Why are so many Christians so cruel?

[dawnmo]

I mean, really, I would like to know this. I have run into a lot of Christians in my day, and some of the worst people I have ever met are the ones that profess Christianity the loudest. Am I actually supposed to WANT to go to heaven and be surrounded by these people?

That's not to say that ALL Christians are jerks, but there are some on this board who are SO downright rude and hateful (even sending me nasty pm's), it's a wonder why anyone wants to be Christian at all. I believe in Jesus but I refuse to tag myself as Christian so I won't be associated with some of these people.

 

[TheTempleTeam]

We just need to pray for Grace, Dawn. Christianity is radical, and unfortunatly when it's not professed with Grace then it can appear (because is often is) rude and abnoxious. 'The Church' has done a lot of shameful things, but we are still called to love everyone, including out Brothers and Sisters.

 

[Carico]

What is it you consider nasty, dawnmo? Jesus said we are all evil and called the Pharisees snakes and a brood of vipers. He did it to show us that thinking of ourselves as wonderful will only keep us glorifying ourselves instead of seeking eternal life. To be able to see the truth about ourselves eliminates all fear because we have already admitted the worst. What more then is there is to fear? That's why "He who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

 

[Rafael]

I mean, really, I would like to know this. I have run into a lot of Christians in my day, and some of the worst people I have ever met are the ones that profess Christianity the loudest. Am I actually supposed to WANT to go to heaven and be surrounded by these people?

That's not to say that ALL Christians are jerks, but there are some on this board who are SO downright rude and hateful (even sending me nasty pm's), it's a wonder why anyone wants to be Christian at all. I believe in Jesus but I refuse to tag myself as Christian so I won't be associated with some of these people.

Not everybody that calls themselves a Christian actually are. Only God sees the true heart and motivation of a person's life - whether selfish or loving and giving, as is God's nature of love. God so loved....that He gave His Son, and we are to follow this call, denying self and picking up our cross daily and giving our lives in service to others. This is not an easy thing to do and can only be done with God's grace and Spirit. Sometimes it's very discouraging to see hypocrisy and wrong done, but it has to be ignored for the better. I've yet to meet a perfect person on earth, that I've gotten to know, but in order to receive mercy, we have to be merciul to others and believe the best for them. Just because we don't always receive mercy or grace from others doesn't mean we can condemn them and judge them, but we are to love them and repay good for evil done to us - not easy to do.

Romans 12:21 Do not let evil overcome you, but overcome evil by good.

Mt 5:7 Happy are those who have mercy: for they will be given mercy.

Matthew 7:21 21 Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will go into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the pleasure of my Father in heaven.
22 A great number will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, were we not prophets in your name, and did we not by your name send out evil spirits, and by your name do works of power?
23 And then will I say to them, I never had knowledge of you: go from me, you workers of evil.

Mt 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

 

[Mustaphile]

I believe in Jesus but I refuse to tag myself as Christian so I won't be associated with some of these people.

I feel your pain, dawnmo, but there is nothing much I can add other than I leave it in God's hands, as I have little control over what other people do.

 

[New Creation]

There are cruel and kind people of every faith.
I hope you can forgive and love those who hurt you. The freedom in this is tremendous. God bless.

btw, tagging oneself as a Christian is for Jesus, not ourselves, imho. It is for HIs glory, although as you said, not all who call themselves such bring Glory to Him.

 

[Knight]

1) Not everyone who claims to be a Christian really is. (The same could be said for Budhists, Muslims, Hindus, Etc....)

2) Basic Christianity teaches that all people are fallen and sinful by their very nature. This is not an excuse to sin but it does illustrate why there are people like you describe.

3) Even true Christians can be arrogant and pushy at times. We are not perfect.

 

[Bonhoffer]

I mean, really, I would like to know this. I have run into a lot of Christians in my day, and some of the worst people I have ever met are the ones that profess Christianity the loudest. Am I actually supposed to WANT to go to heaven and be surrounded by these people?

That's not to say that ALL Christians are jerks, but there are some on this board who are SO downright rude and hateful (even sending me nasty pm's), it's a wonder why anyone wants to be Christian at all. I believe in Jesus but I refuse to tag myself as Christian so I won't be associated with some of these people.

Question: Why are so many Christians bigoted,pushy,hypocritcal, judgemental and rude?

Answer: The rude Christian is Satans secret weapon.
The devil wants to claim human souls. He knows that if someone trusts Christ as Saviour and becomes a Christian then that soul will be taken from him and claimed by God. Therefore it is in the devils interest to do everything possible to keep people away from salvation. The devil has many schemes in which he does this.

One way is to put people off God, Jesus and the Christian faith. Sometimes for example he may spread the lie that people who have done really bad things cannot be forgiven. Satan uses guilt to prevent murderers and criminals from gaining salvation. When in truth ANY sin can be forgiven.
Another lie that Satan is really using at the moment is that "God hates gay people" when the truth is that God only hates gay acts, not gay people.
Satan wants people to hate God/Jesus/Christianity because he knows that people can only be saved if they open their hearts to Jesus.

Now Satan (who can still tempt Christians) has found an extremely clever way in order to put people off from becoming Christians--and that is to use the Christians themselves. Satan wants to give Christianity a bad name. So in order to do so he tempts Christians to behave in a way which will give Christians a bad name. If people veiw Christians as judgemental bigots then no-one will want to become a Christian. So at every possible opportunity Satan tries to trick beleivers by pushing them to say something offensive or judgemental. Those Christians spreading hatred against homosexuals are doing nothing but the devils work for him. Christians are meant to spread the gospel, not spread bigotry and hatred.

As for people who push the faith on others--well in most cases they are really pushing people away from the faith. People don't like 'religion' rammed down their throats. It is probably the biggest turn-off. Many Christians are also mistaken into thinking that they can 'convert' people to Christianity. This is impossible. It is God who does the converting and only at the time when somebodys heart is in the right place. People have to beleive and repent sincerely in their heart in order to be saved.

So answer to your question; Many Christians are jerks because Satan wants to malign Christianity.


There are also cases where Christians are genuinly misunderstood and may appear to be arrogant, but in actual fact are just showing passion for their beleifs.

Take my advice. Ignore what Christians do and concentrate on what Jesus did.


so in answer

 

[wonder111]

the road is narrow, those people are NOT following Christ!

 

[Pondering]

Why are so many christians so cruel. I mean, really, I would like to know this. I have run into a lot of Christians in my day, and some of the worst people I have ever met are the ones that profess Christianity the loudest. Am I actually supposed to WANT to go to heaven and be surrounded by these people?

QUOTE]

I hear you. Good question. I agree, (and often wonder, believing what I believe about Grace, why I can still be such a jerk.)

At the end of the day for me it is a proof that the world is fallen. I know we say we believe this as christians, but I don't know if we really take it into account enough. There are now Principlaities and Powers that govern this world. All power tends towards falleness now. Sadly, the church seems to have got itself into such a state trying to prove that it has all the answers, it acts as a power. We need to replace our 'victorious christian living' theology with a doctrine of weakness and brokeness, for its in that state that God dwells in us. When we attempt to act out of power we loose the real prophetic witness we have. We are fallen. We all carry around brokenness inside us, and are in desperate need of grace. A hospital is full of sick people, is it any wonder that there is trouble in the church?
One of the real questions to ask is not how bad someone is, but what grace has been worked in their life. If they really are a christian, what would they be like if they were not. This is not to excuse the behaviour, in fact far from it. Although we are not supposed to judge those outside the church, Paul does say our judgment is for those inside, but that we may lovingly restore those who are struggling. And watch out for our high horse when we do, thats a seat of power. Power is fallen.

I might dare to add that the comments that you recieved are a huge weakness of this medium. We can type to a dispassionate screen things we would never say looking into someones eyes. A lot of work needs to be done on the spirituality of txt-ing, MSN, Chat and so forth.

Some good reading.

Soul in Cyberspace by Douglas Gutheri (Last name is not quite right)
Power, Weakness, and the Tabanaceling of God. Marva Dawn.

 

[praying]

As Bonhoffer and others have said in different forms do what Jesus calls us to do. In fact I think you got good advice from all dawnmo.

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

Matthew 7:

13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

This refers to "Christians" as well. Very few actually find the small gate that leads to life.

 

[Serapha]

I mean, really, I would like to know this. I have run into a lot of Christians in my day, and some of the worst people I have ever met are the ones that profess Christianity the loudest. Am I actually supposed to WANT to go to heaven and be surrounded by these people?

That's not to say that ALL Christians are jerks, but there are some on this board who are SO downright rude and hateful (even sending me nasty pm's), it's a wonder why anyone wants to be Christian at all. I believe in Jesus but I refuse to tag myself as Christian so I won't be associated with some of these people.

Hi there!



I've run into a lot of Christians who are mean and hateful during my lifetime also.... sometimes..... it's me that's mean and hateful.



That's one of the "good things" about Christianity... just because you are saved... it doesn't mean that you are above saying hateful or hurtful things. That's why Christians have to keep going back to the "well of grace"....


And that's why when Christians go to God, they can seek forgiveness for those bad things.


And as you have been told... not everyone who professes Christianity is a true believer.


I would invite you to be a "true believer" in Jesus Christ..... so you could set the example for others....

*sigh*

and for me.








~serapha~
aka sinner saved by grace

 

[Horse Luver]

As everyone has basically said, ppl who say they are Christians aren't always true believers. But you have to keep in mind that we, even as Christians, make major mistakes. Including in CF . I'm sure there are several ppl who have regreted the rude things they say. We're all sinners, none of us are perfect. So just try to forgive......that goes for true Christians and not true Christians.

 

[Pondering]

Matthew 7:

13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

This refers to "Christians" as well. Very few actually find the small gate that leads to life.

Take a closer look at the words used in this passage. A better reading might be struggle to enter... for afflicted is the way to life.

Not the sort of warm fuzzy we like to associate with our faith. Has our western christianity got soft?
"In the west we have a God that comforts and nurtures us, in the east we have a God we want to help us grow up and stop acting like jerks"

(paraphrased quote from At the Corner of East and Now.)

hmmm

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

Huh?

 

[Benjammin]

Many People think that they can go to Church on sunday and they will go to Heaven, becuase they were raised that way, and because it is comfortable and easy. However, a lot of the time they have no true faith ,and do not understand what Jesus did, and therefore they have no reason to behave like a Christian should be.

 

[rogsr]

Hello,
You can always tell a Christian by thier love. Everything God does is done out of Love. Even when He chastens it is done in love. There is a Proverb that says, "Do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction; for whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights." ...I looked it up it's Pro ch 3 vs 11, 12....If people are saying nasty things to you it is probably not being done out of love. Judge a tree by it's fruit, not by the words coming out of the trees mouth Any good car salesman can be a preacher, but it takes passionate love to be a bond servant of Jesus Christ. If someone is coming to you that lacks the compassionate, tender, and deeply passionate love of Christ then you know they are false.

 

[MQTA]

So answer to your question; Many Christians are jerks because Satan wants to malign Christianity.

so in answer

So you're safer from Satan if you're not a Christian?

 

[TheTempleTeam]

Not safer, because you hve nothing protecting you. But there is less reason for him to attack you, Christ works through his believers, Satan is terrified of that.