Do the past actions of Christians have any effect on Christians today, good or bad? Should they? How about Muslims, Neo-nazis, Native Americans etc... should they have any association with others in the same "group" past or present?
2006-09-05 06:08:13 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In Matthew 9:12 it reads "But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick". This simply means that churches (and religion) were not designed for people that are already leading a perfect life.
Your comparison is kind of like saying "Alcoholics Anonymous is an evil organization because drunks go there".
2006-09-05 06:26:59 · answer #1 · answered by BobbyD 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Regarding Dawn's answer, I would counter with this. We are all doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past if we refuse to study and learn from our history.
The history of the Christian church is rife with bloodshed, nefarious politics, war, Catholic armies, and even hit squads. Would you like this kind of behavior repeated?
Regarding the embarrassment issue, there is no need to be embarrassed by the actions of any group you might belong to as long as you learn from those negative actions and not repeat them. This is a lesson that George W. Bush might find helpful. Had he taken a serious look at British history in the Middle East, he might have acted with much greater caution.
2006-09-05 06:28:47 · answer #2 · answered by gjstoryteller 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That depends on where you are from. In USA We have a very short attention span and look mainly to the future.
In one of the medical journals it said the Geniuses are always thinking 5 to 10 years into the future. The normal person is concerned with a few years into the future and right now gratification.
The first sign of senility in older people is they look into the past.
It is a form of dementia or retardation. So if you are using looking into the past. Perhaps you need professional help.
You find that in very primitive cultures.
2006-09-05 06:15:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that there are Christians and churches that have gone astray and cast a negative outlook on fellow Christians and churches. However, you must remember that even Christians are still sinners and we all make mistakes. As a Christian I strive to hate the sin but love the sinner (especially since I'm one of them). Fallen Christians or churches don't change my opinion or outlook. It may however change the views and opinions of those who do not currently believe. We often get the label of hypocrites. Typically were not guilty of being hypocrites, were just human beings like everyone else.
2006-09-05 06:13:49 · answer #4 · answered by Rick D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As an Episcopalian, I do feel embarrassed for the Medieval history of the Christian church and onwards. Clergy have abused their authority in the name of God in order to make gains politically and economically, and to wipe out seeming "heresy" (i.e. the Inquisition). Many injustices were made against minorities, scientists, artists, and all this did great harm to Europe.
But I look at it like this; in the gospels of the canon Jesus clearly says "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another" (John 13:34). So the principle is sound, but no one was truly listening to it.
2006-09-05 06:29:56 · answer #5 · answered by theonlymonsterdog 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do Caucasians feel embarassed for actions of the Caucasian slave owners? We may not like what others in our group have done in the past but we are not them and they don't represent us and we should not be persecuted for the things other Christians did in the past. Just like Caucasians are not responsible for their ancestors and should not be judged based on what they have done.
2006-09-05 06:15:59 · answer #6 · answered by Coco 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are in all risk the main hateful relatives in u . s . a . of america. Im not even particular why they are right here in this u . s . a . through fact they are consistently bashing on fallen squaddies, gays jews, people who help gay way of existence, people who do not condemn the gay way of existence, people who understand Jews, people who like Jews, people who've talked to Jews faster or later of their existence, the Catholic church, the baptist church, and... oh wait, isn't that everybody? the father Fred Phelps is a hateful newborn abuser and avid marijuana smoker (it rather is actual) who has brainwashed his infants and his youngster's infants into accepting a dogma equipped on hate and persecution. they don't fairly compliment the Lord. they have not got prayer centers. they don't actually have a church. Their "church" is a ragtag band of racists and bigots who tutor youthful infants that homosexuals are decrease than human and that it rather is okay to consult with them with hate an obscenity. They bypass everywhere in the country interrupting solemn tributes to our fallen squaddies who fought and died to furnish them the main appropriate to be fools. Their hate is documented throughout youtube. i've got faith that the gov't might desire to take their infants far off from them and Fred Phelps might desire to be publicly carried out for his hate and the misery he has extra onto this worldwide. If there's a God, he doesnt condone what those devils of people are doing.
2016-11-24 22:56:06 · answer #7 · answered by southern 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do they feel embarassed for the actions of their fellow christians? Hitler for example?
2006-09-05 06:22:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simply put - everyone has their own mind, their own actions. You can group races...so you cant group religions.
We are not cookie cutters. :)
Because, well, there are actions that my family did that embarrass me but I wont give up on them!
2006-09-05 06:15:36 · answer #9 · answered by Miz_Kassandra 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They should do - they pose as morally superior but then they are not. Some of them just don't get the point at all.
2006-09-05 06:16:04 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋