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Stero-typical view on Christians - 7/13/2008 12:28:13 PM
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mattyd00d
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The stero-typical view on christians seems always to be negative. Espically in the media. When was the last time you heard of a "good" christian in the news or saw one on a show?
Every one thinks that we are:
Agaisnt homosexuality
Agaisnt under age sex
Agaisnt violence
Agaisnt non-christians
etc.
I know some of the above are good but if you were to ask someone in the street not what chrisatians are agaisnt but what they stanf for they would not be able to answer.
Why do you think this is?
And
Do you aree with me?
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RE: Stero-typical view on Christians - 7/13/2008 1:37:47 PM
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mvic
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I agree with your view that Christians are seen and portrayed negativelly.
This is because Christianity's greatest enemy are the Christians themselves.
The way we sometimes behave would make Jesus turn the other way in shame.
_____________________________
Christian words of comfort at http://www.holyvisions.co.uk
Welcome to my Blog
MEI VITA INDICO CHRISTUS
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RE: Stero-typical view on Christians - 7/13/2008 2:05:34 PM
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Little_1
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I heard a preacher (who survived cancer) give the following illustration:
If the preacher went to his doctor to get the result of his tests and the doctor decided "best not to tell him he has cancer because it would no doubt cause upset and spoil the preachers day!" How upset the preacher would be when further down the line - he is too late in receiving treatment which if he had known about earlier may have saved his life! How do you think the preacher would feel at the truth being kept from him at this point and not being given the opportunity to choose if he would be treated or not?
I heard another minister say that "There will be a lot of ministers being chased around hell for not having preached the Truth to their congregations." I get the feeling that we are 'hated' if we do speak the Truth and we are 'hated' if we don't! We cannot be both men pleasers and God pleasers however. That is part of taking up our cross......
Whilst it is not the Christian's place to be judgemental - this does not mean we are to keep quiet about matters concerning Truth. So often Christians 'don't' speak out about God's Truth concerning matters of morality, etc. because they are afraid they are going to cause upset. But how can others come to the Truth without hearing the Truth? God's Word is Truth. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God; and how shall they (non Christians) hear unless they (Christians) are sent to tell them? Prayer, love and wisdom are important factors when sharing the Gospel (don't leave home without an attitude of each)!
People don't like to hear about sin but that does not mean we should not risk upsetting them by telling them the Truth. The responsibility is then theirs to decide what to do with the Truth but those faithful in proclaiming Truth (so long as they do so in a spirit of love) will have no regrets in having preached the Word.
Speaking God's Truth in love carries with it an 'occupational hazard' so to speak in that it can upset people. "God's Word is sharper than a double edged sword; able to penetrate (i.e. sever)......" Having to sever ties with sin is going to hurt and be unpleasant sometimes....... people want 'salvation from sin' but they are not so keen on the 'separation from sin' part. People like the sound of justification but not so keen on the thought of sanctification...... There is nothing new under the sun! Not even the stereo-typical type Christian as portrayed in the OP.
However - prayer, love and wisdom are important when sharing the Gospel.
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 7/14/2008 12:59:50 PM >
_____________________________
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." ROMANS 12:12
Testimony
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RE: Stero-typical view on Christians - 7/13/2008 2:56:33 PM
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Little_1
Posts: 1213
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mattyd00d
...... if you were to ask someone in the street not what chrisatians are agaisnt but what they stanf for they would not be able to answer.
Why do you think this is?
And
Do you aree with me?
How would you explain what you 'stand for' to a non-Christian?
Jesus came to save us from the consequences of our sin; to justify us and sanctify us. How can we speak about a loving God without telling them what a loving God did at Calvary for us all and the reason why? To 'play down' sin would be to slight what Jesus did for us at Calvary.
I don't believe we can speak about Jesus without explaining that we are all sinners...... negative but true! But there is also so many positive things to balance this up with, e.g. salvation is a free gift, eternal life, sins forgiven, promise of Heaven, God will never leave His children or forsake us, etc......
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 7/13/2008 3:17:17 PM >
_____________________________
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." ROMANS 12:12
Testimony
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RE: Stero-typical view on Christians - 7/13/2008 3:50:53 PM
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rcjames
Posts: 5245
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From: Oklahoma
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mattyd00d
The stero-typical view on christians seems always to be negative. Espically in the media. When was the last time you heard of a "good" christian in the news or saw one on a show?
Every one thinks that we are:
Agaisnt homosexuality
Agaisnt under age sex
Agaisnt non-christians
etc.
So are you Pro homosexuality, Pro pedeophilia, Pro athesist?
As for me I am against anything that separates man from God; and that includes all sin.
Thanks
RC
_____________________________
Just a country Preacher's humble opinion
Read the first chapter of my latest book here;
http://www.deliveranceofsara.com
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RE: Stero-typical view on Christians - 7/13/2008 4:33:50 PM
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SinnerSaved
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Christians should not compromise the word of God in order to be perceived as 'positive' in the eyes of the world. We have had the scales removed from our eyes. They are still in darkness. All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to stay silent.
Matthew 7:13-14
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
_____________________________
"No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."
John Donne
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RE: Stero-typical view on Christians - 7/13/2008 9:46:12 PM
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SonInMe1
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How many people will get saved by sneaking up behind them and bashing their brains in with the bible?
To use the previous analogy...
You have cancer and the doc comes in and says...you are going to die, here is a gun, kill yourself.
There is degree. If shouting bible verses at people led people to the Lord then more would be saved. Just speaking the truth? Lets see, how many ugly people have you approached to tell them, man you are butt ugly, let me get a pail so I can puke.
If the truth is not ministered properly people will shun it. How effective would that be?
The key to an EFFECTIVE witness ( not pride on display ) is investing into the person youa re witnessing to. Develop a relationship so your witness has more of a foundation to build upon.
Yep, not everyone you are going to witness to are people you can invest into...the passerby....the taxi driver, etc. You can make an impression...and leave the rest to someone else. You plant the seed and someone else waters it etc.
Its no wonder the world looks at christians as nuts with the screaming bible thumpers out there.
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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RE: Stero-typical view on Christians - 7/14/2008 7:31:25 AM
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makarizo
Posts: 2936
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quote:
ORIGINAL: rcjames
So are you Pro homosexuality, Pro pedeophilia, Pro athesist?
As for me I am against anything that separates man from God; and that includes all sin.
Thanks
RC
from spending a lifetime of witnessing, something I have noticed that some people are confused about is what a believer actually believes.
they can tell you what they do not believe.
is it safe to say that rcjames believes that telling people they are going to hell is what draws them to Christ?
is that what you tell your congregation? "go out and tell everyone that they are going to hell, and then when you are done telling them how lost, and evil and wrong, and pathetic they all are, invite them to church.
let 'em know what we are against, but don't let 'em know what we are for!!
_____________________________
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RE: Stero-typical view on Christians - 7/14/2008 8:15:21 AM
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growingseed
Posts: 160
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I work with non-Christians, and tell them that i've have decided to follow Jesus, and just like a tree being planted i will not grow over night nor will i be able to part a swimming pool, but have given the Lord my heart to train in his ways, that it is not easy to give up myself and become something else, but i will try to live by my new standards of love. And the start of that is them, that i will pray for their needs. Yes most Christians present themselves more righteous then they are, they talk more then they walk. That is what the world see's. But i realize that i need to walk before i can talk.
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RE: Stero-typical view on Christians - 7/14/2008 2:04:29 PM
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Liveloved
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I look at the life of Jesus. He is my example. Jesus did not go around speaking of what He was against. Oh, certainly with those who thought they 'knew' alot about God and how to live, He spoke boldly and often harshly. But He did not go to the lost with an 'I'm against this. . .' message.
No, to Zaccheus, He said come down out of that tree for I'm coming to your house. And to the women who anointed Him with oil, He defended her actions against the accusations of the 'righteous' even His disciples. Or to the adulterous woman who had many accusers, He turned them away. Is this a man who is speaking against this sin or that sin?
And Zaccheus' response to Jesus' invitation was to repent and repay! The woman who anointed Jesus loved much. And the adulterous woman left to sin no more. Hmmmmmmmmmm. It seems Jesus' method was very different from what we commonly see among Christians.
Is there a place for speaking against sin? Certainly. The Lord speaks to me of sin, MY sin, each morning and throughout the day. For example, yesterday I was irritated and angry with my husband. This morning as I sat quietly, the Lord showed me 'me'. And when my husband comes home tonight, I will confess my sin to him as I did to the Lord. That is the work of the Holy Spirit.
If I am open and honest with my unsaved friends (as well as my saved ones) about God's work in me, dealing with MY sin, I believe they'll listen. And they do.
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RE: Stero-typical view on Christians - 7/14/2008 5:39:52 PM
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makarizo
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quote:
Little_1:
Sounds good but not entirely true! You can share God's Word as soon as you become a Christian - the Holy Spirit will help you.
a great big AMEN to that.
I think a huge miscommunication that occurs when some people are out witnessing is that they convey a feeling of *you need to clean up your act and then you will be good enough to become a Christian*
and nothing could be wronger!!!
and whether a believer who is witnessing means it that way or not, it is what an overwhelming amount of turned off people are hearing. and then they say things like "the church is full of hypocrites"
I am glad that Jesus saved me, and that I did absolutely nothing to deserve it. - that while I was still a sinner (helpless), Christ died for me!!!!
(romans 5:something)
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RE: Stero-typical view on Christians - 7/14/2008 8:34:33 PM
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Walker311
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quote:
Every one thinks that we are:
Agaisnt homosexuality
Agaisnt under age sex
Agaisnt violence
Agaisnt non-christians
etc.
We are! And everyone is correct.
It is somewhat patronizing to say that the world does not know what we believe or stand for. A majority would say that Christianity is a belief and acceptance of Christ. The word of God is Christ and IT has much against all that you list here.
I understand that these are leading questions to promote discussion but they are not legitimate.
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RE: Stero-typical view on Christians - 7/18/2008 5:59:22 PM
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makarizo
Posts: 2936
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ORIGINAL: mattyd00d
Every one thinks that we are:
Agaisnt homosexuality
everyone thinks we hate homosexuals
Against under age sex
everyone thinks we condemn the person who engages in sex as being sub human and demon possessed and unlovable
Against violence
everyone thinks we hate those crazy/insane people
Agaisnt non-christians
everyone thinks that we think we are superior to (those animals) the people who are not christians
etc.
is that what you really meant?
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RE: Stero-typical view on Christians - 7/18/2008 7:13:22 PM
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Wild-Rose
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From: Upstate NY
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The most recent thing that I have been called is "close-minded". The word "unthinking" was also thrown out.
I am a Christian and I do not accept new age philosophy and channeling spirits and all that. Therefore I am close-minded and unthinking.
She says to me "Linda, You accepted your way of thinking as a child and haven't given it much thought since then. You need to read a book and educate yourself about these things. Don't be so close-minded."
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Wild-Rose
Rejoice that your name is written in heaven. Luke 10:20
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RE: Stero-typical view on Christians - 7/19/2008 8:01:20 PM
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SonInMe1
Posts: 3523
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From: my mom by God
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I was called a hypocrit because I don't listen to "christian music".
Funny thing is, I always do. Its just not what they believed to be christian music.
Another funny thing....we are called hypocrits for not being perfect in what we believe. What's funny about that is...neither do unbelievers...and if they do meet their beliefs, its because their moral standard is so low, as to be no standard at all.
I don't worry about what unsaved people think. They don't even know what a christian is.
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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RE: Stero-typical view on Christians - 7/27/2008 4:09:55 PM
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HisFish
Posts: 557
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From: Rocky mountain way
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quote:
I don't worry about what unsaved people think. They don't even know what a christian is
Great line SonInMe1,So true. I dont know how many times iv'e seen it expressed in the various threads that the world is turned off to Christ because of the actions of those who name His name, and if we only presented ourselves better more would be saved. The world hates Christ, so they hate us too, and nothing we can do will change that.
< Message edited by HisFish -- 7/27/2008 4:26:34 PM >
_____________________________
The theology of the present aims at the deification of man, but the truth of all time
magnifies God . C. H. Spurgeon
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