non-christian=bad person?

Deus said:

That is not helpful to the topic at hand. You are just stating your opinion, find something constructive to say.

Anoraky, don't listen to people like UMP, if they want to degrade themselves let them. You must feel free to be truthful to yourself and family. They can either accept it, or not. It will be up to them, hopefully they are big enough to deal with it.
Good luck,

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BTW. This is NOT my opinion. It is GODS word.

However, I haven't told any of these people that I'm no longer a Christian. Based on comments many of them have made about non-Christians, I feel like they would think I was a bad person for not having that belief. Often they'll say things that offend me without realizing it, but I'm too afraid to be honest about it. Is it wrong for me to assume that they'll think negatively about me? I'm tired of pretending that I'm something I'm not.

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Then stop pretending. If your friendship can't survive a difference in belief, it's not a real friendship anyway and they aren't really your two best friends. When I finally anounced to the world that i had deconverted, I stayed friends with most people. Some people simply wished to have nothing more to do with me. But since that was the case, it looks like we weren't really ever friends to begin with.

anoraky said:

Well, I don't think I'm a bad person, I just think that Christians will think I am...

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Once you stop worrying what others think of you is when you start living for you.

i'm in a similar situation anoraky. I grew up in a methodist church and am surrounded by conservatives. Currently however, I definately consider myself a skeptic more than an atheist. I suggest you "put the ball in their court". When I say your I mean just the close family and friends who have said things to offend you. Tell them that what they said offended you and why. If they truly love you then they will learn to accept you and, in such, you will be doing them a favor by teaching them to be more accepting. Also, remember that you don't need to be ashamed of yourself in any fashion.

nadroj1985 said:

No one is a "bad" person, and anyone who tells you otherwise needs to think again.

But, to the point, I think you should tell your friends what your stance is. It's usually worth it to be yourself, especially with your friends, who are supposed to love you for who you are, and not who they want you to be.

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i will very much agree with you that no one is a bad person. but do people do bad things? yes, everyone everyday. anyone who tells you otherwise needs to think again.

anoraky said:

I grew up in Pentecostal church. I have to admit that though I was once a Christian that I was never really into it. As I got older, I found it harder to believe in the things I was taught. I now consider myself agnostic because I don't have any definite belief or disbelief. So that's my religious background, onto my problem. I live in a place where most people go to church and it's kind of expected. My family is mostly religious or at least conservative (I'm pretty liberal). My two best friends are also conservative Christians. However, I haven't told any of these people that I'm no longer a Christian. Based on comments many of them have made about non-Christians, I feel like they would think I was a bad person for not having that belief. Often they'll say things that offend me without realizing it, but I'm too afraid to be honest about it. Is it wrong for me to assume that they'll think negatively about me? I'm tired of pretending that I'm something I'm not.

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Then stop pretending that you're something you're not It's hard to tell everyone that you've stopped believing. I was so deathly afraid that my ma and da would be disappointed in me when I told them, but they weren't. I did, however, lose every single Christian friend I had, but they weren't really friends anyway if they would leave me over something so trivial. You aren't a bad person if you are a non-Christian -- all of my friends are non-Christians, and I think they're good people. I've met good Christians and bad Christians, and bad non-Christians and good non-Christians. Your religion has nothing to do with you being a good or bad person.

I know exactly what you mean when u say u dont know whether your friends and family will accept you. there has been times in my life when i was struggling soooo bad that i almost gave up. and the only thing that kept me going was knowing that i would have to tell everyone that im not a christian anymore.... its really hard. but i know the right thing to do would be tell your friends and family. im sure if they are nice people they will understand. But always know that you can come back and Jesus loves you no matter what problems you have

"Not one is good." If a christian thinks THEY are GOOD then they are wronge. If a Christian thinks that they are RIGHTEOUS then they are right because righteousness is Gods goodness flowing through us. The only one good is God. Christians are no different from non-christians except in the fact that they have Christ moving in them. We do not good and in fact don't even know how to pray (the spirit does). Like I said, "Romans 6:16" "Whatever you choose to obey becomes your master." NLT

All4one

non-Christians arent necassarily bad. some, actually lots, are REALlY nice. they just dont know the TRUTH yet

Paul_Wright_luvr said:

non-Christians arent necassarily bad. some, actually lots, are REALlY nice. they just dont know the TRUTH yet

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Yes, what he said.

Paul_Wright_luvr said:

non-Christians arent necassarily bad. some, actually lots, are REALlY nice. they just dont know the TRUTH yet

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Sadly, what you fail to realize is that most everyone else's truth differs from yours.

Hi,

Some of the worst atrocities committed against man throughout human history have been by Christians.

http://www.jesus21.com

Tell me whether you they are exclusively good people or not.


Crashedman

Hi Anoraky,
I am a liberal Christian, and I don't think you should be afraid of what youre friends and family will think of you. They should not judge you, Christians are not suppose to stand in judgement of others as you are aware. If they do then they will need to ask God to forgive them!
Matthew 7
Judging Others
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Remind them of that if they pick on you!!
Love Liberator

Hi anoraky,
One thing you really have to get clear is that being a Christian doesn't automatically make you a good person. And not all non-Christians are bad people either. Christianity is about believing in God and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.

However, Christians, just like everyone else, have traits which people would say could qualify them as a "bad" person. Christianity is about acknowledging and asking forgiveness for our sins, mistakes and imperfections. We strive to be perfect like Jesus, but no-one is. It is our love for God that we strive to be perfect like his son, which requires us to change our attitudes, our habits etc. Like I said, to be "good" and perfect like Jesus is our goal, but it's a high standard, and God knew that we would fall into the trap of sin, but he still wants to live with us in eternity anyway.

You are not "bad" because you are struggling with putting faith in Jesus. Jesus does not think you are bad, no way! He laments for you because you are one of his lost sheep, he wants so much for you to get back into the fold. He will rejoice when you come to him and welcome him into your life.

If you tell your friends about your situation, wouldn't that be such a great load to take off your chest? Because your friends are Christians I would like to think they would be happy that you told them so that they can help you, talk to you about it. Your friends shouldn't judge you, they should be one of the first people you turn to for help - what are friends for???

Ideally, the first person you should turn to is God himself. Open up to him, and ask him to reveal himself to you. I know what it's like to feel like to have Christian friends and feel like I'm the odd one out - like I'm not as good as them - because I haven't found my niche in the church I'm with, or I'm not as active as them.

Never should you feel that way, no-one is morally superior to you. We have all sinned, we have all fallen short of the mark. Jesus is the one who bridges the gap between us and God.
May God bless you and open your eyes to his love for you...

Deus said:

Sadly, what you fail to realize is that most everyone else's truth differs from yours.

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the TRUTH is JESUS!! DUH!!

Another brilliant comment.

The TRUTH is SPONGEBOBSQUAREPANTS DUH!!

cabbitgrrrl said:

Why would being a non-christian be a bad thing? All of the people who aren't christians that I've met are often better people than some christians that i've met.

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That is true in most cases. To face the truth, most Christians are very bitter, and most Athiests or another relgion are kind-hearted.


Don't look at it in terms of religion, look at it in terms of personality. I can be a Christian, and I could be bitter or kind. It doesn't matter what religion you are to determine how your personality is.

Paul_Wright_luvr said:

the TRUTH is JESUS!! DUH!!

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You really need to grow up.

Paul_Wright_luvr said:

the TRUTH is JESUS!! DUH!!

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You sound really ridiculous you know that don't you kid? I mean I can just say the truth is my sheltie collie and all must bow to him but I don't now do I? Both statements sound equally stupid.