Religious bigots?

Question

These people who are very religious, they talk about love love love and accepting ect, but they act as if they're following a set of rules and not really a relationship. Like... they verbally abuse people who wonder if they're gay. I don't think these are the acts of love, but can't say humans can be perfect. Are they still considered "real christians?" because if yes, I am shocked. So how should a real christian act?

Answer 1

Like Jesus....he didn't desceminate between who he was around, whether it was a Prostitute (Mary Magdalen) or a Tax Collector (Zacheus)

Answer 2

Indeed, not all non-believers who post to this Forum are hate-mongers. And as you noted some self-professed Christians seem to have left the love reservation when judging some of their responses. I will confine my remarks below only to those that act badly.

For these individuals, it is interesting and sad to see how some persons will behave when hiding behind the anonymity of the computer. As an "old guy" I have occasionally acted irresponsibly in my youth, so I can relate, but only up to a point. It is also readily apparent these persons would be ashamed if they knew their parents, husband, wife, children, etc., learned of what they write herein. They do their loved ones a disservice and dishonor them with such behavior.

The questions and answers one sees in this forum all too often represent a triumph of flippancy over rigor. These flippant persons that post obnoxious, vitriolic items obviously have not formally studied the matters being asked for several years. Rather they enjoy mockery and proving that they really have no value to add to the answer and too much wasted time on their hands.

I am frequently embarrassed by other Christians' answers. I feel a sense of dismay over the obvious lack of deeper learning that is evident by many of the responses. Most seem to want to just fire off whatever pops into their heads, streams of consciousness, etc., with no evidence of reasoned arguments and synthesis of the issues. Some of the questions are often shallow or just asked for point gaming or something.

Unfortunately, many very good Christians have not spent enough time trying to learn and understand the theologies of the faith. Many also lack formal training in biblical hermeneutics, so they may misunderstand the full meanings of the texts they frequently quote.

I am not advocating that everyone get degrees in theology, only that they spend some time studying materials outside the scriptures so that their faith will be solidly grounded.

A Christian should act according to their faith. It may seem a trite answer, but faith in God will make one more pius. But, by faith I mean the following:

Faith commences with the conviction of the mind based on adequate evidence; faith continues in the confidence of the heart or emotions based on conviction, and faith is crowned in the consent of the will, by means of which the conviction and confidence are expressed in conduct.

Key points:
Conviction of the Mind
Confidence of the Heart
Consent of the Will
Conduct of the Body

As you can see from the above, faith affects the whole of a person's nature and their actions should emulate the faith described above.

Just keep asking questions in an objective manner and you will sometimes get useful responses. As a formally trained theologian with a Ph.D. in engineering, I try to answer questions so structured with reasoned theological, philsophical, and logical responses.

Answer 3

There is a big difference between talking about love and being a loving person.

A long time ago I thought that love was something that you reserved for some special set of people that you had judged worthy of it.

After a while I got to thinking about what Jesus had said about turning the other cheek and loving our neighbor I put the two together and realized that he had made no exceptions in these statements. It became obvious to me that he intended that we exclude no one from the love that we are supposed to be giving. I started thinking about my idea of love and suddenly realized that I had not been loving anyone at all. I had simply been judging everyone and every thing.

Judging someone worthy of love is not love, it is only judgment. I actually started to cry when I realized this. I saw just how much of my life I had wasted being judgmental, thinking of myself as a Christian, when I was actually doing just the opposite of what Jesus had asked us to do.

I thought about the verse judge not lest ye be judged, and I understood it for the first time.

I realized that I have a lot of catching up to do. So many opportunities were wasted. I now try to apply the love that I have for the world in a universal way like Jesus asks us to do.

If I start to feel afraid and think that I see someone that I should not love because of something I have thought or heard I try to catch my mistake as soon as possible. I tell myself that I have forgot the truth and have fallen for the same old trick that had cost me so many opportunities to be loving in the past. The horror of this realization is often all that is necessary to bring me back to my senses and make me drop the judgmental nonsense I was thinking.

I still have a lot to learn about love, but at least I’m making progress.

Love and blessings

Your brother
don

Answer 4

I do wonder about those "Good Christians" , you know the ones that tout their rhetoric and don't live by it. Also the people that commit adultery etc. go to confession on Saturday for absolution and mass on Sunday, sit in the amen corner, go to communion and come Monday they're right back doing what they just got absolution for. These people are not real Christians, they may not know it but God does! Good people that follow the word of God don't stand in judgement of other people because they're so busy trying to keep their own front steps swept off. As for the gay issue in the Bible: I know there are passages against it, but, I can't believe God meant for anyone to go through this life alone. Isn't that what they would be condemned to? God made us all and that includes gays. Also for every passage in the Bible that you show me I can show you another that says the exact opposite. Sorry I'll get off my soapbox now.

Answer 5

Most of the "Christians" on here appear to be Evangelicals. And yes they are religious bigots. Christ (who I believe was not divine) set a great example which many "Christians" do not follow. They are however fixated on what everyone is doing with their sex organs. . I have yet to see an evangelical come on this site and champion a cause that includes helping the sick or aiding the poor.

Answer 6

Christians goal is to be Christ like, to reflect god's love. However, when we are first born into Christianity, we are infants in faith, and our journey, therefore we will have many struggles, and make many mistakes, if we are not growing in our journey, then we should be concerned. We, by the end of our journey should have no fear, no bitterness, no pride, love for all, patience, purity, generosity, be servants to fellow man, etc. Its a long hard process, and will never be perfected, but it doesn't mean that they are not real Christians or true Christians if they haven't grown to spiritual maturity yet.

Answer 7

well this is because Biblically, homosexuality is immoral, just plain wrong. However, so are A LOT of things, like adultery and drug use, etc. I'm not sure why specifically homosexuality is the most heavily judged "sin" by followers, because technically no sin is greater than another. I'm of the belief that although homosexuality may be "wrong" who am I to judge their relationship with God. I have my own issues to worry about. Personally I have friends that are gay and I love these people dearly, for the people they are, it's not my concern what they do in their bedroom.

Answer 8

That's a pretty broad question, but verbal abuse for any reason isn't very christian. If you can't earn someone's respect and love, then you're definitely not going to convince them to live as you would like to see them live. But no matter how much hypocrisy or bigotry you see, it would be stupid to let that get in the way of your relationship with God.

Answer 9

A real xtian should act with love. These clearly are not loving acts.
In my opinion, most so called xtians are typical examples of a close-minded, arrogant azzholes. It seems to me that they expect everyone to listen to thier opinons but cannot even fathom that there are people with religious convictions that are as deep as their own.

If you challenge them they call you names, condem you to hell or run away like wusses! MOst are truly a stupid, scared little people who would make Jesus weep if they were overheard on some of their tirades.

I dont know how they are supposed to act but most dont act like I would guess Jesus would have wanted.
I am sure behaviors of so called Christains are responsible for creating athiests

Answer 10

YESSS
YESS
YES

Just because you sin dose not mean you are not a christian.

If you sin and you are not sorry all off the time then you really arn't a christian.

Christian is someone who follows and believes in GOD and JESUS.

God is only perfect and we are nothing compared to him so for all you who don't understand what a christian is I just simply explained it to you.

Answer 11

Well unfortunately there are hypocrites in every group that ruin it for the whole group. You really shouldn't judge the whole group of any particular people based on the actions of a few as that wouldn't be fair to the people who are truly nice people.