I am a close student of the Word of God. I read and study daily to prepare myself for my walk with God. And as I study, I never find an instance in the Bible where we are commanded, taught or led to believe that Christians are to make fun of others who believe differently than we do.
And as I study, I cannot find an instance where we are told to hate, abuse or ridicule others who live a different lifestyle than we do.
What I do find is that we are to love God and to then love those around us. Am I wrong?
2007-03-23 15:52:59 · 35 answers · asked by brevboy 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are so right!!!!
I have tried to express this same thing in the past. Believe it or not, I got hate mail from fellow alleged Christians!! Its very sad.
Again, BRAVO to you for pointing this out. I am with you on this statement 100%!
2007-03-23 15:57:44 · answer #1 · answered by Gardener for God(dmd) 7 · 6⤊ 1⤋
How right you are. Just because people profess to be Christians, don't mean God sees them as such.They are just playing a role. Which seem appropriate to them in the 'world they live in.' A REAL Christian knows exactly where they stand. and REAL Christians are , sad to say fewer, and fewer.
You mentioned " we are to love God and Those around us.
Those are the last two of the 12 commandments. Yes 12 !
I don't quote scriptures and don't like other quoting them to me. But when Jesus and his followers were talking about the 10 commandments, Jesus said to them, "And I give you 2 more commandments to keep. Love God with all you're soul, all you're heart and all you're mind. AND love you're neighbor,(fellow man) as you're self ". If my math serves me right,10 Commandments + 2 commandments = 12 commandments.
And the last 2 being the hardest to keep. Even to Christians.If they don't ACT like Christians around others they are NOT In Gods favor.
Hang in there, We know how you feel. You are not alone. Not by a long shot.
2007-03-23 16:56:56 · answer #2 · answered by Jackolantern 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, all true christians believe this way. It's only the people who profess to be christians and forgot the second commandment to love one another. But, I agree with Steve about that there are vile things against Our Lord that's said and even when The Lord is mocked that I believe we can voice ourselves on. Read about John The Baptist who spoke out to the hypocrites whose lives mocked God. To hate, make fun of or put down others is not ok, but I for one will stand for The Lord - sometimes a little bolder at times. So, no you are not wrong at all. It's ok to agree to disagree on this forum and that's part of life. Praise Our Lord!!
2007-03-23 16:11:31 · answer #3 · answered by connie 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Peace be with you, you are seeking answers. You recognize the Word of God in your heart, but those things you feel in your heart, do not fit with the things of this world.
You often feel, like you walk to a different beat then all those around you. But most disturbing is that you can not understand why people are so mean to each other.
Read John 15, it will lift your spirit, and remember the things that you suffer are common, they crucified Jesus. If you love him you will stay in his Word. Be like the wise man who built his house on a rock.
2007-03-23 18:04:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You've got the 2 most important commandments right yes, love God, love others as ourselves.
But is correcting in love, with bible passages shown to teach "making fun of" ?
"All Scripture is inspired by God and to be used for correction and reproof"
†
2007-03-23 16:08:11 · answer #5 · answered by Jeanmarie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are right that we are not to make fun of others who believe differently than us or abuse or ridicule them if they live a different lifestyle.
You are wrong if you think challenging what others believe is ridiculing abusing or making fun of them.
Even Jesus Christ challenged the people of his day. There are so many examples that I could not get them in this little box without writing far more than anyone would want to read, but on one occasion Jesus in Matthew talked with Pharisees and Saducees and told them they were a generation of vipers
(snakes) and told them they were blind leaders of the blind.
On another occasion he made a cord of rope and went into the temple and drove out the money changers telling them they had made his father's house a den of theives.
If someone is living in error and their lifestyle runs against what the Bible teaches it is our duty as Christians to put forth an attempt to help them see the truth of the Bible. The Bible says we are to go into all the world and teach the gospel to every living person. That doesn't leave anyone out.
Now just as people hated and rejected Jesus when He taught
truth, so Christians can also expect to be mocked and hated if they insist on telling the truth. Jesus said, "Is the servant greater than his Master? If they hated me they will also hate you because you are not of this world even as I am not of this world." In another place He said, "Blessed are you when men
shall revile you and curse you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Great is your reward in Heaven for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." Paul writing in his letters to the Corinthian church
told them that "All who will live godly in Christ will suffer persecution."
The Bible also tells us that there are those who are willfully ignorant, and to let the ignorant be ignorant still (speaking of those who willingly reject truth).
If you try to live at peace with all men while proclaiming Christ as the only way to salvation you will find that is impossible. Too many people will choose to refuse the offers of grace and
mercy extended to them and will continue in lifestyles that offend God and will serve the devil ignorantly or knowingly until they die and wake up to the reality of God's judgment.
The first commandment is to love God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength. The second is to love your neighbor as yourself. These are the two greatest commandments. You cannot seriously love people and not tell them about the love and judgment of God. To speak of one and ignore the other negates part of God's word and gives men and women only part of what God wants them to know. We must teach and preach the "whole counsel of God." Nothing less is acceptable to God. Nothing less will effectively reach those who are without hope in this life.
If you have sensitivity to the spirit of God you will know who is willing to accept the love of God and who needs to hear of His
wrath. Read Jude 22 and 23 -- It will back up what I am telling
you. Remember that your Bible is the source of truth, and if what people teach is not in line with scripture you must of necessity reject it.
2007-03-23 16:20:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No you are not wrong. But also realize that we are human and most of us fall very short of being able to live day in and day out by the Bible. The last one I ever heard of that was capable of that walked on water. I think it was best said that he who is without sin cast the first stone. The moral for that one should relate here. Don't judge the people judging lest ye be judged.
2007-03-23 16:02:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The second and greatest commandment says "Love your neighbor as you love yourself"
The golden rule says "Treat others the way you want to be treated"
I dont want to be lied to personally....so if someone lied to me and another person knew this I would want to know. Many have been lied to and deceive by our enemy. If my enemy designs a plot to destroy me I would also want to know. This is loving your neighbor. Looking out for the interests of others FIRST instead of ones own. Hate has no place in Christianity. Neither does being judgmental. We are not to judge. We are to speak the truth in love and be like our Master.
2007-03-23 16:00:51 · answer #8 · answered by aizzle 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You are not wrong.
My concern with your answer involves the nature of the hatred, abuse, and ridicule to which you are aluding. My sensitivity stems from the fact that I have heard many say that Christian perspectives on certain sins constitute hate speech towards others who lead different lifestyles. And so while I am in agreement with you, I would also say that there are ideas, ungodly values, and systems of belief which deserve to be spoken against, hated, and even deserve to be mocked (Isaiah mocks the worship of idols). Yet I would agree that we ought not mock, abuse, or hate any persons.
2007-03-23 16:00:09 · answer #9 · answered by Steve 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
God loves you and I am golad you are reading the Bible and talking with CHrist daily please keep the faith you are not the only christian on here I am here and some others you are not alone. God wants you to live a good life happy and free from all burdens but you will be tested and hurt because of him but this will only make you stronger and wiser. Keep loveing other and yourself so don't be hatin but loving to all and understand of others but still teaching at the same time.
2007-03-23 15:56:46 · answer #10 · answered by Mimi 2 · 5⤊ 1⤋
You are correct..this does not mean however that we are not to be in defense of the gospel. And at times this means being very dogmatic and blunt.This can be accomplished without name calling and other abuses.
Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; (NASB ©1995)
2007-03-23 16:14:59 · answer #11 · answered by bonsai bobby 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋