Why do the people who worship Jesus behave nothing like his teachings

For the member that thinks Christians should be more pacifistic in nature
It is written if someone smites you on the cheek , turn the other cheek.
Ever want to know why it is not written what to do if the other cheek is smitten as well ?

a reply to: dfnj2015

100% agree. Amazed how I was raised in a devout Southern Baptist church and as I matured realized the hate towards others.

All they talked abut was love but if a different religion was referenced, the hate came out. No freedom of speech there-and the missionaries-pray before you eat-and go to church service in Haiti and profess Jesus as your savior or no new school for you-and constant collection plates for what the church officials deemed worthy of Christ, the lord and savior.

All out of "fear" that God will punishment you; that loving - forgiving God. Fear-rules.

a reply to: dfnj2015

Because to know sin is to be a sinner.

My ex just started going back to church. For peace. But it worries me. She is also hanging out with bikers.

Makes me wonder why she prays for...

a reply to: dfnj2015

HMMM, why are sinful imperfect people not acting like the only perfect man to walk the earth? I don't know, maybe we're imperfect. I, for one, wish that Christians WOULD act more like Christ, we need a little more of knocking over money changer's tables...

Jaden

originally posted by: dfnj2015
People who idolize and worship Jesus seem to be the opposite of what Jesus taught. People seem very judgmental, arrogant, belligerent, bigots, and prejudice in their thinking. I've just never been interested in Holier Than Thou church near my house. I've never had any interested in being like any of the people who idolize there.

Modern Christianity to me seems more like a military government centered around authoritarianism. The word lord has no meaning unless you have obedient slaves.

Someone please explain to me why the teachings of Christ seem not to translate into people's behaviors and attitudes?

I think this article has an interesting sentiment:

So if you call yourself a Christian…then just start loving others and overlooking their faults. Quit trying to make everyone else pay for their sins. God’s got that under control. Become ambassadors of mercy instead heavenly bounty hunters and you’ll never have to beg someone to listen to your message about Christ again.

www.gregtrimble.com...

Well, I've had the same question over the years.

You probably agree, but there is zero correlation in my experience between being a Christian and being a good person, meaning that the whole range of humanity is represented, good and bad.

Also, something I've realized over the years is that beliefs don't always correlate with actions.

I'm a leftist, but there are some people who share my values but in practice, act like total a$sholes. Then there are my parents who are right winger Christians, and I don't share their beliefs, but they in practice act really respectably.

On a more spiritual/philosophic level, having grown up in the Church, I think that beyond praying and submitting to "the word" there doesn't seem to much transformative practice in mainstream Christianity, so this may explain why people don't really change for the better.

originally posted by: intrptr
Imagine going into a supermarket and see people hugging each other?

I had to laugh when I read this because it happens in the little country town near me all the time.

It can be a bit annoying when you just want to run in/pick up something quick and all of a sudden there's a hug fest in the middle of the aisle. I get caught up in it all the time and it has nothing to do with religion, it's about community ties.

I think we just need to drop all the labels/pretense and exercise a little more respect, compassion for each other. Nothing wrong with sincere efforts to enhance the human condition no matter where it comes from. Kinda hard to hate on someone who's hugging you like they really mean it.

Just the other day I was talking to a guy in line at the store when he suddenly realized who I was married to. He thinks my hubby is the greatest and so do I but OMG he grabbed me and started kissing my head. I told my hubby and he LOLed

Guess I've been here too long, didn't realize it's that unusual maybe we should post a sign to beware of serial huggers.

originally posted by: dfnj2015
a reply to: Boadicea

I did use the word "seem" in an attempt not to be absolute in my brush painting.

Yes, you did -- my bad, and my apologies.

I did like your post. I thought it was well thought out.

I'm glad. I was worried you might think I was avoiding your question, instead of expanding on it... I hope that makes sense!

It just seems to me the teachings of Christ seem to me to be a little more egalitarian although the apostles and translators seem determined to keep it authoritarian and consistent with previous scripture. I'm not sure I can accept Jesus was totally authoritarian despite Paulanity.

I would say that the teachings of Jesus were quite egalitarian. And that Paulianity is much of the problem, and the hierarchy it brought about which empowered some more than others... and as the saying goes, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Playing on people's fears has played its part too, as well as stroking the egos of "good" and/or "true" Christians. I guess it's not as simple as one reason -- just human nature (which some know how to twist and manipulate better than others). Jesus Himself called it: "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."

I still think Christians would be more pacifists than they really are in general.

I don't get that either. At all. It is totally opposite to what I was taught. Every week after Sunday School, then "big" church, we ended by singing "Let There Be Peace On Earth." And we were expected to live that all day every day. This was my minister:

The Rev. Sue Sikking... claimed that ''The Star-Spangled Banner'' was too warlike, and in 1972 she led a movement to replace it with ''My Country 'Tis of Thee,'' ''America the Beautiful'' or ''God Bless America.''

She obviously wasn't successful -- but she sure tried!

Also, I would think Christians would also be against the death penalty more than they seem to be. Being against the death penalty seems to be more consistent with being anti-abortion.

It sure does! Again, I don't get it either. But more and more it seems that not just Christians, but everyone, seems to think someone deserves to be killed -- for one reason or another, in one way or another. I also don't get the passion for saving babies in the womb, but then abandoning them to their fate so-to-speak once they are born. If life matters that much before birth, then it must matter that much more after birth. But as I said, it seems increasingly that life itself means nothing any more. How can we kill thee? Let us count the ways... abortion, death penalty, lack of healthcare, euthanasia, war, trigger happy cops, assassination... it just goes on and on.

It also seems to me Christians would be a little more open to government public policies designed to fight poverty.

Many -- I would hope most -- are open to better public policies. I understand why so many don't want government involvement... because they just screw it up worse!!! And because whatever they can give, they can take... whatever they can do for you, they can do to you. What I would personally like to see are programs to truly empower everyone with life skills and education/training, quality affordable healthcare, etc., so that people are self-sufficient and resourceful and therefore strong.

I think Christians would be more like hippies than they are. Maybe that is just my interpretation.

Nope, not just you -- me too! My husband and kids as well. The heart of the hippie movement -- before it too was co-opted and propagandized for political purposes -- was very Christ-like. Definitely not Paulian though. But the PTB couldn't have such a positive movement go unchecked so divide-and-conquer once again.

a reply to: dfnj2015

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Today US of A with its Judeo-Christian Heritage is very much the opposite of the spirit and letter of the New Testament. Back in the 70's Alan Watts wrote an article in Playboy named "The Most Dangerous Book in the World", in which he described how the Bible and religious zeal is responsible for so much war, carnage and destruction throughout mankind's history.

Today's religious condone torture, false imprisonment and all sorts of other inhumane behavior. A sad state of affairs.

originally posted by: dfnj2015

originally posted by: MOMof3
Love, forgiveness and repent. Sinning, covering it up and lying, lot easier. Course, that's why they go to church on sunday, ask forgiveness, start all over again Monday.

My problem is people who are pretending to speak for God.

Pretending to speak for God, or speaking to you of what Christ said in the gospel?

He did pretty much forgive the prostitute and then tell her to go and sin no more which means he did not overlook her faults. He and she both knew she had them and He was letting her know He expected her to walk a better path from then on.

It seems to me that your main ax to grind is with the idea that no one is perfect and we all mess up from time to time and need forgiveness.

a reply to: dfnj2015

Suffering and sinners are not the same thing.

a reply to: dfnj2015

People who idolize and worship Jesus seem to be the opposite of what Jesus taught. People seem very judgmental, arrogant, belligerent, bigots, and prejudice in their thinking.

First off Jesus asked not to be worshiped or idolized.
Second I could not agree more but the reason should be clear to anyone. The reasons they choose their paths are all wrong in many..most cases. Not many of us are what we should be by far but people who join churches seem to be on the WIDE path.

Matthew 7:13-14
The Narrow and Wide Gates
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. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

a reply to: SeaWorthy

There are seven churches in Revelations. I think only two of them were acceptable if recall correctly. So it would stand to reason you are correct, but we could extrapolate that the letters are also types of Christian meaning that there are not many who don't have significant challenges to be overcome.

The letters make it plain though that some will come out of most of the churches.

And when the end of times comes, the great multitude will be of all nations and peoples.

a reply to: dfnj2015

Over and over i say this... Christianity doesn't focus on Jesus teaching

Its mainly Paul, and everything else in the book other then the gospels

originally posted by: ketsuko
a reply to: SeaWorthy

There are seven churches in Revelations. I think only two of them were acceptable if recall correctly. So it would stand to reason you are correct, but we could extrapolate that the letters are also types of Christian meaning that there are not many who don't have significant challenges to be overcome.

The letters make it plain though that some will come out of most of the churches.

And when the end of times comes, the great multitude will be of all nations and peoples.

The church as you mention it is the people not a building nor organization but people filled with the spirit. The body of the followers is the temple Jesus is the cornerstone.

In the Bible, however, the word “church” never refers to a building, but always to people; specific groups of people.

The impact of realizing that the “church” is people is simple but profound. Biblically, people do not “go to church,” they are the church

www.truthortradition.com...
If you can find a group of other true Christians who are not just trying to find a social outlet fine but I haven't seen that.

Titus 2:11–12
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

You can love your fellow man and still stay removed as the prophets did in my opinion.

originally posted by: Akragon
a reply to: dfnj2015

Over and over i say this... Christianity doesn't focus on Jesus teaching

Its mainly Paul, and everything else in the book other then the gospels

I somewhat agree reading Mathew Mark luke and john gives what seems to fit the truth that is built in the heart I personally trust in this and don't need anymore, I think we will find in the last days we will have the older books found (released from hiding) and we will know the whole truth.

Romans 10
9 If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

This is why. They believe that all you have to do to be saved is believe that Jesus is Lord and believe that he died for their sins. Even though this flies in the face of Jesus own words they tend to ignore those in favor of the easy route which is believing without doing. (Not all of them mind you, mainly the more vocal ones).

'Cause it's hard to be good.

a reply to: angeldoll

No it's not, it's as easy as trying.

a reply to: SeaWorthy

No, I understand that, but my point is that you can find Christians who will come out of the churches, all of them, so it is still possible that even among those "Holier than Thou" types that the OP so hates, there are good Christians ... possible more than the OP knows.

It is a layered meaning. Both that the churches themselves (because those letters were written to earthly churches of the day) had their flaws and that the people in them have their flaws. These need to be guarded against and addressed.

Additionally, there is also the historical interpretation of church ages, and that theory puts us in Laodician age or the lukewarm age which also describes so much of what we see - the Sunday morning Christians and the ones who search until they find a church that preaches what they want to hear instead of preaching what is actually there.

a reply to: dfnj2015

So, the entire point is that you don't like Christians, and simply want to complain? Gee, how original.....

Christians are people, and people have faults. No one becomes perfect upon accepting Jesus as Savior; we have to work at avoiding sin, same as anyone else. The tendency will likely be stronger, but Christians still make mistakes. All you have done is throw every single person who calls themselves Christian into a big group, and claim that all are the same. Gee, isn't that just what atheists complain about all the time, demanding that no one lump them together, and assume they all think and act the same way? Pot, meet kettle.