What difference does it make what other people believe or do?

Question

Unless it is criminal behavior, why do you concern yourself with what other people do?

How is it any of your business if Suzy has an abortion or Bruce is gay?

Is your life so boring and/or you are so perfect that you have time & energy to concern yourself with what others are doing?

Do the Bible passages about not judging others and removing the beam from your own eye have any meaning to you?

This is directed at Bible believers since they seem to be the ones who are so outwardly and publicly involved in telling others how to live their lives.

In the words attributed to St. Francis of Assisi:

"Spread the gospel, use words if you must."

Spreading or preaching the gospel is most effectively done by actions, not words.

The bible does not prohibit masturbation.

Homosexuality cannot be taught.

To the best of my knowledge, slaying a spouse & cannibalism are considered illegal in all civilized nations.

To the best of my knowledge, the vast majority of people have heard of Jesus & the Bible.

There is no Biblical basis for using the Bible to tell non-believers how to live their lives.

To Ramola:

Your point is valid and clear about the donkey. In the Bible, the analogy is to a beam (timber, tree) in your own eye while removing a mote (splinter) from your neighbor's eye.

That was my reference to a beam in the original question.

Answer 1

You know J T, if it isn't directed at me, my kids or my friends personally, I couldn't care less what people do with their lives. I think you made a valid, intelligent point.

Answer 2

As a so-called bible believer, I do not judge others by their behavour. I do not agree with having it pushed down my throat or be told that I have to allow that lifestyle in my home or church, whenever my faith is banned and condemned everywhere. What I do object to the most is those groups using their lifestyles as a political hammer to get what they want. I do care if Suzy has an abortion. An innocent life is killed! That is definitely a societal matter to be discussed and handled. As far as someone being gay, what others do in private is their business, I do not want it shoved down my throat and made to feel like I am somehow cruel or stupid because I do not believe it is a legitimate way of life. It is a chosen lifestyle. You might want to take the beam out of your own eye, since you seem to be judging all christians by the example of the ones you know or have met. Be careful about pointing a finger at others, when you could very well be the same and not realize it. Isn't that what the speck and beam story is really all about? With that question, I'll ask you another. If you had considered that story for what it really meant, would you have even asked this question?

Answer 3

What you're doing is called hypocrisy. You're saying that people who believe the Bible, and are presumably followers of Christ, should just keep it to themselves, and that they shouldn't "outwardly and publicly" tell others how to live their lives, yet, you are doing the exact same thing!

So here are some of your questions right back at you:
What difference does it make what other people believe or do?
How is it any of your business if I'm a bible believing follower of Christ?
Is your life so boring and/or you are so perfect that you have time & energy to concern yourself with what others are doing?

Answer 4

It makes a difference because God has called us to be a light to the world and a good example as well as to recognize sin for what it is---SIN!

The Bible doesnt teach not to judge because we see later that Paul and the apostles judge many! Jesus wasnt teaching literally DONT JUDGE. Read the end of that verse and what does it really teach? It teaches not to be a hypocrite in when you measure other peoples lives and rebuke people of sin which we ARE called to do as church. (within the church)

As far as evil society goes, yes we stand in judgment on it as Jesus did because we testify what it does is evil.

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

Answer 5

"What difference does it make what other people believe?" Ask that to someone under Stalin's regime, for example. Ask it also to people living close to a cannibal tribe.

"What difference does it make what other people do?" See above. Under some circumstances, it would not be considered a crime for someone to slay your wife.

--

UPDATE: You weren't asking about civilized nations.

But no matter. What I'm saying with the one point is that in many civilized nations there have arisen totalitarian or fascistic or despotic (or other) regimes wherein it was legal to murder people in the name of [insert the state or the cause here]. What you're not understanding is that people's beliefs can lead them to garner political power that can turn into regimes of terror.

Answer 6

People need to let other people know that what they are doing is wrong if they do not already know it because when they are condemned because of what they do and it is learned that you could have stopped them by letting them know it was wrong and you didn't, you can be held accountable for the same sin-- kind of like by your silence you condoned it. I dont mean harping on it but, just letting people know it's not right. After that if a person continues--- his punishment is all his. People do not like being told they are doing something wrong though. Jesus knows that only too well. This is especially important in today's world because good is being called bad and bad is being called good. People need to know what is what because let's face it---Satan hates us and he would like nothing better than to pull all kinds of people down to hell with him. Where else did we get "Misery loves company"

Answer 7

I could care less what people do,BUT,I also feel it's my right not to have their lifestyle pushed down my throat!! For example,and I'll only give one.Why is every third person,on television gay.Every third person that I know isn't! It's like telling kids that it's an acceptable and normal lifestyle,but the majority of this country disagrees.What about the majorities right not to see this at every turn.My rights end where yours begin,BUT it goes both ways!

Answer 8

Because people like to feel superior and they like to assert it.

But it's a little ignorant to say that it's just the Bible believers that do this. ALL PEOPLE do this. And in fact, Christians find themselves targets a lot of times (this site in perticular) these days too.

It doesn't matter what background the people come from, people will be people, and some are just ignorant idiots.

Answer 9

Yep!I Love Freedom of Speech! I just dont like it when some people USE IT. Hey you up there in the answer above me. I'm a Christian too~! No REALLY. Born Again. But many a Cowboys have led horses to water...but cant make em drink.
"Stupid Horse" you say? Dumb Horse is gonna die! .......

Maybe the Horse aint thirsty.

When He's thirsty He'll drink!

Rev 22:11,12 (Ever read it? really though?) But do as God leads you, by all means.

GOD Bless you all, according to your faith!

Answer 10

Judgment is one of the Compasses given to us in the ego package upon our entering into this physical earth plane. Also one of the hardest to overcome

If one follows the logic that we are all connected all one energy with billions and billions of different flavors then one would deduct that we are just judging ourselves .....Let's face it many of us are our own worst enemies and if we say we aren't (we don't judge ourselves or others) and we are not in a constant state of bliss then we are just burying something else in the subconscious and adding yet another layer to our shell that protects us......the ego....which the original purpose of was to protect us when we are one with our inner self not confine us when we separate from our higher self....if you have the burning desire to judge another then your life is pretty much unfulfilled

Answer 11

I like that too! I really don't care until someone tries to shove their beliefs down my throat, tries to indoctrinate my child or tries to legislate it to deny people to believe otherwise.

And Gary, that's just a quote from one of many who claim to know what Jesus said. And, the simple quote you attribute to him can be interpreted in any number of ways from simply living a good life as an example to the aggressive evangelism we see so often today.