'But You're A Christian!', page 2

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic

Thanks so much for your reply. It's always a pleasure to see your thoughts in a thread like this.

First of all, it actually is Christ like behavior and scriptural for a Christian to say my religion is 'right' and yours is 'wrong.' It's not popular, it's not politically correct, but it is in line with Jesus' teachings who said He is the way, the truth, and the life and nobody comes to the Father except through Him. He is the narrow gate. Jesus was the one to say He was the ONLY way so for Christians to say anything else or something along the lines of 'all paths lead to God' is actually against what Jesus Himself said. If I said anything else, I'd be lying about what I believe, not to mention very un-Christ like. Not to mention it wouldn't be doing any favors to those I loved and wanted to lead to Christ. It would be a lie.

The Bible is politically incorrect, Jesus was politically incorrect, and if we truly follow His teachings, we, too, will be very politically incorrect.

However, I think the point where it becomes un-Christ like is when we actually use it as a tool of, like you said, SELF righteousness. Or as a weapon to look down our noses at the unbeliever. Or, as you also implied, not practicing what we preach. Nobody likes a hypocrite, regardless of what banner they're flying. That's for sure.

As for your questions about Dbate's cartoon, I see nothing wrong with it or 'judgmental.' I do not see it as judgmental in the sense of Dbates' looking down his nose at anyone. However, I do see it as (and this is also scripturally allowed), as him having an opinion on behavior he has witnessed.

I mean no offense but I actually take issues with your taking issues with Dbates' cartoon and considering it 'judgmental.' It looks like there is a thin line between 'judgement' and 'opinions.' Christians are absolutely supposed to have opinions, discernment, and make 'judgment' calls. We are also told to, much to the chagrin of nonbelievers, speak out against things we see as wrong. We often get labeled as hypocrites for doing so or end up on the receiving end of the 'judge not lest ye be judged' passage by those who don't understand what Christians are assigned to do here.

Dbates came to a conclusion regarding what he saw. That is something he is absolutely more than entitled to- even commanded to do. Jesus set the bar high for us. It's a hard road and a challenge but that's the way it is. However, the unbeliever is all too often very quick to jump in and say, 'Hypocrite!' just like the cartoon depicts.

That's not looking down my nose at anyone- that is me looking at what I see in the world and coming to a conclusion. Christians are allowed to have opinions and where the 'problem' seems to lie is within Jesus' warning- our opinions are not going to be popular according to the world's standards. In fact, we will be hated for it.

This hasn't happened to me in a while but it does happen from time to time. I've seen Christians on ATS told to 'log off and go to church.' Or blasted for having an opinion on a topic and then become accused of being judgmental (when they weren't remotely). Well, I'm sorry but we are entitled to that and are even encouraged Biblically to do so.

In a recent thread dealing with Jesus' historicity, there was a very hostile member who called several Christians 'idiot' multiple times. When I took issues with this behavior, someone actually had the chutzpah to tell me his behavior was essentially acceptable but the Christians were hypocrites if they did the same. This was because the standard bar was set low for the unbeliever but we all know the standards Christians are set for us. That is pretty much what his statements boiled down to. It was interesting to see how an unbeliever viewed it and was bold enough to admit to it. I'm not complaining, though. To complain about the situation would be to complain about the standard Jesus set.

So I think it all comes back to the attitude and not theopinion. This is an example I left last night in another thread when someone asked me about the 'judge not' passage.

A statement perfectly aligned with scripture: Jesus Christ is the only path to salvation. The only options are Jesus and Heaven or denial of Jesus and Hell.
A statement that goes against Christ's teachings: You dirty rotten hell bound heathen.

And just to be sure because I have had to reiterate this a couple times: This thread isn't so much dealing with those incidences where Christians are truly out of line and are displaying an un-Christ like attitude. I'm referring to the incidences where it is completely unjustified because we are bold, standing up for what we believe, speaking out against sin (and not in the manner where we would be considered a hypocrite for doing so and non in an un-Christ like manner), engaging in debate where our opponent is getting owned by the facts, making grounded judgment calls, having an opinion on a controversial issue, etc., only to be told we are a 'bad Christian' when were are doing EXACTLY what Jesus implored us to do.

I have so much more to say but I'll hold off for now.

[edit on 9/22/2008 by AshleyD]