Up-tight Christians

[cookieluvsjesus]

Im beginning to see that there are some very different opinions and views on just about everything, and its hard to know how to respond to those "up-tight" ones that seem to come off as "i know all"... Im thinking about just not responding to those people in order to maintain peace....
what do you think about those "up-tight Christians" and do you bother responding to them?

 

[Machachachi]

Well, ignoring the fact that I probably fall into the category of "up-tight", I would say respond, if anyone has any right to their ideas its because the themselves have challenged them, and if they haven't challenged them, someone needs to, cause ideas for the sake of them is pretty lame. If you see something you disagree with, than please disagree with it, the only thing it might hurt is someone's pride, and I certainly wouldn't ever apoligize for that....

 

[Raanan]

We all get uptight every now and then. Just look at the thread a couple threads down about purity. There's a fine example of someone getting up-tight, me.

For me though, it's not about thinking I know all but defending my God (which I know he needs none of but it is in my nature to) from ideas which I've perceived as being direct insult to his charactor. You'll never catch me being uptight with someone no matter how off the wall something is unless it's a perceived afront to the character of something I love like I love God.

 

[cookieluvsjesus]

I heard an interesting thing the other day... "God does not need a defense attorney, He can defend Himself" P.V.
I can think of a number of times that i have tried to "defend God" and i ended up making a mess of things.
Its hard sometimes not to get riled up when people say things that goes against all that you know in your spirit is wrong, especially when those people are non-Christians. I find myself biting my tounge a whole lot in some of my classed because im afraid to start an uproar with people in my class. Sometimes i wonder if i Should be "seek(ing) peace and pursue(ing) it"? or should i start that up roar?

 

[Raanan]

Peace is good but so is uproar. Our God is the same God who ordered the isrealites under Joshua to anhilate all the inhabitants of Caanan. I'm not saying violence is the answer but maybe God wants you to cause an uproar? He doesn't need defense but he does include us in his story. If you don't feel like saying anything then don't. If you do, then do. As machachachi put it, "the only thing it might hurt is someone's pride."

 

[Machachachi]

We all have things that are close to our hearts, and to be perfectly honest God does not need a defense attorney, but I honestly don't think he cares what we say, HE KNOWS WHERE HE STANDS. I figure we all feel and there is nothing wrong with feeling strongly about the things we care about, if that means I speak when I feel the need than I speak, that is why we have desires, so that way we can act upon them, whether to fulfill them or understand them, we act upon them and because of them.

 

[Cordelia]

I heard an interesting thing the other day... "God does not need a defense attorney, He can defend Himself" P.V.
I can think of a number of times that i have tried to "defend God" and i ended up making a mess of things.
Its hard sometimes not to get riled up when people say things that goes against all that you know in your spirit is wrong, especially when those people are non-Christians. I find myself biting my tounge a whole lot in some of my classed because im afraid to start an uproar with people in my class. Sometimes i wonder if i Should be "seek(ing) peace and pursue(ing) it"? or should i start that up roar?

I hear that! If there's one thing I've learned lately, it's that some arguments get repeated over and over without changing at all and that those ones are better left alone! Sometimes I put in my two cents, and get shot down; other times I leave people to it for the sake of peace. Hardly anything gets accomplished by arguing, it seems.

I know what you mean about 'knowing in your spirit' something is wrong, yet people always have a ton of Bible quotes to bash others with. That's the main thing that gets me about some Christians: I'll speak from life experience (not unreasonably, either!) and they'll hit me with Scripture out of context. So, yeah, I tend to duck out of debates more often than not.

 

[Crain]

Im beginning to see that there are some very different opinions and views on just about everything, and its hard to know how to respond to those "up-tight" ones that seem to come off as "i know all"... Im thinking about just not responding to those people in order to maintain peace....
what do you think about those "up-tight Christians" and do you bother responding to them?

I know that I'm a little late on this. However, people will always have different views on things and they go through different stuff. So there views on things are different. Some think they know it all and some know they do not know it all. That is why everyone has different views on some issues of the bible. I'll respond to them to see if they know for sure what they are talking about but keep the peace at the same. Then there is that pride that sometimes make things get out of hand.

 

[jenptcfan]

I think if someone asks your opinion about something, you have an obligation to tell them what you feel to be the truth and why you feel that way. The key is not getting upset when someone doesn't agree with your or understand your point of view. Not everyone is going to agree about everything. It's just a fact of life.

I do think that there are those who creep around looking for something to fly off the handle about though. Even at CF. I tend to just ignore that. Some people will never be happy with someone else's opinion...just because it's not something they came up with themselves. Just be strong in your own beliefs (after you've compared them to what the Bible says and what God's speaking to your heart) and stick with them.

 

[Mistyfogg]

Yes, I have had some experiences with "up-tight Christians" plenty of times because I have some liberal views. Sometimes Christians can get a holier-than-thou attitude which really turns people off to Christianity. I saw someone with the quote "Lord, save me from your followers." I just try to remember that each person views God and the Bible differently and it is my job to love everyone no matter what

 

[Buskanaka]

There is a lot of hypocrisy in the church, people don't live the life they preach. But we're all flawed, and no one will ever be able to live up to the example set by Jesus. I think we just have to try and be like Him, to have the mind of Jesus. You can't preach at 'uptight' Christians because it just makes them more stubborn and set in their ways. Try and set an example and maybe they will be convicted about their own ways.

As for causing an uproar, I think you should only do it if you really feel uncomfortable with the situation, and feel led to do it. You should choose the situations carefully because speaking out could turn people off. The issue is important as well, arguing about tiny points of doctrine just for the sake of arguing isn't helpful. I read something really good the other day, it was something like this: You can't quote the Bible at someone who doesn't believe the Bible is truth, and you can't explain God's love to someone who doesn't believe in God.

However I don't think we should ignore imporant issues for the sake of keeping the peace. Jesus didn't.

 

[rkonfire]

However I don't think we should ignore imporant issues for the sake of keeping the peace.

Agreed.

 

[Phrasedefina]

Yes, I have had some experiences with "up-tight Christians" plenty of times because I have some liberal views. Sometimes Christians can get a holier-than-thou attitude which really turns people off to Christianity. I saw someone with the quote "Lord, save me from your followers." I just try to remember that each person views God and the Bible differently and it is my job to love everyone no matter what

I totally agree...I find this to be similar with my situations because I have many liberal views about life, the church, and politics.

You qoute is funny, but I also like the bumper sticker I saw the other day: "I love God, its his fan club I can't stand!"

I about wrecked the car from laughing, that was so great.

 

[Machachachi]

Why exactly is conflict so bad? If anything think how awesome of an oppurtunity this format gives us, it gives us a faceless nameless place to talk about issues that are really important. Who knows what can result from discussing that, and if you ignore the issues its not as if they just go away.... I say lets face them in an enviroment that is safe and then take what we've learned into the enviroment thats not as.... Makes sense to me...

 

[brettnolan]

I think it is incredibly arrogant when someone represents themselves as KNOWING exactly what God intended when it comes to "gray" areas, or subjects that are vaguely addressed, or not mentioned at all in the Bible. A couple of topics that seem to get a lot of thread around here; masturbation, secular v. Christian music, are examples. Just about everything in the Theology forum it seems.

On the other hand, there are some topics on which the Bible is clear and straightforward, yet folks seem to want to paint them gray, as fits their needs (wants). I would list divorce under this category.

So, in answer to your question, I would say that, on topics in this first paragraph, while ignoring them may not be the absolute best option, it may be in YOUR best interest to do so, depending on how you respond to it. For instance, I rarely visit the Creation v Evolution boards anymore because I get angry, I begin to question my own position, in an unhealthy way, and it does nothing to strengthen my relationship with Christ, so I stay away from those debates.

The second set of topics on the other hand, I think should be debated if someone decides to take a position clearly against what is outlined in the Bible. Technically, there SHOULD BE NO debate, because we should all be reading the same thing, butwe know that doesn't always happen.

 

[Echoes Peak]

What Brett said

 

[Raanan]

bah, I just realised I posted this in the wrong thread... lol my bad.

 

[Kas]

Im beginning to see that there are some very different opinions and views on just about everything, and its hard to know how to respond to those "up-tight" ones that seem to come off as "i know all"... Im thinking about just not responding to those people in order to maintain peace....
what do you think about those "up-tight Christians" and do you bother responding to them?

What is an uptight Christian anyway!?
Kas.

 

[cookieluvsjesus]

well, my definition of an uptight Christian is one that has the attitude of I know all, and im not willing to hear how you view things because im right and your wrong. . .

 

[brokenbananas]

An uptight Christian for me is someone who tries to impose what God has called for their life onto others, one who has control issues, someone who distorts the Word of God, or just doesn't realize that God has the ultimate in variety.

I agree with Brett there are some very clear things in the Bible and other areas that are very gray. Sometimes people have issues in certain areas of their lives that they think everyone has those issues, when that's not the case.

Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy our testimony. Though he cannot take our salvation away, he will do his best to divide God's people to dissention. I also believe uptight Christians do not have a healthy self-esteem, self image of themselves. If they did, they would not feel threatened by other Christians and what God has called them to do. I know for me, for many years, I understood who I was in Christ in my head, but not in my heart. It wasn't until my life fell apart that I realized that I was wrong in my judgmental attitudes towards others, and that God loved me so much despite my poor choices in life.

God has been working on me, but I am way less uptight now that I was several years ago. I now not only recognize that God works in people differently, but also do not feel threatened by the success of others.