Many times in the christian world we find people who are acting and responding in ways that are very judgmental and condemning.
Especially when it comes to the gay community, atheists and those of various religious groups and denominations that differ in doctrine from what we think is right. Many of us christians have a hard time accepting people who think differently.
We would rather fight and defend our interpretation and doctrine and prove our christian moral way of living rather than show the love of Christ and accept people the way they were made.
I do not understand why we feel the need to try to prove our point and why we feel it is required to make sure everyone knows that the way we follow God is the only right way.
A lot of us cannot even accept and associate with other believers from a different denomination. So many people say their version of the bible is the only true version or their type of church is the only true church.
I get so fed up with the pride and arrogance of some (not all) groups of christians who think they have it all figured out and their way is right and you had better believe like they do or they want nothing to do with you.
Even some christians in the same church, those who have been good friends for years will turn on you if you leave their church. How many times have you been involved in a church and think it is great and the people are loving and kind only to find once you leave the group you never hear from any of them again?
Though no longer within the institutional church, I had been in the system for well over 50 years so I know what I am talking about. I am not out to bash the church but it does aggravate me to see people who are supposed to show the love of God to all people, yet act so unloving and judgmental to people who think differently. Fortunately not every church or christian group is like this but certainly it is the norm for a lot of them.
Why is it that so many christian people are so mean and condemning to gay people? Why is it we see atheist as our mortal enemy? Why do we reject the interpretations and beliefs of other christians who attend a different denomination, or worse yet who do not go to church at all? Jesus, who is our example, was not like that yet many people did not grow up in church and did not read the bible. Because of this they do not know what Jesus was like. They only know that we who claim to follow Christ act in such a mean and unloving way.
We need to remember that behind every label we put on people there is a human being. No matter who we are, what we believe, no matter what our lifestyle or our feelings about God, we all are deserving of love and acceptance. Just like each of us who are now christians were loved and accepted by God even before we knew anything about Him, we should be loving and accepting to everyone we meet because we may be the only Jesus they see.
addicts always protect the supply.
LikeLike
Yes, Jim! It is a puzzle that folk can be so judgemental and closed. I look at my own life and see that I was once like that too. And how did I change? I was confronted with the fact that I was gay and in a homophobic church that condemned me as a gay person. So I had to do some huge wrestling mentally, spiritually. And out of that came a better me, I think. One that is more tolerant, more embracing, more willing to listen to others, less inclined to think I’m right, more inclined to think I might actually be wrong so I can learn from others. I think it has a lot to do with our upbringing. I’m learning that our mind is conditioned in our subconscious at a very early stage in life, and that our subconscious mind kicks in to protect us when it thinks we are in a bad place. So it’s that subconscious mind that needs retraining and reconditioning, and until that is accomplished no arguments, no great articles, no life-changing videos are actually going to bring about a more tolerant accepting view of life. This is my experience, at any rate. I’m still growing and learning!
LikeLike
Thanks jem. Good points. I appreciate your comment.
LikeLike
Very timely message! My husband and I have lost many good friends(so we thought) when we left out church organization of 13 years….not one of them have anything to do with us now. I have noticed most church goers have no clue what do with those of us that don’t attend or change our belief system. It’s a very sad thing and extremely hurtful. My husband and I have been more hurt by those calling themselves Christians than by those who claim nothing! Thanks for the message very good and very timely!
God bless~
Kris
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Kris. It is sad that happenings like this are so common in the church world.
LikeLike
I agree with your post. It’s quite a norm almost everywhere, “The Christian Pride” is almost everywhere. Most of the Christians would approach me and try to explain what a god is, and how he died for my sins. I haven’t still found in bible, where Jesus claims to be a God. If at all he died for my sins he wouldn’t have awakened the third day.
If at all there is a God, who pre-designed our predestined lives, he is not involving again, and waiting for the answer after a prayer is futile.
Yesterday I watched a Indian tamil film called “Anbe Sivam (Love is God)”, it has such a beautiful message about God in atheistic philosophy, you don’t need a god from a book or of a temple when you just think of being helpful, good to the needy. Love towards the needy, destitute and helpless is nothing but a God, coming through you. Watch that movie, quite inspiring .
LikeLike
Thanks for the comment and suggestion.
LikeLike
Amen!
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23-24
LikeLike
Thanks. Good word.
LikeLiked by 1 person