Max Lucado said in one of his books that if the gospel is bread then Christians are the delivery people. (from A Gentle Thunder? It's been a long time since I read it lol)
Anyway since we can't see (or in any other way sense God, before some asks about air again), it is only reasonable to decide if Christianity is worth anything or not based on the actions of Christians?
2006-07-25 08:02:56 · 16 answers · asked by mikayla_starstuff 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Expecially since one of the main proofs I hear about is the difference that believing in Jesus makes in one's life?
Shouldn't it be expected that Christians actually display more of the 'fruits of the Spirit' (love, kindness, self control, etc) than us regular folk?
2006-07-25 08:04:47 · update #1
Ok then, I won't say I'd judge the whole system if a couple of Christians did me wrong or something. But I mean Christians in general. Not just a few deviant individuals.
2006-07-25 08:12:01 · update #2
My thought is that if Jesus actually makes a significant difference in a person's life, at least a *significant percentage* of those who *call themselves* Christian should stand above everyone else in terms of levels of joy, self control, kindness, love, etc. But do we see this in the real world?
Cause it would be a great evidence in favor of Christian claims if we did.
2006-07-25 08:29:26 · update #3
Yes it is perfectly reasonable but at the same time it is unreasonable.
First yes one would expect for people to judge Christianity based on its followers. But people say they are a Christian and are not and even Christians are sinners ans are flawed humans. No one is perfect so no one can give you an example of who a Christian should be. All Christians sin if they tell you other wise they are not a true Christian. The only perfect person to walk this earth was Jesus. so Jesus is the only one that a true judgment of Christianity can be made from, but he is no longer on earth and you only have us flawed Christians to look at.
I hope this make sense.
2006-07-25 09:50:29 · answer #1 · answered by AlwaysRight 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's a really good question. I am a Christian but I have struggled with how "Christians" behave and the things they do. In my opinion, the people who "belong" to this group are no better than anyone else. They lie, say mean things and, some don't live out what the Bible and Jesus teaches us. No wonder some people shy away from it. I personally believe deeply in what the Bible is all about, I have been baptized, I hold as best I can to the virtues but I have been abhored at times by some people saying they are "christian" but you sure wouldn't know it by their actions (it is quite an eye-opener).
2006-07-25 08:21:52 · answer #2 · answered by Goldenrain 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh please don't... Christians for the most part are just as ignorant and intolerant as the atheists. This forum confirmed what I always suspected... Neither one is any better than the other.
Max Lucado is probably on prozac and doesn't know what he feels.
We are told to become fishers of men... Seems people have different ways of fishing. Some do it right and cast out the bread and wait to see what is hungry, what wants to be fed. Others go fishing with harpoons, clubs, anything they can beat you over the head with.
" If you don't measure up to my yardstick, I 'll beat you with it." is one popular christian belief system and I have a bumper sticker that says "Lord I pray you save me from your followers."
Seems Christianity and atheism are like pregnancy... You don't need to do anything special to belong to any of those clubs... But you should have to.
Seems an idiot will make a podium of an anthill if he really feels he has something to say. It's just a matter of finding something to harp on and over. I think the subject matter is irrelevant and usually based on hereditary information and dogma.
2006-07-25 08:17:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, Christians don't all act the same way. You're making a generalization.
I liked your details, so since you are not Christian, you feel no need to show love, kindness, ect? Funny, I thought that was called human decency..;
Atheist or not, I would assume you guys know that. I'm a Christian, and your assumptions about us all aren't even worth commenting on because I'm the exact opposite of your idea of a "Christian." (ie, I'm not Fundamentalist Christian, look up the difference)
2006-07-25 08:06:46 · answer #4 · answered by James P 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not reasonable. You,anti-Christians,expect believers to be super humans by constantly placing us under a microscope. We are human and we are all sinful in nature. You,anti-Christians,should judge yourselves by those spiritual fruits (love,patience,temperance and joy etc..) Christianity will not be worth anything to God. People who put more emphasis on the religion or religions and not God are hopeless. We as individuals will have to be accountable for our actions and our lifestyles in the end.
+t+
2006-07-25 08:17:47 · answer #5 · answered by Pashur 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's my experience that atheiests, in general, are more 'Christian' in the their behavior than most Christians are. But here's what you should base your beliefs on:
* a universe in which all that exists are the earth and heaven
* solid 'firmmament' structure (the sky) seperating the earth from heaven (terrarium earth)
* talking snakes (with legs) and donkeys
* shepherd staff turning into an asp
* demons chased out of people and into pigs
* friendly spirits
* evil spirits
* walking on water
* multiplying loaves and fishes
* food falling from the sky
* conception by a ghost
* people raising from the dead
* stopping the sun in its tracks
* parting seas
* people being bodily sucked up into heaven (which, by the way, lies on the 'other side' of the sky)
* world-wide flood that drowned the earth to a depth of 40 feet above the tallest mountain
* creating people from dust bunnies and ribs
* magical tree of knowledge
* god speaking from a burning bush
* ritual cannibalism, by eating god in the form of a cracker.
2006-07-25 08:31:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not all people who profess Christianity are Christians. It's one thing to believe that there's a God, quite another to live by it!
And God does keep His children in line. It's not impossible for a Christian to sin.
2006-07-25 08:07:20 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we have been making mistakes ever since God created us all i know is to keep moving keep praying and dont quit, dont put all christians in such a category all religions do these things in some manner some worse than others i pray for understanding but at the same time the good lord gave me the common since to know when im being tried to be made a fool of
2006-07-25 08:10:26 · answer #8 · answered by . 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am an atheist and do not base my opinion on the actions of others. I am an atheist because the bible is a book of mythology and "God" does not exist in fact.
It doesn't matter what Jews, Christians or Muslims do, they cannot alter those facts.
"Christian" is a meaningless label.
2006-07-25 08:08:00 · answer #9 · answered by Left the building 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not in God's eyes. He is not going to say, "Well, since that person wasn't living the Christian way of life I will let you in." No instead he will punish his believers for doing wrong, but send those to hell who rejected him. We, as Christians, are not supposed to offend others, but we are human. God deals with us, but non-believers also have to take responsibility for their own actions.
2006-07-25 08:07:23 · answer #10 · answered by trulyblssd 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋