Why are beleivers sooo defensive??

Question

I dont want to anger anyone by asking this. Why are christians so defensive? People ask a question and MOST of the time people have some smart or "your going to hell" remark. I asked a question earlier regarding nondenominational christians and allot of people got all upset. I was just curious. Someone else told me some stuff regarding that religion and I wanted to see what people here had to say. I thought that maybe someone would of given a real answer. Most people just asked if I was catholic. Basically what Im trying to say is..Why dont all christians just put the little differences asside whether your (nondom christian, catholic, baptist, orthodox) shouldnt all that matter is that we beleive in GOD.

Answer 1

Not all Christians are defensive, but some (depending on their beliefs) tend to look at the world differently. If all Christians followed the example of Jesus (as we are called to do) we would speak to everyone with love and compassion. We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), not beat people over the head with it.

Some Christians tend to be more "self-righteous" and prone to this type of attitude. BUT, in Romans 3:23 it says "ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". That means Christians and non-believers alike. No one is any better than anyone else in God's eyes. Believers who understand this will act in a more compassionate way than those who may have forgotten that Jesus died for all sinners.

It is also understandable that many people are VERY passionate about their faith. If challenged, they will get defensive .... heck, I will get defensive if I hear someone spouting false information or misquoting the word of God to suit their own purposes.

The bottom line ... the Christian population has the same varying personalities as any other segment of society. You can run into rude or offensive people anywhere. The difference, is that as believers we understand that we are not perfect, and are willing to accept God's gift of grace and allow Him to change our lives. Some of us need more work than others, but we are all works in progress.

I hope this helps!

Answer 2

That is an excellent question. Christianity is like a mirror to its followers. It makes us see ourselve for who we are, and for anyone who is honest, that is not a pretty picture. With maturity a believer will grow out of the defensive stage and allow themselve to be led by God. Unfortunately, like many people, we tend to feel as if someone is attacking our very heart when they question our belief. We fail to realize that there are far more people who have no idea about God, Jesus, or any of the stuff we believe in. Plus, in America there seems to be an attack directed against Christianity and not other beliefs. Please excuse us. If you want to know about Jesus, I'm always available.

Answer 3

If you think Christians are defensive go up to a muslim and tell him that Mohamed loved pork.Be ready to run for your life.
It is not a question of believing in God.Do you believe in Jesus Christ?He is the Truth and the Way.Nobody can go to the Father but through Jesus the Son.Do you follow the teachings of the Bible or the teachings of the minister or pope or whatever?I may believe in God (and still go to hell)as many do but I must accept that Jesus is the way(to be saved).Or be doomed.

Answer 4

Because they're all peddaling different products under the same label. It must be frustrating. I was just looking at a Christian church "review" site. It was pretty funny: rated them all with numbers, like we do with movies. Christians call other Christians "cults." They're the most judgmental of all. To sum them up, they're not "believers." They're "hopeful." And they ALL have their doubts, but they have a lot vested in their faith. The viability of their lives and families rest in the church. They think their "belief" is going to ward off the devil. And they're so paranoid they see everything outside of their belief structure as "evil," and rebuke it accordingly. They're taught that questioning and testing are Satan's attempts to deceive. Remember the Bible story of when Satan tempted Jesus after his fast? That's what they equate with critical thinkers who put their beliefs under the microscope. They really can't help it; they're brainwashed. The brainwashing meets with common sense now and then, and it makes them angry. They feel that their faith is wavering and that is classified as "sin."

Answer 5

Faith is a very hard thing to have. In a world with Ipods and spaceshuttles, vaccines and xray machines, its very easy to believe that science controls everything. Simply put, its very easy to see the world as rational and logical.

To stand against that logic and say that sometimes there are things that cannot be explained, things that go beyond the understanding of human beings, is a risky and dangerous thing. Faith cannot be proven. Faith often cannot be explained by those who have it. Just like love has no test, has no proof, has no concreteness, so to does faith lack that substantiality. Perhaps this is why believers are so defensive. If they lose hold of their belief, they lose hold of themselves.

Answer 6

I think your beliefs are probably a little to tolerant and respectful for most of the louder fundamentalist types. It is a character flaw that seems to be in evidence to some degree in most people, the dislike of anyone with a different ethos.

What can I say, religion is a godless business.

Answer 7

Kinda like saying the sky is blue to someone who says it's red. Some will punch you for saying it, some will argue with you, some will smile and say ok. And, some will smile, go on, then pray that you will see what you should see. YOU are doing the seeing. The defensive-offensive ones are a bad example...kind of like christian terrorists..... Now, please. Don't bomb me for that. I just meant sometimes we go too far. I did it. I saw it did not do any good, so I talk and go by example.

Answer 8

I'm not defensive, and the only way I know to respond is honestly. I'm Baptist by choice but I'm saved by the grace of God. And I believe when the time comes my religion won't be as important. It's my true salvation that counts.

Answer 9

Real Christians should preach Jesus and not a denomination. Believing in Jesus and following Him is not a religion, regardless of what people think. It is a relationship with Him and God - the only way to have that relationship is to serve Christ and Him alone - reliquishing her sin/self - trusting in Him and Him alone to take control of your life. That is what Real Christianity is all about. Blessings to you.

Answer 10

All religious fanatics are very narrow minded. That is why they can't get over their belief differences and worship the SAME God. That is also why they don't mind telling non-believers in their face nasty things like "you deserve to go to hell." Also, they say crazy things like that because that's how they interpret the bible, which shows that Christians don't think...ignorance....