Question for Church Goers

It's the condescension and hyprocrisy. I've seriously never met a Christian or Muslim who didn't know the answer to any question I ever asked about life, death, the universe, etc. It strikes me like a wise man that knows nothing but then again what do I know!

I saw the Dalai Lama speak at Rice today and he spoke about compassion, respect, and tolerance among the different religions and I wish every religion could focus on this more. You ask why there's contempt for people with religious backgrounds but you should ask yourself why there's so much contempt among the religions. You ask the question like the only contempt or even the most prominent contempt exists between the religious and non-religious but that's hardly the case.

 

I have always found that my beliefs have been well respected by members of other faiths. I have not always had the same respect from the non-religious community.

Does it suck that there are "christians" who care more about looking more Christian than someone else? Of course. However, if we're talking condescension, the religious and the non-religious are just about even in that.

You say they always have the answer. No. They always have their answer. Your problem is you can't accept that that's their answer. You have to have the answer, something nobody can provide for you. What you get when you ask a religious person is their version of what happens in the afterlife. I'm sure you have your own conceptions, as well. That's great for you. Just don't think it's anyone being condescending when they give you an answer to the question you ask and it's different from what you think happens.

 

I'll respect anyone's thought out beliefs, but there's a limit of understanding when it comes to someone else's thoughts on the afterlife. The last person who claimed to have returned from the dead existed more than 2,000 years ago.

I don't think mega churches or mega "masses" are automatically bad, but from my pov, something is definitely missing.

 

MadMax has the right version, he doesn't think much about religious hypocrisy as far as I can tell (and we have personally talked about it). He (my opinion) feels deeply about Jesus love for this world and how we need to express it by serving, giving and forgiving. When the world sees Christians who act like Jesus they are drawn to the love and grace of Christ.

It is Christian love to stop and help the oppressed, the poor, the rejected and wounded in practical ways. That is the message of the Good Samaritan story, who IS MY NEIGHBOR- how do I love my neighbor? The religious people all passed by the wounded man so they could do their religious 'duties'. A despised Samaritan stopped, served and gave God's love.

I don't spend ANY of my time going around picking out who is going to heaven and who is going to hell. This is D&D. Answered a question. I am not sure if MadMax and I see heaven the same or not, it doesn't matter, God knows where it is. I think very highly of MadMax.

Pastor's don't need to think they are right, they need to love Jesus Christ, love people and teach or preach from the scriptures.

I believe that Jesus came to save sinners, that we are all sinners and Jesus can save all of us who come to Him in faith. (I don't think you would expect me to think otherwise concerning Christian belief)

I just don't get bothered about telling people that God will judge all men in the future, that God will punish the wicked, and that God also loves us all and has offered a gift of forgiveness through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. I have personally heard pastors say they will not mention sin or judgment or hell in church because it offends people. And I can't stand it when pastors harp on sin or gay marriage or hell and just about shove it down peoples throats. I don't think it is Christian to be condescending judgmental.

If we really love people we don't try to scare them out of hell, we first love and serve and earn a place to share the good news of Jesus forgiveness. I talk to alot of people about Jesus and many don't see any need for forgiveness so I explain why Jesus died, what sin is and how pride makes us believe we are right and God is wrong. God has provided the cure for sin in Jesus grace and forgiveness, but many people just don't believe they need a doctor - so instead of not caring, I tend to point out the symptons just in case they decide to get a check up. (OK - pretty dumb analogy)

I have broken every commandment in the Bible many times, I see no reason that I deserve any forgiveness, but amazing to me God has given me grace, forgiveness and love freely and undeservedly, all because of Jesus.

It humbles me.

As for Madmax's version, grab on to it.

He and I may not see all these things alike, I am not sure, but I have spent time with him and he is as authentic a Christian as you will meet.

 

1) What is a Southern Protestant?

2) I, and many others I know, support workfare not welfare. If you think it's really helping someone out by not giving them an incentive to go out and earn their own money, then there's not much to be discussed here.

 

You went to a concentration camp in Germany and couldn't remember the actual name of it? Did they let you run off by yourself? There weren't any signs around?

 

If I heard 1/1000000 the concern about tax money going to corporate welfare, wmds, from these people like I do about social programs I might have a little respect for them. But I hear none.

 

Everyone has different priorities in life. Some are just louder with their concerns than others. If I didn't know any better and only listened to Al Sharpton, I'd think that every black person in America was loud, and prone to being easily fooled into making stupid decisions (tawanna Brawley, Duke Players, etc.) based on race, but fortunately I do know better and I know that while many blacks identify with him and respect him to a certain point, it does not mean that he speaks for them.

 

It doesn't mean I have to respect them.

 

you shouldn't have to, but you're generalizing, hence the Al Sharpton reference.

 

You say these things with such conviction, yet it is still just faith.

I must admit though, I admire your faith.

DD

 

I think it is right to help the poor and the oppressed.

Ask a Southern Protestant. And if I am one, then I would say I think we should do away with the income tax altogether, it is un-necessary.

Help should be given from the bottom up. In other words you are the most responsible person to help those around you. Then your local community, then your state leaders and there is no reason to have a federal mandated system if the communities and states will get their priorities right.

If most people in your community and state are 1/2 as caring as you are and do 1/10 of what you are doing to help your fellow man, you will not have any problem caring for the oppressed and the poor.

EDIT- BTW I am not against welfare. I don't have much confidence in political solutions. I am glad when anyone gets help they need. Most of our church budget goes to helping people in need.

 

But you know I am like anyone else I have weak faith.

Admire Jesus, whatever our religion or belief we all can agree He was special.

Thanks- DD

 

I hate for tax money to go to wmds and corporate welfare and the war in Iraq (except to get the troops home)

But I admit I don't spend any time worrying over it.

 

You are trying to tell me that the Bushfishes are equally concerned with corporate welfare and our own nuclear weapons as they are with social welfare?

 

I forgot who I was replying to initially.

I'm not sure who this Morrison character was, but anyone who is anyone from Oświęcim to Minsk knows that Poland is Hendrikski country.

 

rhester -- other than a note my wife wrote to me for my birthday last year, that is probably the nicest thing anyone has ever said about me. thank you. my guess is we believe in the very same orthodox faith...but come at it from different angles. it may very well be generational. but the heart is there.



guys, there are nice people in all faiths. there are jackasses in all faiths. there are people each of you would relate to in all faiths. there are people you would never relate to in all faiths. there are people you would admire in all faiths. there are people you would never admire in all faiths.

truth is truth. i believe Christ to be truth. i've seen very Christ-like lives lived by people who would never walk into a church...lives that are spent giving of themselves and loving other people. God affirms the truth behind that, I believe. on the other hand, i've seen people who wouldn't miss a Sunday at church...who live lives that are petty and selfish. who label others and choose to love out of convenience. to only love those who treat them well. I find an absence of God there.

i can't stand when i see the whole back and forth bickering in a thread like this about God, the very embodiment of love. glynch, i understand you have questions...but your questions are loaded with your own bias, and i'm not sure they're in earnest because it SEEMS TO ME that you've made up your mind already about Christians, no matter what they say here. so why ask to begin with?

want the truth about God and Iraq?? here it is, from my understanding...God doesn't like war. God doesn't like the fact that we seem unable to resolve conflict and seem completely turned in on ourselves. and that's all of us. iraqis, americans, australians, poles and martians. God would have us go another direction. but we choose to serve ourselves instead of Him and others. so, yeah..there's heartbreak all over as lives are lost...and I believe God feels that. we're all His children. so if you turn your life to the purpose of God, you feel that pain, too. no matter what side of the political argument you fall down on. i don't celebrate in ANYONE'S death. i don't believe God does, either. He seeks to redeem.

But He's bigger than my mind, too...this is just how I understand Him to be. There are lots of other people who think different things about God...they may be right.

 

you need to listen to other churches. the loudest wheels are making the noises about the stuff you're talking about.

meanwhile, presbyterians, lutherans, episcopalians, catholics, methodists and a host of non-denominational churches around the country were in strong opposition to the war in Iraq and have pleaded to the govt to critically address world poverty.

 

we should meet, then. i'll tell you right now i don't know all the answers. i know what some of the "right" answers are and have been in the church. and i know the counter-"right" answers within the church, as well. i could make great arguments for you for both sides of the argument using the Bible as my guide. but in the end i'd tell you...i don't know....what do you think?

i know that following Christ has made a huge difference in my own life, though. i could share that with you. i could tell you stories to illustrate that.