christians seeming to be un-christ -like? (im hyphen-CRAZY right-now-just-so-you-know!-!-!)?

Question

it seems to me that a lot of christians have forgotten, or possibly have disregarded, christ's most beautiful lesson.. his lesson that even a so-called non-believer can take away from his book, which is the way one treats others, especially those considered to be 'lost'.

i think the most wonderful message jesus had for those around him, and us,(including me, someone that is not a so-called non-believer) is his message about how to respect and treat others.. yet, i see christians voting for the death penalty.. i see christians building extremely extragavant places of worship.. and i see them driving to the polling places and their churches in cars that are worth more than most people's homes on this planet

what about any of this is christ-like? does christ accept this from people? where do christians find a reason for such actions in the bible?

again, if you read my previous question, i do not mean this as an attack on one's belief.. it is simply a question i have had

for fruitcake, i will give you my description of a christian.. one who acts like and follows christ.. one who is forgiving, modest, understanding, and most of all, loving.. something i believe i do not see so much, at least as much as i would hope to with christians.. i believe my questions of christianity come from my great respect of the religion, a religion that i believe to be great, and worthy of questioning (so that one can build upon its answers/wonder)

Answer 1

I agree with you for the most part. There are plenty of Christians that seem to forget that being a Christian is being "Christ-like". But as someone who is a Christian and a Youth-pastor I have seen both sides of it. As many people as you can show me that put their own wants and desires above everyone else I can show you someone who is truly "doing unto others". But I guess it's that way with any type of group or movement, you have those that really get it and those that think it's just a social club.

Answer 2

True, Christianity in the Western world has turned into a fraternal organization. Most Churches are more concerned with what people are wearing rather than providing actual help for the poor. Churches have become religious country clubs, I am sure many Christians will disagree, but if you are honest you will know that this is the truth. 97% of charity provided by Christians goes towards supporting other Christians.(see Christian website statistics below) That should tell you about the state of current Christian behaviors. Should Christians be spending time helping feed the poor? Little mumphasa can't eat a pamphlet telling him that his ancesteral belief system is wrong. At the end of the day he is still starving. There are enough Christians in the US to put a serious dent in the world hunger issue, but that doesn't and isn't going to happen, is it.

Answer 3

I agree 100%. I believe that there is such a mean spirit alive in the churches today, that many good people are unchurched because it is such a contradiction. When 9/11 happened many evangelicals started ranting hatred instead of love and I think that is why it is such a turn off.
Christianity is a study of the Life of Christ, and the only ones He was ever mean to were money changers and religious people that overburdened people in the name of God.

good luck & blessings
Happy Valentines Day

Answer 4

Hi Papa,
I would like to address each of your statements...
Christ's Message about how to treat others was and is very special. We are told to respect the and follow the law. Our government was placed there by GOD, not actually by us. The building of huge extravagant buildings to worship in are a bit of an extreme in my opinion also. I do not feel that we have the right to spend additional monies from the Lord's Church to do such a thing. As Christians, we are to work to provide for our families. We are also to give as we have been prospered. The type of vehicle that we drive, the type of home we live in, the type of clothing that we wear may have more to do with the type of job that we have and the expectations that are there. We certainly have a right to those things as long as we are doing what we should be for others as GOD expects us to do. Being Christ-like is following HIS examples and listening to HIS FATHER as HE did. I hope that this makes some sense to you.

Study these scriptures and see what you think. To become a Christian:
1. We must HEAR GOD’s WORD. - Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
2. We are told to BELIEVE. - To the Prison guard in Acts 16:31 Paul and Silas said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."
3. We must REPENT (turn from) of our sins. - Acts 17:30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.
4. We are told to CONFESS CHRIST before men. - Matthew 10:32 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
5. We are to enter the waters and BE BAPTIZED. - Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
6. We are told to CONTINUE TO BE FAITHFUL until death. - Revelation 2:10b Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Send me a note if you have questions. I am anxious to hear from you. Have a Great day.
Eds

Answer 5

Just because a person claims to be a christian, doesn't mean they live the way they should. Simply believing there is a God doesn't make you a Christian. Being a Christian means that you have a loving, personal relationship with Christ and you try to live the way He would want you to.

Answer 6

Point well taken.

I myself don't believe in the death penalty. I can't speak for other Christians.

As for extravagant places of worship, I believe the intent is to show esteem and reverence for God and to take us out of the mundanity of our everyday life.

I agree about living a modest lifestyle and sharing the wealth. Maybe those people in fancy cars ARE sharing the wealth but still have money left over. You just don't know.

Answer 7

Many that claims to be Christian are only by name & not experince, As far as the death penalty, I am for it, It is in the Bible, Mainly OT, But when a woman was caught in adultry she was brought to Jesus, Not to see if Jesus would have her killed by their law, But to tempt Jesus, That is why Jesus said let him that is without sin cast the first stone, Jesus exposed their life. Your homosexual & lesbians the bible says are worthy of death, But that don't mean we are to kill them. As far as voting, I have only voted one or 2 times in my life, & I am 57 yrs. Old. There is nothing wrong with voting, & as far as Christains having fancy cars & expensive ones, I am driving a 1996 Grand Am, with a 130,000 miles on it & a 1993 Nissan with 142,000 miles on it and a 1974 pickup truck with I don't know how many miles is on it, before I retired, I had a car with 187,000 miles on it. But if someone can afford a fancy & expensive car, there is no sin to own one, just as long they don't make a god out of it.

Answer 8

the devil has a medling hand in the church now-a-days.
If they were REALLY God fearing, then why did the priests molest?
I know it's not ALL christains, but most of them say in one breath, " love thy neighbor....", but I only see (maybe not hatred) but dis-like tward people that think differently. You'd think christians out of EVERYONE would grasp the free will concept the most.
But according to them you only get into heaven if your another clone robot, with none of your own ideas.

I like the part that says, " Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"

So why are these people throwing rocks at a crystal cathederal?

Answer 9

The believe does not concerning follow. Your problem is wanting other people to follow the rules(which will be the bible said) but they did not follow the rules. The rules is for people good. If you follow, you will be good. Others people do not follow, they will have their reasons. Build up for yourself good to be a respresentatibe to other people. One day, they will follow you.

Answer 10

I guess this all rests on whether you think it is love to tell the truth no matter what. Sometimes what seems to be rude or crude, if you are honest with yourself, is love. The pastor of our church is often accused of being rude or crude. He tells the truth in love. No sugar coating. Plain and simple. So, it all depends on your definition of love.