I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.

[Jim B]

What do you think about the following quote?

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." ~Mohandas Gandhi​

Any comments?

\o/

 

[Svt4Him]

I think that the way someone acts towards others is a true indication of whether they like God.

 

[joevberry3]

Very true--One that makes smart remarks to other Christians--I posted a thread in another forum on How a Christian should act.
It is my opinion that a Christian shouldnt even have to tell someone that he/she is a Christian. People around us should know by our actions and words.
God Bless,
Joe

 

[SavedByGrace3]

What do you think about the following quote?

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." ~Mohandas Gandhi​

Any comments?


\o/

The speaker never met Christ.... so how could he know enough to make such a statement?

 

[Protestant Minister]

There are a couple problems here.Most importantly,it's really hard to be a Christian.Jesus taught ideal loving ways of behaving that are really hard to stick to in the perverted,incrediably evil "dog eat dog" society we live in.
The second problem is much more complex.It's related to the fact that Christianity has become too popular.It's been accepted by too many "luke warm" Christians who choose to ignore many of Jesus' teachings.(sure "love your enemies"is fine as long as it doesn't apply to Iraq)Christianity worked best when it was NOT the establisment 's religion as it is now.t's really hard to love your neighbor as yourself when your job requires you to sell them some over-priced product your company makesf.(the early Christians shared all their incomes equally so that no one was able to profit from anyone else.)Because of the popularity of Christianity,hundreds of thousands of churches have been created to provide services.In a capitalistic society,churches have to be operated like a business in order to survive financially.(Jesus never established a single church.;much of His ministry was carried out in open fields)Because of financial ressures,ministers try to "grow the church" which means,bring in new donors.To accomplish this well,they frequently ignore or even worse,pervert.some of Jesus' teachings that might offend some of their congregation.The best example of the former are Jesus' teachings condemning second marriages as adultery.(Mark 10:11-12) Marriages are both popular and profitable services in churches so most ministers encourage their members to re-marry.In fact some of them are now offering "domestic partner confirmation" services for their homosexual members who of course they don't try to heal of their illness for fear of losing them.The best example of clergy perverting some biblical teachings are Jesus' teachings that obviously make capitoll punishment and abortion impossible for Christians to support.(THOU SHALT NOT KILL,TURN THE OTHER CHEEK,DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU,DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU etc.etc)The bottom line is that true Christianity is found in the bible.It's extremely hard to find true Christians in today's truly sick society.Fortunately that's where the salvation experience comes in for those who wish to take advantage of the offer.

 

[Jim B]

The speaker never met Christ.... so how could he know enough to make such a statement?

That's kind of the point, Didy. It's the perception of Christians by non-Christians.

\o/

 

[rwl]

IMHO I feel that its true. I love God , but am not a big fan of christians.

 

[Sephania]

I would suggest that how he formed his opinion was to read about him in his word. He liked what he read, what he saw Jesus preach about, how he cared for the down-trodden, and the meek............................... This I think is what Ghandi was all about, the little man, he cared for others like Jesus did, from the heart, the inside. He did not care what they looked like on the outside or if they were rich, or important.

How many believers are there like that?

 

[Jim B]

GANDHI'S DISAPPOINTMENT WITH CHRISTIANITY

While attending a university in London, Mahatma Gandhi became almost convinced that the Christian religion was the one true, supernatural religion in the world. Upon graduation, and still seeking evidence that would make him a committed Christian, young Gandhi accepted employment in East Africa and for seven months lived in the home of a family who were members of an evangelical Christian church. As soon as he discovered that fact he decided that would be the place to find the evidence he sought.

But as the months passed and he saw the casualness of their attitude toward the cause of God, heard them complain when they were called upon to make sacrifice for the kingdom of God, and sensed their general religious apathy, Gandhi's interest turned to disappointment. He said in his heart, "No, it is not the one true, supernatural religion I had hoped to find. A good religion, but just one more of the many religions of the world."

- Evangelical Illustration

I also read this in another forum:

Gandhi once contemplated Christianity while in South Africa. He went into a church, sat down and one of the ushers told him he would have to leave because "colored people" were not allowed in that particular Anglican cathedral.

Gandhi later said, "That poor usher. He thought he was ushering a colored man out of a cathedral when in reality he was ushering India out of the British empire."

Who wouldn't have been offended? There is often little resemblance between Christ and those who claim to be His followers.

\o/

 

[cherokeehippie]

I tremble for the christian family that had Gandhi as their guest! They probably suffered much heavenly reward for their lukewarm ways around Gandhi. I really agree with Gandhi with his comment about christians. ---I see so much that really turns me off in the American christian society. As a Believer, I really want to have little to do with the lukewarm materialistic and prejudiced christiandom that I see--especially on tv, etc. For example, I'm sooo turned off by the 700 club. To me, Pat Robertson and 700 club are mixing politics with christianity--equating Republican party with Christianity, etc. And being an American with being a Christian. Also, here's an example, of something I experienced at Pizza Hut today. I saw a christian couple that I'm aquainted with, sitting at another table with 2 people. I went over to say hi to them. They introduced me to the others. One of the men, I noticed, looked disapprovingly at me--I'm guessing because I'm dressed like a hippie---my long Indian hair, tiedye t-shirt, crocheted rainbow 'medicine pouch' (that I don't wear as a medicine pouch, but to hold sandalwood resin that smells good--a natural perfume) , my hemp beaded bracelet I made, and I was showing off the beautiful smokey quartz crystals that I found --in my handmade pine needle basket (that I made myself). I know this won't mean much to those of ya out in California or out west, but here in the Ozarks, there are still those very traditional, who aren't too familiar with christian hippies.(it's as if it's 30 yrs back in time here) I love hanging out with hippies--the mature artistic and crafty kind, (not the teeny boppers who are into being a hippie for drugs and sex, and showing off their belly button.) I especially love the couple who are teaching me how to make hemp jewelry. To be honest, as a christian, I enjoy being them more than I do, certain christians. I really feel strongly that the Lord chastens the ones He loves and He will have to do some serious chastening of the American church--I've seen stuff in churches and I don't like what I see. I read somewhere, that someone said about the rainbow hippies--something that the Lord showed that person. He said that the rainbows knew how to do without material goods, etc and that His greatest servants will come from the rainbows(a ripe harvest field)---especially in the last days--I feel that way, too. I love beauty, pine trees, hummingbirds and crystals--no, I don't use crystals for occult use. That's just like satan, taking a thing of beauty, that Abba made(Crystals), and stealing it for evil use. And because of that, many think that they have to avoid crystals totally. It's something that the Lord made, crystals do not belong to satan, and I claim crystals back for the LORD!!! I remember a christian brother walking by a table where I was selling pine baskets and an acquaintence was selling geodes and crystals. There was nothing occultish on the tables--no tarot cards or pentagrams, or anything like that, but he steered his daughter away from me and my friend just because we were 'hippies' and had crystals or geodes and Native American style stuff(such as leather fringed bags and my baskets) on the table!! That is really sad! Well, I'm getting off topic, so I better end here. Lara

 

[enoch son]

So what the point? Life still goes on! Did this gandhi come up from the grave? And doesn't his country men still kill each other over thier beliefs? Like to the point of nukes? Sound like a better class of people to me!

 

[Trish1947]

If God tells me to sit half naked wearing only a diaper, looking like 7 days from starvation and wants to call it Holy living, (which I have read in his private life, he certainly still had his worldly tastes), then if thats what the Gospel says, then I have it all wrong. PLLEEEEEEEESE!! Gandhi preached be poor. Well how much poorer could those people get????? He wasnt much help was he? He was not the "light" of India.. Jesus is!!!

 

[Jim B]

If God tells me to sit half naked wearing only a diaper, looking like 7 days from starvation and wants to call it Holy living, (which I have read in his private life, he certainly still had his worldly tastes), then if thats what the Gospel says, then I have it all wrong. PLLEEEEEEEESE!! Gandhi preached be poor. Well how much poorer could those people get????? He wasnt much help was he? He was not the "light" of India.. Jesus is!!!

I wonder if this is the kind of loving attitude Mr. G met in South Africa?

\o/

 

[cherokeehippie]

I wonder if this is the kind of loving attitude Mr. G met in South Africa?

I wonder, too! Jesus ate with sinners and the Pharisees criticized Him for it. It seems to me that many christians today are modern day Pharisees!! Looking down with snide remarks towards sinners or those blatantly weird, etc. I can't see Jesus having that attitude at all!

 

[rooster]

I believe some indian guru said this
"If Christians were more like Jesus, then Christians would have the world at their feet"

And it is this statement more then any statement by any christian commentators or christian writers that i comtemplate upon during my quiet time.

The poverty of India and their need for nuclear weapons are beyond the scope of the weapons here neither is the person of Gandhi.
I believe the statement Jim B posted should have provoked some self-searching instead it made some defensive.
The truth is there, that the christian church is not very appealing to much of the demography out there. How would someone preach to a person like Gandhi when your life does not match up to what you preach, no talk of heaven and hell, of confession and repentence, of theology and liturgies would suffice unless one is able to show the person of Christ in ourselves to a person like Gandhi.

Anyway being an asian i have a lot of respect for Gandhi and it bleeds my heart that he was not saved, but is it his fault or is it because the church as a whole was not Christlike enough.
Gandhi gave his nation its independence and i dare say if you approach any indian now and asked them to exchange their independence for a modern westernized living they would reject you out of hand.
Anyway in northern india and there are hundreds of thousands of Christians who exist in churches not based on our western models but instead they do not have paid pastors but they practise mutual ministering. They are persecuted at levels that would remind one of the Roman empire during Nero and Domitian.
So i dunno man, i like our churches i like the people in them, but as christians i dare say all of us fall short. But the beauty of it is that it is a race and we have to keep on going. In the right direction that is

 

[joevberry3]

I believe some indian guru said this
"If Christians were more like Jesus, then Christians would have the world at their feet"

And it is this statement more then any statement by any christian commentators or christian writers that i comtemplate upon during my quiet time.

The poverty of India and their need for nuclear weapons are beyond the scope of the weapons here neither is the person of Gandhi.
I believe the statement Jim B posted should have provoked some self-searching instead it made some defensive.
The truth is there, that the christian church is not very appealing to much of the demography out there. How would someone preach to a person like Gandhi when your life does not match up to what you preach, no talk of heaven and hell, of confession and repentence, of theology and liturgies would suffice unless one is able to show the person of Christ in ourselves to a person like Gandhi.

Anyway being an asian i have a lot of respect for Gandhi and it bleeds my heart that he was not saved, but is it his fault or is it because the church as a whole was not Christlike enough.
Gandhi gave his nation its independence and i dare say if you approach any indian now and asked them to exchange their independence for a modern westernized living they would reject you out of hand.
Anyway in northern india and there are hundreds of thousands of Christians who exist in churches not based on our western models but instead they do not have paid pastors but they practise mutual ministering. They are persecuted at levels that would remind one of the Roman empire during Nero and Domitian.
So i dunno man, i like our churches i like the people in them, but as christians i dare say all of us fall short. But the beauty of it is that it is a race and we have to keep on going. In the right direction that is

I agree Brother Rooster!

God Bless

 

[cherokeehippie]

I agree, too, Brother Rooster! I'm of Cherokee indian descent(Native American). Native Americans have also had to deal with European missionaries forcing Western culture on them, telling Natives that their culture was wrong and making them feel ashamed of being Indian(American Indian that is). (and not to mention the abuse that went on in so called 'christian' boarding schools that Native American children were sent to, punished if they spoke their native language, etc). The mainstream church has not appealed to Natives either! But there is now a growing movement among christian Natives be contexualized Native Believers in Jesus, that is , after years of being told the drum, native dance, etc, was sinful, they are now coming back into their culture and worshipping the Lord with Native American style worship, etc. www.brokenwalls.com (is a Native christian brother, who has some awesome Native American worship cd's!). It seems to me, that the colonial mentality is still in parts of the American church, here in the states, like with people like Pat Robertson, and others who talk so much about "America's godly heritage of our founding fathers" which I disagree with big time. I better end, here, I don't want to get on my soapbox on that subject, blessings, Lara

 

[rooster]

Hee
i just watched a two part series about native americans on hallmark and it was very very good. Brokenwalls looks like it can be good stuff, i wonder whether it is already available here in the exotic oriet, will look for it the next time i am at the cd shop. Could be a good addition to the usual christian rock, christian pop.
The ethnic culture that a church should have could be an interesting question. In my country, almost all churches are westernised in culture and practise with just hints of our local cultures. But its not a bad thing because of our multi-cultural context (although most christians are chinese). But i believe this question would take this thread off-topic.

 

[enoch son]

Look out there goes your mother in law a holy cow! Oh- please get off the oh- I love you trian and look at what was just said. YOU ARE WORSHIPING A COW! And look how blessed you are it just took a ---- in you living room. Lord he was a blind man with insight in the way's of men. I thank You that you saved him anyway!

 

[rooster]

Look out there goes your mother in law a holy cow! Oh- please get off the oh- I love you trian and look at what was just said. YOU ARE WORSHIPING A COW! And look how blessed you are it just took a ---- in you living room. Lord he was a blind man with insight in the way's of men. I thank You that you saved him anyway!

.....