works" but an act of love towards our fellow man and our Heavenly Father.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Why is religion such a hot button topic? Why is one's belief in God considered personal to some but not to others? Is it a personal and private matter to any of you? Is it something that goes against God's Word as far as sharing our faith publicly or no? Should expressing our religion be just a private thing between the believer and the Lord in your humble opinion or not?

Relates to whether people want to talk about it or not. If being open about their "beliefs" commonly results in being called a heretic or minimized in some way, it may very well be considered a personal thing to them and none of yours or any one else's business.

 

[Tayla]

Why is religion such a hot button topic?

The same reason politics is.

 

[Blood Bought 1953]

So obedience means nothing? Seems to me the ones not wanting to be obedient to all of God's requirements are ones that still foster rebellion in their hearts.

Obedience is not "works" but an act of love towards our fellow man and our Heavenly Father.

To the contrary.....obedience is essential to salvation...first things first however...Paul talks about the obedience to the “faith”."..the main points of obedience...the obedience that will save us says. Have a contrite (or repentant ,if you prefer. Heart and be obedient to the command of Jesus—”Believe on the ONE He sent “ lead by the Holy Spirit,our obedience will constantly improve as will our good works.obey God with believing on His son. The rest will follow. God bless