You're an idiot

[Michael Hawk]

Has anyone been called this when someone finds out you're a christian?

Maybe it is happening more as an adult, but I feel this thinking is coming on more strongly.

Examples of things people have said are, "How can you believe in something that isn't true", "Only idiots still believe in that", "It is superstition to believe in such things", "Look at all the pain religion is causing in the world".

It's like being a Christian puts me in a class of a less developed, less intelligent people group.

I know Jesus said people will hate me because of him, but I didn't expect to lose so much respect too.

Any tips on how to handle these situations?

 

[prov1810]

Jesus said, "Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you." Pray for their well-being until you feel nothing but love for them. And you will radiate the love of Christ.

1 Pet 3:15: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

One way to prepare is to read apologetics books and online apologetics ministries.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Has anyone been called this when someone finds out you're a christian?
Maybe it is happening more as an adult, but I feel this thinking is coming on more strongly.
Examples of things people have said are, "How can you believe in something that isn't true", "Only idiots still believe in that", "It is superstition to believe in such things", "Look at all the pain religion is causing in the world".
It's like being a Christian puts me in a class of a less developed, less intelligent people group.
I know Jesus said people will hate me because of him, but I didn't expect to lose so much respect too.
Any tips on how to handle these situations?

yes. notice they (various 'they') don't say that too much to the so-called religious leaders and authorities on earth. there is a good reason for that(can't discuss too much here).

it is becoming more-so, as the "righteous become more righteous" and the "wicked become more wicked" (written in Scripture).

also, as 'Christians' have everywhere caved in to public and evil pressures, accepting worldly, carnal, promiscuous, pernicious, and lascivious practices across the board,
you will find other 'so called' christians attacking you more than the world does, at times. (as Yahshua says "members of your own family may be your worse enemies because of Him).

as Yahshua said, Yhvh is NO RESPECTER of persons. and don't expect respect from people. (that is the cause of many a downfall, or even prevents someone from becoming one of His disciples).

as Yahshua says, simply go to Him, Yahshua, to learn how to live, in line with all Scripture (Yahshua knows what to do, all the time; men hardly ever know what to do- - and most men don't obey and don't want to know what to do.) .

"go outside the gates" "to suffer with Yahshua as He suffered" ("let this mind be in you, which was in Him" -- i.e. don't run from suffering, rather embrace it; "I know you don't know how, I will show you.) . .

and so on.... with men, the way leads to destruction. (even 'with' respect of men)

with Yhvh, Yahshua leads to Life, now and Eternally, albeit with humiliation .....

"if you choose to live Godly in Christ Jesus, you will have to suffer persecution; but be of good cheer!! I have overcome the world." (and give Righteousness(true Righteousness), Peace(unshakable) , and Joy (eternally, over-awesome JOY in union with Yahshua forever, beginning on earth now , today, if , IF you hear His voice and go to Him to learn what to do and always obey Him).

 

[anewman1993]

Yes but a lot of times not in those exact words. For example a game Ive been wanting to buy went on sale this weekend. Its called "the forest", basically its a game where you are trapped on an island or something and there are native cannibalizes in the forest and you try to survive or something. I saw it had nudity in it, some of the natives are women without shirts. I posted asking if it was censored or if there was a way to censor it since its so prelivant in the game, and that i didn't want to buy it if it wasn't censored. Holy crap, Almost every single comment was telling me about how childish and idiotic I was because I didn't want to have a bunch of naked [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] in my face for a large portion of the game.

Obviously, I didn't buy it (which makes me sad, It looked really fun), but it reminded me of something. The world CAN NOT understand why we believe what we do, its not possible. Oh they may hold to one or 2 beliefs we do, but not for the same reasons.

If you stand on the word of god, people WILL attack you, and just as soon as I forget that is about when the attacks start getting thrown at me.

 

[Midst]

Has anyone been called this when someone finds out you're a christian?

Maybe it is happening more as an adult, but I feel this thinking is coming on more strongly.

Examples of things people have said are, "How can you believe in something that isn't true", "Only idiots still believe in that", "It is superstition to believe in such things", "Look at all the pain religion is causing in the world".

It's like being a Christian puts me in a class of a less developed, less intelligent people group.

I know Jesus said people will hate me because of him, but I didn't expect to lose so much respect too.

Any tips on how to handle these situations?

I usually talk around people's ignorance, often not reasons to approach it directly.

I do not usually have people call me stupid, but I see that written online here and there and take it personally. When they say "all Christians" and other such statements that includes me.

I have a very successful and prestigious career in an advanced IT area, no one calls me stupid, and frankly, there are times when I deeply underplay my hand and it is a tactical advantage for them to underestimate me. If not always.

This is the major tactic to use, in fact, in a wide variety of social situations.

However, this said, I do believe it is very true that people calling directly or indirectly Christians embued by the Spirit stupid or insane are in danger of hell fire.

It is because they underestimate others that they are in such a vulnerable state to be corrected.


And God will correct them.


I have seen this happen and it is not pretty.


Who does anything truly rotten and atrocious but for pride? Who ever falls off a cliff, but for pride? Who ever falls into a hole, but for pride? Pride is not a wise vice to embrace.

 

[prov1810]

Well, you didn't put "your" in the title so that's refreshing.

 

[Knee V]

Sort of, 'ish. A fella at work calls me his "enigma". He says that, as a Christian, I should be an idiot, but I'm not, and he doesn't understand how that works.

 

[Midst]

Sort of, 'ish. A fella at work calls me his "enigma". He says that, as a Christian, I should be an idiot, but I'm not, and he doesn't understand how that works.

The majority of Americans are Christian, including the President and most politicians.

That sort of speech is nothing short of severely stupid its' own self.

It is religious bigotry and completely narrow minded.

 

[anewman1993]

The majority of Americans are Christian, including the President and most politicians.

That sort of speech is nothing short of severely stupid its' own self.

It is religious bigotry and completely narrow minded.

Oh, I president is NOT christian. Christians have fruit in their lives, Our president is constantly advocating and saying sin is ok. Thats not something a christian does. Just because someone says they are a christian, does not mean they are, thats sad, but biblical.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Personally, I believe the biggest mission field, is the American "christian" church. I'm not saying we don't have Christians, but the vast majority are christian in name only, they say a prayer, but don't ever give their life to Christ, the go as far to say they don't care what the bible says, they justify their sin saying "well, I don't do it often" "don't judge me" "I live under grace" ect. yes, god forgives you if he sins, but if you have no convection over your sins, none whatsoever. There is a big problem, if you have the idea that you can hold your sin in one hand and christ in another, you need to look at scripture. God wants EVERY part of your life, you can't just stick him in the corner, show up on sunday, and get to know him. You can't repent of your sin if you don't acknowledge it, and you can't personally know Christ and have a relationship with him if you don't repent of your sin, and without that, there is no heaven. But the goal isn't to get to heaven, its to get to Christ. If I get to heaven and Christ isn't there, I'm going to do everything I can to leave and go find Jesus.

 

[Midst]

Oh, I president is NOT christian. Christians have fruit in their lives, Our president is constantly advocating and saying sin is ok. Thats not something a christian does. Just because someone says they are a christian, does not mean they are, thats sad, but biblical.

I disagree with some of Obama's decisions, but I surely do not judge him as "constantly advocating sin"...

You should have a basis for your accusations, and evidence, not just accusing people without evidence.

This is pretty irrelevant, however, as there are a majority of Americans who are Christian, regardless. Which means plenty of people whom these bigots judge as smart.

That was the point....

If you are biased because you are Republican or something, then pick your favorite Republican politician. (I am neither, and believe judging people on such a basis is very dangerous. )

I think maybe you should not be throwing the first stone...

 

[Goodbook]

I haven't been called this in those exact words but it's been implied by my own mother and brothers and also one of my friend's boyfriend who is a self proclaimed atheist.

How I deal with it. Well I don't really - just let God deal with it. The Holy spirit is grieved when he is blasphemed. I feel His pain. But I do pray, and try to be a blessing to them anyway.

 

[LilLamb219]

I have a lot of non-Christian friends who say the most AWFUL things...but not to me directly. Mostly they'll post on Facebook. I really just ignore it. Why should I let it get to me when I don't think they're correct? I won't let them hurt my feelings with name calling and I won't be drawn into their goading by retorting.

 

[Inkachu]

I've found that most people who become nasty or aggressive towards my faith are those who are either ignorant of what it really is, or they're simply angry, unpleasant people in general, and God makes a convenient target. It's usually nothing I've personally said or done, so I don't take it too personally. If they seem like they're willing to have a reasonable, civilized dialogue, I'll try to explain what my faith really is. If they seem like they just want to fight with someone over something, I walk away.

 

[DiscipleHeLovesToo]

Has anyone been called this when someone finds out you're a christian?

Maybe it is happening more as an adult, but I feel this thinking is coming on more strongly.

Examples of things people have said are, "How can you believe in something that isn't true", "Only idiots still believe in that", "It is superstition to believe in such things", "Look at all the pain religion is causing in the world".

It's like being a Christian puts me in a class of a less developed, less intelligent people group.

I know Jesus said people will hate me because of him, but I didn't expect to lose so much respect too.

Any tips on how to handle these situations?

would it bother you as much if you considered the person who calls you an idiot to be an idiot themselves? we're all idiots from God's perspective - have less respect for the opinions of those who persecute you (and your opinion of your own flesh) and it won't bother you as much

assuming i was more concerned for them than for me at that moment, i would say something like:

'you're right, i am an idiot compared to Almighty God; what about you?'

'superstition is making judgments based on incomplete data; do you consider yourself to have complete data when you judge Christianity?'

'yes, the religions of arrogance, self-centeredness and greed do tremendous damage; but thank God for the religion of selfless love that opposes them!'

but the Truth is that the right response is the one that the Holy Spirit gives you at that moment; and you can recognize it by the selfless love it conveys; and sometimes selfless love reveals the error believed so that the Truth can be seen

 

[BFine]

Has anyone been called this when someone finds out you're a christian?

Maybe it is happening more as an adult, but I feel this thinking is coming on more strongly.

Examples of things people have said are, "How can you believe in something that isn't true", "Only idiots still believe in that", "It is superstition to believe in such things", "Look at all the pain religion is causing in the world".

It's like being a Christian puts me in a class of a less developed, less intelligent people group.

I know Jesus said people will hate me because of him, but I didn't expect to lose so much respect too.

Any tips on how to handle these situations?

*I'm not really sure which one I've been persecuted more for--being a
black woman or for being a Christian?

However...
Those who actually know me and know about my long walk of faith
with the Lord haven't called me an idiot, many of them don't know
what to say when they hear about my life as a Christian.

"Associates" tend to be like "hirelings"-- at the first sign or trouble they will
bail on you /and or seek opportunities to trip you up/tear you down...many people have kinfolk and so-called friends who act like "hirelings" as well.
I know how that is, because I have them in my own family/circle...sad to say.

What to do?
Diligently pray and keep in the Word of God.
Real respect is something that is rare these days... not many people
get real respect...many find that people only "respect" them when that
person is doing something for them, should that person stop showing them
favor, how quickly that respect vanishes.
I experienced that when I worked for the rich boss in NC, as long as I was in
this "choice position" people showed me "respect"-- if I threw business their
way the more "respect" and "favor" I got...I knew this was fleeting-- You see, when I no longer worked for the rich woman, those who "respected" me turned
aside and that so-called respect faded away. I went from being greeted by
friends, shop clerks/sales people to being ignored. I use to get phone calls
from "friends" throughout the day, that fell off to getting maybe one call a week if that. Then came those times when weeks/ and months passed when no "friend" called.

I continued attending church and reaching out to people who needed
help and or encouraging. I have people who respect me because
I strive to be a godly woman, should I mess up, I apologize/ask forgiveness
and get back to walking with the Lord.
I may not have the crowd of "friends" like I use to but that's OK, those
people were fake and even to this day they still chase after the almighty
dollar and play up to others... I don't want any part of that. I'd rather have
a few people who actually know me and show me real respect than to have
the "lip service" of others who will "bail" should things go "south" or whatever.

 

[Sketcher]

I bring his fallacies to light.

 

[AvgJoe]

Has anyone been called this when someone finds out you're a christian?

Maybe it is happening more as an adult, but I feel this thinking is coming on more strongly.

Examples of things people have said are, "How can you believe in something that isn't true", "Only idiots still believe in that", "It is superstition to believe in such things", "Look at all the pain religion is causing in the world".

It's like being a Christian puts me in a class of a less developed, less intelligent people group.

I know Jesus said people will hate me because of him, but I didn't expect to lose so much respect too.

Any tips on how to handle these situations?

People hated Jesus, so much, that they killed Him. How does losing a little respect even compare?

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Has anyone been called this when someone finds out you're a christian?

Maybe it is happening more as an adult, but I feel this thinking is coming on more strongly.

Examples of things people have said are, "How can you believe in something that isn't true", "Only idiots still believe in that", "It is superstition to believe in such things", "Look at all the pain religion is causing in the world".

It's like being a Christian puts me in a class of a less developed, less intelligent people group.

I know Jesus said people will hate me because of him, but I didn't expect to lose so much respect too.

Any tips on how to handle these situations?

Yeah, you dig into Christian apologetics, as well as into the specific philosophical axioms (i.e. supposedly self-evident assumptions) that underlie anti-Christian ideas and ideals. You can also be kind to those who share their negative opinions about Christian faith. You could also pray for them too; they'll need a lot of that.