"Why can''t you Christians be more like your Christ?"?

Question

The above quotation has long been attributed to Ghandi. Regardless of it's source, it is a question that occurs to me with startling regularity. For in my obtuse position in the world, I stand starkly outside the gates of 'political correctness and religious salvation. I am an atheist, a transexual, a peaceful anarchist and an existential pantheist. The Christ of your biblical description would love me unconditionally with the knowledge that his 'Father' created all things. If self will is the issue then why do we choose to judge others....rather than to love them as Christ is alleged to have loved us all.
Here's your big chance! Love me....or judge me.......this will be very revealing.

Answer 1

It is because I have love for you that I beg of you to repent of your sins against God (lying, stealing, lust & hate, among others), and put your faith in Jesus to save you. That is how you get to heaven, and it is because I care for your soul that I don't want you to go to hell.

Now, if you reject that, fine. I still love you. Do as you please. My judgment is reserved for my Christian brothers & sisters who do not practice what they preach, as it should be. I do not expect non-Christians to act like Christians. I do not feel the need to change your lifestyle.

By the way, how can you be an atheist AND an existential pantheist? Aren't those contradictory, or do I fail to understand existential pantheism?

Answer 2

That is not true.
When God saw the world and saw that it had turned wicked he destroyed it with a flood, except for the 8 people he put on the ark. When God looked at the cities of Sodden and Gomorrah and saw that the people there were doing all the things you just said you are doing, he told Lot to leave and destroyed the cities. God doesn't always love what his creations turn into. He gave us the free will to serve and obey him and if you choose wrong, he will turn his back on you and you will have no hope for salvation.

Answer 3

How interesting. ^_^

Yes, God *does* love you, and Christ *did* die for you. But in the terms of "a parent loving their child". That fact, however, does not grant you salvation.

Imagine this: I live across the street from you, and I have a present for you. However, having been laid up from an accident, I'm unable to go over there myself and give it to you... you have to come to me to get it. You won't have the gift, until you make the decision to open the door, walk across the street, and knock on my door.

Such is salvation. It is a gift from God, offered by Jesus Christ. Because of "free will", He will not force it upon a person... it has to be asked for, and in return, a change within the person manifests, if salvation and forgiveness of sins was honestly sought for. Sin becomes unwanted and offensive.

Why do we seemingly judge? Within the church, those who have not manifested such change... their salvation is questionable. In speaking against it, the person may realize that what they're doing is against God, and change their ways. It is done in the spirit of helping them... by ceasing iniquity (that is, willful and deliberate sinning), they become, in a sense, closer to God.

Outside of the church, those who often accuse Christians of being brainwashed... tend to be brainwashed themselves, by pseudoscience. For example, I have heard it said that "homosexuality is an inborn trait" by science... that it is something that cannot be helped or changed. This, however, does not explain why numerous straight men who enter prison, leave as bi- or homosexuals. It does not explain why some people only act homosexually while on drugs. It does not explain why some people only have homosexual interests after having spent time with homosexuals. Nor does it explain how a great many people have lost all homosexual desires after becoming born-again Christians. I have also heard "Well, I guess they really weren't homosexual, then" to explain away these facts.

If you've ever seen the South Park episode where, who was it... Kyle's dad, I believe, entered AA, and was told "Alcoholism is a disease"... and because his dad is a hypochondiac, he believed he was no better than a cancer patient, or a blind man... while all the while, Kyle saw the truth, that it wasn't a literal disease, but a lifestyle choice, and then did whatever he could to show his dad the truth. I suppose the same can be said about us... when we know something that the secular world says is false (such as about homosexuality/obesity/alcoholism being genetic, some types of people ['brain-dead', fetuses, etc] are not worthy of life or rights, spontaneous generation, etc), we speak out about it, and say the truth.

Is saying, "Unborn babies are people too" judging? No, it is stating truth. Saying "Unborn babies are people too, and if you don't believe it, you're a fool" is judging. That is something we try to avoid.

Since you're a non-Christian, I can happily disagree with your atheism, I can ponder why you became transexual (had we've spoken prior to it, I could dissuade you, showing you the joys of a natural existance, but only as a passing matter, and nothing to be too upset over, for either of us), I can debate with your views of anarchy (which would be interesting, since I too was once an anarchist... not a peacable one, mind you... but I digress...), and learn about and question your belief in the paradox of "there is no such thing as a god, yet all things are god".

However, had you have been a Christian, such things, left unrepented, would bring to light a lack of validation in your salvation... That does not mean you are any less deserving of respect or equality within the human race, but it does mean your hope of salvation is in question, and poses a risk of spreading corruption within your church (wolf in sheep's clothing parable). For this, we are to judge (mind you, not in the sense of putting another down... but rather, "put into proper perspective... to appraise as being valued or rejected") whether it is acceptable in God's eyes, or not. If not, the action/lifestyle/whatnot must change. If it is not changed, that person is living a lie, proclaiming himself to be a Christian, yet does not follow Christ's commands (ie he talks the talk, but doesn't walk the walk), and although is "Christian" in name, is not "Christian" in spirit.

In the end... you are my brother in humanity, if not in Christ. And you deserve the same kind of love my own brother (if I had one) would deserve... and even if I do disagree with you, it doesn't change how I feel about you.

Answer 4

I'm a spiritual believer in Christ, and I don't like religious labeling. Either way the scriptures says, "to judge not, lest you be judged," and to "never judge a thing before its time," and if you do happen to judge..."judge righteous judgments."

However, I wouldn't judge you at all because its not up to me to do so. You are most correct about love as being unconditional. Christ doesn't hate anyone because of their choices made in life. In fact, he says, "to love, because love covers a multitude of sins."

It's my belief that,"The Almighty" is the judge of us all and he will have the last say about us and our choices whether they be good or evil.

Peace,

Hope

Answer 5

I think you should live your life as you want to /MY Father was an atheist but was a very honest and law abiding man as I would like to think you are .
As you say Jesus Christ would have loved you unconditionally .
In to days World you are unlikely to find many that would agree
you or Jesus Christ .
I do not agree with your views but wish you well in life
I do consider myself to be a Christian .

Answer 6

How do you know there aren't Christians like that? Why do people ask questions like this on this site? Do you think asking this questions saying "you Christians" is going to get the response you want? That's like talking to a black person saying "you coloreds..." You might be prejudiced and not even know it, and hypocritical. I'm sure you don't want Christians on here saying "why don't you non- Christians...." because you don't like to be told what to do. Let people live their life the way they want to. I don't agree with being judgemental, but there are some who do and a simple question like this isn't going to change that, sorry.

Answer 7

Yes, Christ does love you, but you have free will and you chose to deny God as well as fall out of his grace with the lifestyle you chose, in the bible, jesus said that not everyone who cries out "lord, lord" will be saved. You say "why cant YOU Christians be more like YOUR Christ?" which comes off as you mocking us, you must not believe in him, so why do you want us to act like someone who you dont believe exists? You want to be a Non believing tranny then thats your problem that you will have to face before God, dont blame Christians for your lifestyle

Answer 8

I agree with the original question here, but the interpretation - yes, Jesus loved you enough to give his life for you, but would he approve of how you live that life?

Each of us have to decide the answer and accept either the consequences or the blessings for that.

And for those of you that don't feel there is either consequences or blessings for that - then I guess you will just see how it goes, as it goes, right? Just riding the waves? :)

Answer 9

As an athiest, you have chosen NOT to believe in God and as a result have chosen a different path. Although that love remains, it waits for YOU to accept it.

The line of thought you advocate is that you don't have to believe in Christ as Son of God, but that that role requires Christ to believe and more importantly save you (if He exists).

Answer 10

Christ would love you, yes indeed.
However, He would also instruct you against your atheism, your anarchy, and your pantheism.
He would warn for you to repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.
He would want you to be baptised, throw away your possessions, and follow Him unquestioningly.
And, He would warn that if you do not love God with your whole mind, heart, soul, and strength, you would perish eternally in hellfire.

How much love do you see in that?
I see great love, but I am asking for your view.