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Ashlee

- 2 years ago

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Hypocritical Christians

Why is it that christians look down on those who arent christian and what believe in other things?? Does it not say in the bible that you are to love thy neighbor?? Doesnt that mean love your neighbor whether they believe the same things as you do or not?? I mean really?? They look down on people for what they believe in yet go against what they believe in by doing so.. Isnt that a little bit hypocritical?? And do you think that their god would want them to do such a thing just because someone else doesnt see eye to eye on their views??

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@Ashlee You just can't fight back. You can, don't get me wrong, but come prepared.
It's the point where if they stick with God, its so stubborn that they don't even think of a decent argument. They just keep describing God over and over.

This whole discussion and the various contributions brings up something that has always bothered me as a Christian. Why was God so careless about communicating the truth to us mere mortals? Why is the Bible so obscure and convoluted to the point that we can't know what it is actually saying on a subject such as the afterlife?

I'm going to answer this without looking at other responses... Firstly, I am NOT a Christian. By any means. But the generalization that the poster has used in the above question is obnoxious. Why is it that it's okay to generalize all Christians into one group, but as soon as it's done to any other group (muslims, homosexuals, women, liberals, etc) it's the worst thing they can do? People are individuals. Individuals who believe in a (specific) religion. I'm sure you don't like being generalized, don't do it to someone else. I can't even focus on the question.

... hypocrisy can be found on both sides of the debate... a rant like this is very... narrow-minded.

Who cares about the question - the picture is amazing!

going to church does not make one a christian any more than sitting in a garage would make one a car.

I like your Christ. I don't like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. --Ghandi Too often this is true. Remember WWJD? If all of us Christians really practiced that, we perhaps wouldn't get such a bad rap.

I have to say, although I know many Christians who go to church and act pious, then leave and act like butt heads, I also know many people who are not Christian who judge other just as much. I don't really think this is a "christian" problem, so much as it is a human problem. I am not myself a christian, yet I would not look down on someone because of what they believe, as long as they understand WHY they believe that. It would not be in the spirit of what our country was founded on to do so. I believe in treating others the best I feel I can. it makes me feel like a better person to do so, and I would wish that for everyone. I do think it is unrealistic to think that would ever fully happen, but again, I don't think all Christians are like that, just like I don't think all Baha'i are loving and tolerant. It's a human problem that pointing the finger and stooping to the same level will solve. Someone has to stop somewhere, why not let that being with you?

Please, please... I hate this. Absolute, unadulterated, HATE. Please hear me out. I could get into a full blow novel about this... I won't though. I've got myself so worked up I can't even think straight now. Just think about it this way, you can love someone, sincerely, and still do something that contradicts that statement. That doesn't change the fact that you love them. I'm not excusing the behavior, it's wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. But it happens. Put yourself in the same situation, okay? Say you honestly believe that if people don't believe what you believe to be truth and don't follow the ways you consider to be right, they're going to hell. You believe that, okay? Would you consider it loving to keep that information to yourself? No... But at the same time, you're supposed to be humble and remember that we're all human, and none of us are any better than the next. God is the ultimate judge and there's no way for us to take that position. How do you keep the balance? It's hard... I'm not excusing it. I hate what has happened to the church, or the reputation of the church. Things are not how they were intended to be. Imperfection is very, very present. The simple fact of the matter is, we need God. But naturally, we don't want Him. Statistics show that a third of the whole world claims to be Christian. You'd never know it. I'm saddened and repulsed by stuff like this. I'm so sorry. I don't know what else to say.

The basic belief of Christianity is stated in Romans 3:22-24 – "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Christians believe all people have failed and continue to fail in meeting God's justice because we rebel against him. The way that God's justice for our rebellion is satisfied is through Jesus who suffered the punishment for us. This is what it means to believe in Christ and so be a Christian. Any true Christian understands that he or she continues to sin by rebelling against God. In humility we will not see others as greater "sinners" than we are. Christians share our beliefs because we see faith in Jesus as our Savior as the gift of God's love to mankind. I think the biggest problem is that many Christians clumsily speak judgmentally against non-Christians to win an argument instead of sharing their hope with gentleness and respect and only when it's asked for. (1 Peter 3:15)

The fact is, Jesus himself tells us not to judge others. That is God's responsibility. In reply to seejanepaint, people (including children) are only judged on their knowledge. Jesus said that even the Pharisees would have been innocent of any wrongdoing if it wasn't for the fact that they knew better. At the same time, Christians have a responsibility to identify and condemn immoral behavior in society because of the harm it causes. That doesn't mean we are perfect, but hopefully it comes from a sincere desire to make the world a better place. True Christians realize that no one can ever be perfect, otherwise Jesus wouldn't have to die for us. The important thing is that we consistently try to live as much like Christ as possible. God knows your heart and that's all that matters, not what others say about you.

Just had this conversation yesterday, actually! Here's the crux: Christians claim to have a special 'relationship' with God. Yet, when you empirically look at Christian behaviour, they are just as likely to do all the things they accuse other people of themselves. Literally no difference. So... what makes you so special, again?

I know that its not just christians that are like this.. trust me on that.. I only chose to use christians because i once was but found the church and all in it to be a bunch of hypocrites..

Hell is a place on Earth. So is Heaven. I love this painting above :) The eye of the naked lady dancing. Stretching. Reaching. Seeking. Looking. Seeing.

Christianity and it's "ways" are pretty much set-in-stone. One of the main purpose of Christianity is to guide one to imitate Jesus and have a nice Christian lifestyle. However, we all know this is nearly impossible. Why? Because, we, as human beings are flawed with envy, hatred, etc. Some people choose to believe in a God and some people do not. Nevertheless, we are all human and have common emotions. Christianity is a lifestyle that broken and imperfect people try to live.

It's first very important to understand where you're coming from, Ashlee. You clearly have a negative view of Christians--I'm not criticizing, and I think it's a pretty common reaction, because almost all of us interact/see "bad' Christians WAY more often than we see "good" ones. And that's something to really consider. The world looks at Christianity with a bias. The average Christian is just like anyone else, in my experience. They don't proselytize all day long, they don't judge you and they don't give a crap what you do or believe, just as long as you're a good person. I find that many Christians are very accepting, they're humble and they're just concerned about you living the best you can. And part of that, they believe, is becoming redeemed in the eyes of the Lord so that your soul will go to Heaven and so that you may live with a stronger moral compass in the Bible and the Holy Spirit. Many Christians do love their neighbors. And they may believe that what others do is morally wrong, but they're not going to burn crosses, shout hate speech or point fingers. I don't mean to say that people who do any of those things aren't true born-again believers. And yeah, they're out there and they're LOUD. They're downright obnoxious at times. Think about anyone that you've ever thought of as hypocritical. Why? Because they loudly spoke out about something being bad, but went and did it. Or seem to have done it, or sorta did it, in a way. Nevermind everything else that person believes. Because they don't like X and went and did X, they're a bad person. Now who's being judgmental? For EVERYONE, there's a wide spectrum of good and bad with plenty of grey in between. The best thing anyone can do is show love, compassion, forgiveness, understanding and a slight unwillingness to be swayed from their core beliefs.

I asked my very Christian friend a question one afternoon...we work together and talk long about such topics. I wonder how it is fair that a small child who might live in the poorest of situations somewhere on the other side of the planet... born there by chance...a lucky accident...should, upon his death, be condemned to hell because of his failure to proclaim Jesus his savior or even knowing (or caring) about a church. So my question to my friend was this "Do you believe that a child like that would go to hell after his death?" Here is what happened next. Her expression definitely changed. She did not like the response that she wanted to say. She looked uncomfortable and I felt uncomfortable. She never said Yes or no. She told me that her job is to offer Christianity to those around her That churches reach out to other countries for this purpose. Everything she said pointed toward the the answer as being yes, but she never said it. So, for me....that is all i needed to know. I know how I felt, and I can't forget it. I know that it is not for me. It is for some...but not me. It is just better for me to UNDERSTAND what is going on around me than to be understood by this world. To each their own. I love my friend no less.

It's an interesting perspective however when it comes to witnessing. As Christians, we are asked to spread the word and to let others know about Jesus. This is Biblical fact. However, some in society are soooo sensitive that the mere fact of me saying to you, "would you like to know Jesus" comes across that I have a way better than yours and hence I am judging you for not having the belief system I do. You can't say someone is judgemental for asking you to consider Christianinty, that is part of the Gospel commision. That is doing what Jesus asked for us to do.

Quite simply, it's because people (Christians) like to believe in God, but they'd rather not have God leading their lives. And yes, Jesus will call you out on this.

Hypocrisy, like greed or jealousy, is a human trait, not a Christian one. You can find hypocrisy in members of any faith, just as you will find greed, jealousy, and other human weaknesses. Being a follower of His Holiness Christ, or member of any other religion, does not preclude one from having such faults. Each of us, according to our own capacity, is able to apply the teachings of our religion to a different degree. While it is difficult to deal with any display of human weakness, such as hypocrisy, prejudice, or greed, I think what will help eliminate it from our world is not pointing it out in others so much as wresting it from ourselves.

SoulPancake

Ashlee

Hypocritical Christians

DanielPotashov

@Ashlee You just can't fight back. You can, don't get me wrong, but come prepared.
It's the point where if they stick with God, its so stubborn that they don't even think of a decent argument. They just keep describing God over and over.

iamspartacus66

shannysandwich

WarpedGlass1

... hypocrisy can be found on both sides of the debate... a rant like this is very... narrow-minded.

idamines

Who cares about the question - the picture is amazing!

jfq

going to church does not make one a christian any more than sitting in a garage would make one a car.

mcall

I like your Christ. I don't like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. --Ghandi Too often this is true. Remember WWJD? If all of us Christians really practiced that, we perhaps wouldn't get such a bad rap.

erinbrown5

RawesomeTalley

schmo59

iamspartacus66

applegrass

Ashlee

I know that its not just christians that are like this.. trust me on that.. I only chose to use christians because i once was but found the church and all in it to be a bunch of hypocrites..

seejanepaint

Hell is a place on Earth. So is Heaven. I love this painting above :) The eye of the naked lady dancing. Stretching. Reaching. Seeking. Looking. Seeing.

pacman

dootsie

seejanepaint

Guitardds

Guitardds

Quite simply, it's because people (Christians) like to believe in God, but they'd rather not have God leading their lives. And yes, Jesus will call you out on this.

atahila

Hypocritical Christians

@Ashlee You just can't fight back. You can, don't get me wrong, but come prepared.It's the point where if they stick with God, its so stubborn that they don't even think of a decent argument. They just keep describing God over and over.

... hypocrisy can be found on both sides of the debate... a rant like this is very... narrow-minded.

Who cares about the question - the picture is amazing!

going to church does not make one a christian any more than sitting in a garage would make one a car.

I like your Christ. I don't like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. --Ghandi Too often this is true. Remember WWJD? If all of us Christians really practiced that, we perhaps wouldn't get such a bad rap.

I know that its not just christians that are like this.. trust me on that.. I only chose to use christians because i once was but found the church and all in it to be a bunch of hypocrites..

Hell is a place on Earth. So is Heaven. I love this painting above :) The eye of the naked lady dancing. Stretching. Reaching. Seeking. Looking. Seeing.

Quite simply, it's because people (Christians) like to believe in God, but they'd rather not have God leading their lives. And yes, Jesus will call you out on this.

What's Next?

@Ashlee You just can't fight back. You can, don't get me wrong, but come prepared.
It's the point where if they stick with God, its so stubborn that they don't even think of a decent argument. They just keep describing God over and over.