What can Christians do to combat catcalling/sexual harassment?

Addressing the question in the thread title: If you're male, one thing you can do is call out your friends when you see them harassing women. Something like "Hey, not cool!", or "Did you really mean to say that?", or "Do you realize how that sounded?", or "What if that was your sister?" -- the exact language will depend on the situation and the relationship you have with the person. But say something to let the offender know that what he did was not okay.

I will let you in on a little secret, for most atheists telling them they hate God or that they are blind to the truth is a sure way to turn them off. Same with any apologetics you know, because they have probably heard them before.

The best way is to be a good person and act out your religion. Show what being Christian is, not saying what it is. You will then get more people who are honestly interested in your religion. If more Christians had done that, many people would not have left the religion or ignored it.

As it is, you have a long battle to convince someone too join who is familiar with the religion and has rejected it. And you are not going to do that with words, but actions would get you farther.

While it is great to share with anyone, see if the Holy Spirit can help you be more selective in getting to the people where it will make a bigger difference. Perhaps even consider a short-term missions trip sometime to see another perspective.

researchguy said:

I feel like all our preaching of the gospel is falling on deaf hears. People don't wanna hear the good news, christians are hated, and so if we try to teach that lust is a sin or why lust is dangerous, theyll just say. "what do you know, your G-d isnt real" Science officially blinds people to the truth. And instead people try all this legislation but no amount of structures can solve the problems inherent in man. I'm young and inexperienced, and new on my journey as a christian. I'm actually a christian in secret, so does anyone know what to do?

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Science blinds people to the truth?

Like what?

I can.cite many ways
that religious beliefs have blinded people to things that are real.and true.

researchguy said:

People don't wanna hear the good news, christians are hated,

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It’s not that Christians are hated it’s that non Christians get tired of being told how awful humans are.

But when Christians keep doing it it does get annoying. Being told the good news only really hits home if one genuinely thinks think one is an awful person.

People who don’t think that way don’t see much point in Christianity.

But it’s not of Christians hate per se it’s more hating the continual behaviour some Christians manifest.

Take my mother in law. A devout Christian very active in her local church for many years. But she has never once mentioned her faith to me or son in the nearly 20 years that we know each other.

Larniavc said:

It’s not that Christians are hated it’s that non Christians get tired of being told how awful humans are.

But when Christians keep doing it it does get annoying. Being told the good news only really hits home if one genuinely thinks think one is an awful person.

People who don’t think that way don’t see much point in Christianity.

But it’s not of Christians hate per se it’s more hating the continual behaviour some Christians manifest.

Take my mother in law. A devout Christian very active in her local church for many years. But she has never once mentioned her faith to me or son in the nearly 20 years that we know each other.

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I don't hate Christians. Far from it. Im no bigot. There's no
" All Christians are..,:

Among those who call themselves christian I find those who call me a hater. A fool. An agent of Satan.
Thetes assaults on my character. Im.a "blasphemer". The list is long.

The "what's to be done?" of op seems to be about what OTHER people should do.

That could use rethinking.

researchguy said:

I feel like all our preaching of the gospel is falling on deaf hears. People don't wanna hear the good news, christians are hated, and so if we try to teach that lust is a sin or why lust is dangerous, theyll just say. "what do you know, your G-d isnt real" Science officially blinds people to the truth. And instead people try all this legislation but no amount of structures can solve the problems inherent in man. I'm young and inexperienced, and new on my journey as a christian. I'm actually a christian in secret, so does anyone know what to do?

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1) The Church must hold those who abuse power within the Church accountable and responsible, and not turn a blind eye to when men behave badly within our ecclesiastical structures.

2) The Church must confess and recognize that Christian virtues are humility, kindness, and Christ-likeness; we are to be conformed to the image and pattern of Christ. We do not redefine Jesus to fit our standards. This means there is no room of chauvinism or bravado. The Church must teach that we are all to live as servants, to humbly minister to one another in love, with kindness, with respect. Abuse must not be tolerated, and those who abuse must be held to account. Scripture lays out clear patterns to follow, and the most severe form of discipline is excommunication. Church discipline must never be used as a tool for power; but always used as a tool to serve. It is an act of service, not only for those who are made victims by abusers in the Church; but ultimately for the abuser themselves--this rod of discipline is necessary to express condemnation for behavior that will not be tolerated, and to speak directly to the need for genuine repentance. St. Paul's language is strong in this regard, "hand this one over to Satan"

3) Men raised in the Church must be raised in a Christian manner, that exemplifies and emphasizes Christ-likeness: That the call of discipleship leaves no room for sexist attitudes and behaviors. Objectifying other human beings is not merely a perversion of the sexual appetites; it is a perversion of the right ordering of human inter-relatedness: We are called to lives of fellowship, of mutual respect, and acts of service.

There are cultural structures of--and I know I'm going to get flogged for using this expression--toxic masculinity that has infiltrated the Church, and the Church has a responsibility to rid itself of that perversion. To call men to take up their cross and follow Jesus. To take up their cross in the way they treat other men, in the way they treat women, in the way they are husbands, fathers, brothers, co-workers, employers, employees, and in every vocation of their life. Every vocation, every facet of life, is a place where the cross must be carried. That cross is not rude, that cross is not chauvinistic, that cross is not manipluative, that cross is not dominating--that cross is to be kind, that cross is to be humble, that cross puts others before oneself, that cross serves, that cross gives, that cross is honest, that cross is loving. It means loving when one does not feel loved; it means refusing revenge and choosing mercy; it means not holding a grudge, but forgiveness; it means getting off the podcasts and back into the pew and the Word of God.

And finally, brothers: Listen to what your sisters are saying, hear them, take them seriously, and take them seriously when they talk to you about what they experience and what needs to change. Even--and ESPECIALLY--if you don't like it or feel uncomfortable. Man up and take women seriously.

We need to deal with our own house.

-CryptoLutheran

Paulos23 said:

I will let you in on a little secret, for most atheists telling them they hate God or that they are blind to the truth is a sure way to turn them off. Same with any apologetics you know, because they have probably heard them before.

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I agree. Accusing other people of bad motives tends to destroy the possibility of real dialogue.

ViaCrucis said:

Objectifying other human beings is not merely a perversion of the sexual appetites; it is a perversion of the right ordering of human inter-relatedness: We are called to lives of fellowship, of mutual respect, and acts of service.

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This this this. The primary problem with sexual harassment is not lust; it's disrespect and an attitude of entitlement. What can Christians do to combat that? Model actual mutual respect, love and service.