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Originally posted by groingrinder
What bothers me is all the preachers who make a very, very, very, very, comfortable living pushing the bible at people. Christ himself did not make a living preaching his theology. He never said go out and build elaborate churches in my name and amass worldly goods and accept money for fine clothes and fancy automobiles and mansions. Every preacher who makes a living preaching the bible is a hypocrite and cannot be trusted. If they were doing God's work, they would be doing it for free.
Originally posted by amitheone
Originally posted by heyo
Just a little tired of religion (mostly christianity, because christianity is riduculed more on secular forums than other religions, or so i've found) getting flack for everything,
Actually, Christianity being attacked is a good thing for me because it challenges you. It forces you to study more the bible and dig deeper so that you can search for the truth, and once the truth is found, it gives you a sense of victory and accomplishment.
Set aside those people who loves to argue based on taunting in order to provoke you, thus making you ineffective in the delivery of your arguments. This is very common to those who pretend to know, but actually knows nothing at all. They use taunting to get that leverage because they have really nothing to say, so they attack you. They will belittle you. These people are only interested in getting a score, but not in the truth. Here, your patience and endurance will be tested and trained. What you do here is, leave them or just ignore them. Arguments will never be fruitful if it continues.
Always hear what the other side has to say no matter who they are and always see it in their own perspective so that you can get the feel what its like to be them. You will understand them better this way and you might have compassion on them. "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do".
Of course, being human, sometimes it gets on your nerve. I've stumbled and have said some nasty things that I've regretted. But, it happened so that I will be careful not to make the same mistakes next time. It trains your self control.
However, take this as a blessing and improvement of self of becoming a better Christian. To show the real fruits of the Spirit.
Don't be frustrated or be afraid to be exposed to such hostility. You'll find weak spots in you and you will recognize it and you'll seek to improve yourself by the help of the Holy Spirit.
Thank goodness, however, that we live in modern times where people can't just pick up a stone to kill you just because you don't agree with them. The prophets and the apostles suffered not only ridicule and humiliation, they suffered death.
......If a man says homosexuality is a sin, he's a christian. If he condemns the homosexual, he's a hypocrite, cause he's sinning. People who aren't christians can't wrap their heads around that one, or don't want to......another defence for homosexuality is that it's natural. So they don't choose to be gay? K fine that's alright.
I don't think it is ever right to condemn someone who is gay. Having a gay lifestyle is sin, yes. However, everyone of us are sinners. There are no contrast at all when it comes to sin. Sin will always be sin that needs to be repented of irregardless of what they are. Anyone who says he/she does not sin may throw the first stone to the gay person. Anyone who sins and does not repent will all perish.
Originally posted by whatsup
Persecution hah! Not being a Christian is far worse where I live.
I.e., most every business establishment and even local government has bible studies in the morning or at lunch. If you aren't "one of them" and participate, you are ostracized, don't get promotions, yada yada. There is far worse persecution in our American society for not being a Christian than for being one. I get rather tired of hearing this whining "victim" stance from Xthians! Try being an agnostic, atheist, or other religion and you will really see persecution.
Also, when was the last time a non Christian threatened or persecuted you with eternal damnation for not seeing it there way? Happens all the time to non Christians.
[edit on 5-8-2008 by whatsup]
[edit on 5-8-2008 by whatsup]
Originally posted by jokei
reply to post by heyo
Venting your frustrations? Turn the other cheek perhaps?
Oh, the other one I was thinking of "Let he without sin cast the first stone"
Hypocrisy, christians?
Originally posted by justamomma
reply to post by NOTurTypical
I grew up in a christian based family and never really understood the following: "Whenever I am slandered for my faith in Jesus Christ it just reinforces my faith that I'm on the right path."
How does this reinforce that you are on the right path?? I got more flack for questioning christianity, which by your logic, that should reinforce that I was on the right path in moving away from the short sided views of that faith??
Well, the logic in it is this. If you're a christian, and you're around others who arent, but they never slander you for your beliefs, then that makes them christians too, or it makes you a non-christian. What would be the point of putting a label on yourself if you're of the same belief? as far as questioning christianity, the search for truth is the only way to go. I think maybe your questions scared your parents because they thought you weren't gonna turn out to be who they thought you'd be. just like any parents.
Anytime I got flack for being a christian (which I no longer label myself as such), it was because I was imposing my views onto others, not because of what I believed.
Does imposing your views on somebody mean just expressing them and believing them? What's wrong with that?
If god is so great, why do christians feel the need to help him reveal himself?? Why does he need others to do his work for him?
well i think the answer to that is the freedom of choice. Are you suggesting a real God would impose his worship if he was real? Forced religion is a job for the antichrist, not God.
I never understood these things until I started looking at it from an objective point of view. Now I realize that these things are human perspectives being pushed onto others. It is designed to fit a human agenda and hardly the Creator's agenda.
The 10 percent tithe is not something the Creator needs to test obedience, but rather something a human is doing to get you to hand over your hard earned cash w/out questioning. (this is just an example of the human agenda behind the "christian faith")
Come on. Giving is good, no matter what.
Originally posted by heyo
...sick and tired of the bible being called a crutch. In this day and age, being a christian and sticking to your beliefs is equivalent to kicking your own crutch out from beneath you in this society