What does it mean to be a Christian in today's society?

Question

What does it mean to be a Christian in today's society and how do you think the world views us?

Answer 1

It means to be anti-gay and the world views them as the hate-filled bigots they are.

Answer 2

OK,

I'm going to answer this one, untypically, without looking at the previous answers first.

Essentially, the same as being a Christian anytime, anywhere. Or like being faithful to YHWH in Israel of old.

Difficult but with the help of God more rewarding than anything else.

If you're specifically addressing the issue of today, the world around us is in flux (as always). You could say it's further downhill on the road to moral and spiritual ruin than ever before, or you could say it's more filled by the grace of God than ever before. Hitler lost the war, we've got the internet, most of us are well enough fed. Spare a thought for those who aren't.

On the other hand, the environment (that dirty E-word to conservative Christians, apparently) is more contaminated by our selfish, thoughtless activity than ever before. Families are in disarray, more people are lonely and neurotic than ever before, and in western societies more don't have faith in God to sustain them.

So these are among the issues we should address.

But, as ever, let God lead you, instruct you, how to pray. No way can we solve any of these problems by ourselves, though I don't pour scorn on people like Bob Geldof who try to do so.

For those Christians who do scorn non- (or semi-) believing "do-gooders", I quote the parable of the two sons. One said "I'll go" but didn't. The other said "Not me", but in the end he got up and did it.

Which are you?

I just remembered the second part of your question. The world views us as pathetically weak idiots. Why? Primarily because we're divided against one another.

Answer 3

I think there are different types of Christians...

The norm: Their views are their own, and they don't make a big stink about them. Their views are a bit flexible. Most understand evolution, don't find being gay all that horrible, and accept other points of view

Fundies: These are the ones who are who are out to ban homosexuality, evolution, and Harry Potter. They're often judgemental, and sometimes challenge other Christians as well as other religions by referring to themselves as "True Christians". They find other opinions are irrelevant to their own. Not to sound offensive, but I've found they are often of low intelligence

Progressive: Much like the Episcipalian church, they take pride in being Christian and not being conservative. Its about people, not dogma, not rules, not stubborness. Many non-christians can appreciate them, many fundies can not.

The problem is its the Fundies who are the loudest, so that's the most dominant image of Christianity that's being shown. Its a very NEGATIVE image. I find many christians I know are frustrated with this image. Personally, I find the normal ones the most common representation, the fundies the most evil, and the progressive the most admireable.

Answer 4

I believe the world view Christians as hateful people pushing their beliefs upon the rest of the world.

Answer 5

There are many good answers to this so far. I especially appreciate Sasi's and DougDoug's posts, as well as Mooninite because of the reference to the "we're all hated" comments.

By definition, "Christian" should mean "a follower of Christ." And, the teachings and life of Christ - if followed - would tend to make people more tolerant, loving, caring, concerned citizens of Earth. Jesus was not exclusionary, elitist, or vindictive; and displayed his anger and condemnation not against the so-called 'sinners,' (with whom he dined and socialized), but against the self-serving hypocritical, self-proclaimed educated "righteous" religious leaders.

Today, many who call themself "Christian" are intolerant, condemnatory, self-righteous bigots - I call them the Taliban of the Cross. They claim that god speaks only through them and they preach hate and fear and anger, not love and tolerance and peace. They forget that god rejects the 'knowledge of man' in favor of the spiritual person. Notice I said, "spiritual," not "religious." One can be religious about many things but not necessarily spiritual.

Many of the answers here focused mainly on the belief that they would be hated. But I don't think it is so much hated as it is the natural human tendency to reject totalitarian intolerance as practiced by the ultra-fundamentalists. Not all who call themself "Christian" are ultra-fundie; but the few who are seem to screech the loudest. Just like the minority of ultra-fundamentalist Wahabi Islamists smear the entire Muslim belief with their intolerance, so the screed of the minority ultra-fundie so called Christians misrepresent the god they claim to follow.

Answer 6

It means to follow Jesus because we love him and obey his commands. Jesus told his followers that they are salt and light in an unsavoury and sin-darkened world. (It's not an option - "you are..." not, "you should be...") He also gave us the Sermon on the Mount to live by. By living according to Matthew chapters 5 - 7, we will show to the world that we are subjects of God's Kingdom. "Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." (ch 5 vs 20) So living the Sermon on the Mount is not an option either! Only those who have the righteousness of Christ imputed to them can keep such an apparently impossible standard.

It is utterly irrelevant how the world views us. We live to please God.

Answer 7

It means being "seperate" and not like the world. We are to be in the world but not of the world. They view real Christians as "goody-two-shoes" and freaks.....but who cares?! What really matters is eternal life....and the way of the world leads to death.

Answer 8

It means today what it has always meant. And we are in the world, but not of the world. The world hates us. Jesus said, the world has hated me first so it will also hate you.

To be a Christian in today's world? It is very difficult and getting more so each passing day.

Revelation 22:20 "The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus"

Answer 9

I view Christians as sex obsessed, self-loathing and homophobic mean people who are hell bent on destroying America's freedom and then the world's. I also had to laugh at the Christians are hated answer. They're not hated. They're feared. Just look at the dead bodies Christians have stepped on to get where they are.

Answer 10

It means that you will really follow Jesus Christ..That you will take a stand for the things that God stands for even if the people make fun of you and call you bad names.
This is only the beginning, they will eventually kill Christians for what they believe..

Answer 11

should mean that you have faith standards ande morals. you have the courage to stand up for the truth. the way you talk the way you dress where you go who yor frind are you live by example you put God first in your life- you cant serve 2 masters otherwise you are just anothe hypocrite