Idle or ignorant christians

Tolworth John said:

Many who leave Christianity do so because the say Christians, that is those they mix with and those who lead are unable to answer there questions about Christianity.

Is this idleness or stupidity on the part of Christians?
See what a Christian intellectual thinks:-
William Lane Craig: Christians are idling in intellectual neutral

Click to expand...

I find when my questions are not answered by church goers, it is a result of double speak - so it may just be plain old deceit.

Good thread.

Tolworth John said:

Many who leave Christianity do so because the say Christians, that is those they mix with and those who lead are unable to answer there questions about Christianity.

Is this idleness or stupidity on the part of Christians?
See what a Christian intellectual thinks:-
William Lane Craig: Christians are idling in intellectual neutral

Click to expand...

There has been an increasing emphasis on experiences instead of spiritual food in the last decades. "Give us this day our daily bread" is not talking about physical food. It is the "bread of heaven", so essential to spiritual life that we must feed on it or suffer spiritual malnutrition. Complacency and spiritual pride brought down the church of Laodicea. The modern church in the West is much like Laodicea. So-called worship is often little different from a rock concert and just hypes up emotion without achieving anything of spiritual value.

The value of the intellect in spiritual development is much overrated. It's not how much you get into the Word. It is far more important for the Word to get into us. If only intellectuals can be spiritual, it leaves many people with no hope of becoming stable and fruitful believers. Lord Jesus chose uneducated fishermen as disciples as well as the brilliant and well taught Paul. It's the job of the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. Since Jesus is the Truth, the Holy Spirit leads us to know Lord Jesus better and better. You don't need a Mensa IQ for that (thank God). You need an honest and teachable heart. If that's a problem, God can fix that for you.

A lot of the former Christians and atheists I talk to stated that the reason they originally had doubts is over the scientific “controversies” . What they were told by their religion about evolution and other scientific processes just wasn’t true . They felt betrayed and lied to.

Tolworth John said:

Many who leave Christianity do so because the say Christians, that is those they mix with and those who lead are unable to answer there questions about Christianity.

Is this idleness or stupidity on the part of Christians?
See what a Christian intellectual thinks:-
William Lane Craig: Christians are idling in intellectual neutral

Click to expand...

If you are a born agin Christian filled with the Holy Spirit, you will find the answers you seek if it is the will of The Father that the answer be given. There is a certain amount of faith we need to carry in order to overcome those unanswerable questions. We only know in part. This is clearly stated in scripture. Be blessed.

That’s fine , but what about the answerable natural phenomena questions that were lied about. Some Former Christians leave because they feel they can’t trust the Church to tell them the truth. I was very glad that my church decided not to give out disinformation about natural phenomena . I think I would have been discouraged by that myself

Tolworth John said:

Many who leave Christianity do so because the say Christians, that is those they mix with and those who lead are unable to answer there questions about Christianity.

Click to expand...

Is this idleness or stupidity on the part of Christians?

Click to expand...

It is quite obvious that the truth of the religion does not depend upon every last member being perfectly informed about the tenets of their faith. Nor, for that matter, has the Christian religion ever been one that sees itself as a faith intended only for intellectuals. Anyone who leaves Christianity, citing this as the excuse, has no logical basis for doing so. It might be valid in the case of certain congregations or denominations, etc. but not the Christian religion itself.

How is it stupidity to ask a question if the answer would clear up the doubts . Then to be brushed off like that would understandably upset someone and probably enough to leave . That’s one reason there are so many Protestant sects

Brightmoon said:

How is it stupidity to ask a question if the answer would clear up the doubts . Then to be brushed off like that would understandably upset someone and probably enough to leave . That’s one reason there are so many Protestant sects

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Being "understandably upset" at the response of any pastor or congregation or denomination is no excuse for abandoning the Christian religion (assuming that the person stalking off really was a believer in the first place).

It's simply a failing on the part of that person to do such a thing.

From what I understand it’s never just one abrupt or non answered question . I’m just as curious because I never had this problem but I’ve seen a lot of others with it.

Tolworth John said:

Is this idleness or stupidity on the part of Christians?

Click to expand...

One other important thing I believe that isn't obvious in the parameters of your question but also is very important in dealing with it is 1 Corinthians 12:12-17.

It could one or the other [idleness and stupidity] however I believe the majority of us are not intellectual giants like William, nor are most of us even close to his talents Matthew 25:14-30 . Christians share in the same aptitude for learning as the rest of society, a vast majority of people don't graduate with straight A's.

Like the world, Christianity is influenced within by those with a high degree of communication skills. To be able to express and interact with others will vary, so to explain the Gospel will vary in quality. Generally if a Christian can only express one little thing 1 Corinthians 2:2 in their theological and practice in life then they're good imo. The rest is for the LORD to decide.

Tolworth John said:

Many who leave Christianity do so because the say Christians, that is those they mix with and those who lead are unable to answer there questions about Christianity.

Click to expand...

How many is many? Has someone done a poll?

Have you heard Dr. Craig's own testimony? It is an example of God's power to save someone even when His children aren't doing a good job of aiding Him. God doesn't need any of us - not even William Lane Craig - to save those He has known from the foundation of the world He would save. He deigns to use us, and we are commanded by Him in His word to be "ready to give an answer," (1 Peter 3:15) but we shouldn't get to thinking that it's all up to us whether or not a person gets saved. It isn't. (2 Timothy 2:25)

I think generally modern Christians aren't just on "idle" intellectually, but are not even saved. There are a growing number of "tares" in the Church, "false brethren" the apostle Paul called them, and they have little or no interest in being able ambassadors for Christ. They go about claiming to know and love Jesus but belie their own words by the carelessness with which they approach following him - in the area of giving a defense of the faith, as well as many others. The answer for such people isn't to demand they become better intellectual champions of Christianity but that they come to a genuine saving faith in Christ.