Does it really take "bravery" to be a Christian?

[Jack Russell]

Gay athletes have just revealed who they truly are, that's it.

I thought that was all Tim Tebow did, reveal he was a Christian, and a Christian virgin on top of that.

Can you be clear about what he did that was so evil in your eyes?

Because to me it just looks like Tim Tebow, through his own lifestyle, reveals just how evil the lifestyle of others are, and that's why the world hates him. The world does not want to see Christians that actually believe in and obey the Bible; it's actually easier for them to deal with hypocrites, pseudo-Christians, heretics, and immoral Christians rather than obedient Bible-believing Christians like Tim Tebow. (That's kind of the point of this whole thread, really; and thanks for proving that Bible-believing Christians always do come under attack, even from those who supposedly are their own.)

"The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil." John 7:7 (NIV)

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

Actually, that's exactly the point of the thread.

The world tolerates Christians who shut up about it, but it hates Christians who insist on living like Christians. At least that's been my experience.

 

[Radicalmonk]

lOVEBIRDS, Jesus repeatedly tells us that if we are true followers of His, many people (the world) WILL hate us. Paul tells us to be of courage and to put on the full/whole armor of God and take a stand as we operate in this hostile world. Spiritual warfare is very real and satan is continually seeking whom he may devour. Darkness hates the exposure which light brings. We are instructed to EXPOSE evil and not turn our back. Hate, today, comes in very subtle however significantly impactful and diversified ways.

 

[Emmy]

Dear LovebirdsFlying. In Matthew 22: 35-40: Jesus gives us a wonderful and easy way to be a Christian. 1) Love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds. 2) Love our neighbour as we love ourselves. Love is very catching, and love makes all things worthwhile. We might find it a bit strange to be loving and kind always, but Love changes everything, even our thoughts and wishes. It is a gradual and easy to accomplish thought, all we have to do; help love to change us. We might stumble and forget often, but then we ask Jesus our Saviour to help us: JESUS IS THE WAY. God will notice our loving efforts, and God will approve and bless us.
The Bible tells us to "Repent and be Born Again," and we have God on our side. In Matthew 7: 7-10: we are told: " ask and you shall receive," we simply ask God for Love and Joy, then we thank God and share all Love and Joy with all we know and all we meet, friends and not friends. (neighbour)
Does this take special strength and bravery to achieve. We might stumble and often forget, but then we ask God to forgive us, and carry on loving and caring. The Holy Spirit will always help and guide us, and Jesus will help us on our way: JESUS IS THE WAY. People around us will treat us the same as we treat people, Love is very catching. God is Love and God wants loving and caring sons and daughters. We might well ask : " Does it really take bravery to
be a Christian? a follower of Christ? I say this with love, LovebirsFlying.
Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[Norah63]

When we brag on Jesus and how good he has been to us, it's like fingernails on a blackboard to those who are not Christian. Grates on their nerves, cause we were all
created to love an serve our dear redeemer.
So lets be bold and lift Jesus higher!

 

[RDKirk]

Christians like to make up their own things to do and call it obeying Christ.

But Christ told us precisely what to do in order to show our religion to the world:


In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven -- Matthew 5

But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works. -- James 2

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. -- James 1

On the other hand:

"....they [Pharisees] do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

“Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others. -- Matthew 23

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. -- Matthew 23