Anyone can call himself a Christian. But are those who espouse hate really Christian?

Question

When Jesus Christ was the very essence of love? How can we love our neighbor and be at war with him? How can we love and kill, slander, and abuse? Can we effectively route unbelievers toward the gates of salvation through the door of condemnation? I am beginning to rethink my entire perspective on war and bloodshed. This earth is in so much trouble. Just food for thought.

Answer 1

summerfest, you have the right idea. Love is something that is to be expected from a Christian, towards ALL mankind. We can't just say we are Christians and then hate our brother, because Christ said that his followers would be known by the love they would have among themselves, and also the love they have for their brother, which includes everyone period. We can't say we are Godly, if we don't act like God and his son. Words are cheap. :) Arum

Answer 2

You sound like a peace-nik.

Use just a bit of common sense, okay?
God tells us to "get along with your neighbor, IF THAT BE POSSIBLE" - its kinda hard to do that when they are ramming planes into your buildings, ya know? Do you think we should hunt them down, and what? Speak kindly to them, perhaps serve tea??
People had better wake the hell up -
I'm Christian, and I wish we could all just sit around all day and praise the Lord, and love each other, but thats not very realistic, now is it?
Yes, the earth is in real trouble; whats real important to remember if you believe in God, is that He is very much in control. He hates quite a bit, though. If you read Scripture, you will find that He hates some of the same things you hate; Take a good look around you, and realize that this is exactly what you get when man is allowed to make the rules, the decisions, etc.
Man screws up every single thing he touches,
and yet he insists that things are better without God. Not only does he screw everything up, but he's also stubborn as a mule, and insists that everything good is come by his own hand.
If it weren't for God working through His elect, things would be a whole lot worse than what you see right now.

Answer 3

People can love people without ignoring negative or dangerous behavior. In fact, loving Christians need to stand up for what is right, speak in the truth, and consider what it means to ignore...root word - ignorance. Let's not go as far as using Christianity to live in past mistakes or state to love is to ignore.

Take parents who do not discipline...sorry but that is driving a child to wrath and believing in secularism. What does the Bible say about people who live in rebellion ...what does dead really mean...it means spiritually dead. Instead of calling it mental illness lets consider this as Christians: How have we failed? How can we stand there and let ourselves off the hook so easily?

I've heard people say things to others such as:

Let go and let God.
Let them go and let the world kick their ____. - I'm assuming by one who forgets all are part of the world.

Christians fluffy words are for people who choose to enjoy using fluffy words:

Truth is anger
Truth is shamed-based
Truth is hatred

You'd better believe we are all in trouble when Christians are falling for fluff. It's a bad sign that's for sure and we should know better. By the way...Dr. Spock writings in public display from 1946-present ...check out amazon.com on the reprints. How many people to-date are struggling with life skills due to a celebrity icon and how many believers around the world fell for this?

http://www.drspock.com/home/0,1454,,00.html

He had some good points however, we should not be presently involved with the fluff. Just food for thought and in closing I doubt anyone enjoys war.

Answer 4

Christian, by definition, means "follower of Christ." This can mean many things, since many people have their own take on what that means.
The people who live by "Love thy enemies" and practice niceness towards people they don't like are no more Christian than those who live by "I don't come with peace, but with a sword" and fight with their neighbor.
Although I do not condone people using their religion to justify doing nasty things, it needs to be understood that Christians (or people of other faiths) are following what they personally believe is right, whether the outcome is good or bad.

Answer 5

People who claim to be Christian and yet espouse hate are not acting in the faith. those that say they hate people are not doing Gods will. they are giving their own opinions. Also the world is at war, not with Iraq, but with the devil. Sin creates most of the evil we see in the world.

Answer 6

Jesus the essence of love? I thought he only loved people that worship him. The Jesus in the NT seems almost gleeful when describing what happens to non-believers.

Answer 7

then you "good" Christians need to do a better job about speaking out. Hate-mongers like Falwell and Robertson are your de facto spokesmen if you fail to stand up and speak out.

Answer 8

What does it matter if they themselves considert themselves a Christian and espouse their negativity in the name of God?

The only one that matters to is whatever God you think may care, but to anyone else all that we see is a difference of opinion about who gets to claim the mantle of Christ. You may feel vindicated because in your mind they've abandoned your form of Christianity, but in their mind, they are carrying out God's bidding.

Answer 9

Jesus loved the Father before he loved any of us. I don't think we should ignore insults to God so we can love our neighbor though do you?

Answer 10

What a speech. I don't really believe in war. I do love neighbors. And YOU TOO>
GOD BLESS