Recognizing Christians

[NavyGuy7]

The problem is how some people define "love." For example, my kids think I don't love them because I don't let them play the wii for 5 hours straight. Some people think Christians aren't loving because they are always preaching and rebuking and trying to save others from hell. Tough love is true love.

I agree. If you didn't love your kids you'd let them do whatever they wanted. I've understood that for a long time, since I was old enough to understand, anyway. My parents were only disciplining out of love, so I wouldn't grow up to be some sort of criminal or stuck-up jerk. Just because Christians are supposed to love doesn't mean they have to all be pushovers and let you get away with sin all the time. It pains true Christians to see people growing closer to Hell.... we can't save them ourselves. It's their decision, so we have to leave it up to them. But that doesn't mean we aren't going to say what's right and wrong.

 

[Vene]

The problem is how some people define "love." For example, my kids think I don't love them because I don't let them play the wii for 5 hours straight. Some people think Christians aren't loving because they are always preaching and rebuking and trying to save others from hell. Tough love is true love.

Just a tip, if you're trying to save people from Hell, convince them Hell exists first. I don't recall previous posts by you, but I do know of some people who just yell repent or else. Nonbelievers don't take that seriously.

 

[united4Peace]

Just a tip, if you're trying to save people from Hell, convince them Hell exists first. I don't recall previous posts by you, but I do know of some people who just yell repent or else. Nonbelievers don't take that seriously.

Neither do some of us believers

 

[WatersMoon110]

i also find it short-sighted to just love the humans. most mammals, and possibly other animal life forms too, have an emotional capacity

I don't really see where emotional capacity comes into this. All living things should be loved and valued, I feel. Life is sacred (death too).

 

[WatersMoon110]

Some people think Christians aren't loving because they are always preaching and rebuking and trying to save others from hell. Tough love is true love.

I'm sorry, but that sounds like something an abusive spouse says, not Jesus.

There are ways to lovingly preach and to lovingly rebuke someone. But not all Christians practice this, and in my opinion it is easy to recognize the difference. If someone is seen by others to not be loving, then they probably are not, despite how they see themselves. Paul mentions that those who believe themselves to be wise are usually fools...

 

[elman]

Jesus said that His followers would be recognized by their love for all humanity:


However, there are often times where someone identifies as a Christian (a follower of Jesus the Christ) but does not recognizably seem to love all people. So my question is: would it be fair to say that such people are not followers of Christ?

The only other option that I can see is that Jesus and the Bible was wrong. So, which is it? Is the Bible wrong, or are self-identified "Christians" who can't be recognized by their love for all humanity not actually followers of Jesus the Christ?

Does someone need to be perfect about following all of Christ's commandments (all two of them) and other Biblical rules in order to actually be a Christian?

Anyone who does not love is not a child of God First John. We cannot be perfect in our love of others, therefore we achieve perfection only through grace--the power of God.

 

[Zaac]

Jesus said that His followers would be recognized by their love for all humanity:

So if Jesus said the above, why does your quote of Scripture show that He says in John 13:34-45
I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

 

[NeTrips]

Jesus said that His followers would be recognized by their love for all humanity

Close but not quite. Verses taken out of context are easily mis-applied, often by accident. All verses should be taken in context. You need to look and see who Jesus was addressing, it was not all humanity.

Jesus was gathered with his followers at the last supper. Judas had already been sent away into the night after receiving the sop. Jesus was addressing not all humanity, but those who believed in Him.

Believers in Christ are to love one another as Christ loved them. There are other verses that speak to a Christian's interaction with others, including non-believers, this is not one of them.

Jhn 13:34

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.​

 

[Zaac]

Close but not quite. Verses taken out of context are easily mis-applied, often by accident. All verses should be taken in context. You need to look and see who Jesus was addressing, it was not all humanity.

Jesus was gathered with his followers at the last supper. Judas had already been sent away into the night after receiving the sop. Jesus was addressing not all humanity, but those who believed in Him.

Believers in Christ are to love one another as Christ loved them. There are other verses that speak to a Christian's interaction with others, including non-believers, this is not one of them.

Jhn 13:34

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.​

 

[flicka]

I only recognize Christan's by their fashion accessories.

 

[Zaac]

I only recognize Christan's by their fashion accessories.

 

[SaintInChicago]

Let's face it, Jesus was a hippie. He had long hair, walked everywhere, taught about peace and love, and challenged the elders of His religion. *wink*

Okay, I'll try not to derail my own thread too much.

Heh. He was also a blue collar manual laborer, cut down trees and built stuff with them for a living, told people to drink alcohol in remembrance of Him, never went to school, hung out with fishermen, and beat people with a whip in Church. Also He did not walk everywhere. He rode a jackass sometimes, which is the old times equivalent of a four wheeler.

Perhaps He was a redneck?

 

[Paulos23]

Perhaps He was a redneck?

Looks like he was both.

 

[ArchaicTruth]

Well, at least he never married his cousin or spoke redneck

"tough love" is fine with me, so long as they watch their attitude, I don't mind the nice hell preachers.

 

[quatona]

Are you doing sports, z?

 

[Zaac]

Are you doing sports, z?

I need to be. I'mm about to go run for an hour on the treadmill since it's too dark for me to do my normal outside run.

 

[quatona]

I have just come home from Badminton training.

 

[ArchaicTruth]

holy crap! I played badminton in gym today!

 

[Beanieboy]

Close but not quite. Verses taken out of context are easily mis-applied, often by accident. All verses should be taken in context. You need to look and see who Jesus was addressing, it was not all humanity.

Jesus was gathered with his followers at the last supper. Judas had already been sent away into the night after receiving the sop. Jesus was addressing not all humanity, but those who believed in Him.

Believers in Christ are to love one another as Christ loved them. There are other verses that speak to a Christian's interaction with others, including non-believers, this is not one of them.

Jhn 13:34

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.​

Matthew 5

46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.


Well, at least you are up to pagan standards. That's a start.

 

[Beanieboy]

The problem is how some people define "love." For example, my kids think I don't love them because I don't let them play the wii for 5 hours straight. Some people think Christians aren't loving because they are always preaching and rebuking and trying to save others from hell. Tough love is true love.

I think that love is sometimes disciplinarian, but it isn't ONLY disciplinarian.

Fred Phelps has signs that says, "God hates f*gs." He says that he is doing it out of love - warning people. He cares so much that goes to the funeral of gays and protests, warning people to Turn or Burn. If someone was about to fall off a cliff, you wouldn't be gentle. You would yell and do anything you could to stop them and warn them.

That's basically the same tactics of the false "Tough Love" thing spouted by the TrueChristians. Yet, no one things of Fred as being loving. The man who sued when Fred protested his son's funeral said that in court, Fred could only talk about God's wrath, God's condemnation, his anger, and his hatred.

Not once, the man said, did Fred or his followers speak of God's mercy, his love, his kindness, his gentleness, or any of the fruit of the Spirit that is God.

So, when I read endless thread after thread that simply states how homosexuality (or homosexuals) are evil, are the reason that 9/11 happened, the reason the economy is having problems, the biggest threat to marriage (as opposed to divorce), that show only condemnation, but not compassion, rarely listen to responses but simply preach, exhalt one's self by trying to point to how others are "sinners" while ignoring one's own - like false witness, use of false information and claiming it to be evidence...

and ironically seem to be more focused on people not being gay than finding Jesus (were I to be an ex-gay Buddhist, is that really going to save me?), then its just not love.