R&S Fundamentalist Christians...Are you up to this challenge??? (Message 1)?

Question

What are some things that we as Christians can do to eliminate some of the antagonism between the Fundamentalists and the Atheists and others who are offended by some of our beliefs?

I realize that most of us want to ensure that people will not spend eternity in hell, but the constant comments about this subject are but one of the many reasons why we turn people away from our beliefs. I think there has to be a better way of sharing the gospel, don't you???

If so, what can we do to eliminate the antagonism? Because when we stop antagonizing, don't you think they might be more willing to see the difference that Christ can make in our lives? And if you think of what Christ showed in his life, he wasn't always talking about hell either. He reached out through love and compassion.

If you agree, how do we share the good news so it is less offensive and people will listen?

But Gary, is it more important to say to God, well, I said what I was supposed to say.

What will you say when God says, perhaps it was the way it was said that caused them not to accept the truth?

Answer 1

Many scriptures came to my mind as soon as I read your question. But one of the first things we can and must do can be found in Matthew 7:1-5.
Once we learn to stop judging other people and start trying to fix our own self, what a huge first step.
Many of the people I have talked to could care less about how much I know about the Lord's word. They would rather see that I am willing to help a person in need or give a kind word to comfort or console. The reason is simple. There are a lot of Christians professing this and that but have not the love of Christ in their heart. Check Matthew 7:21-23.
We need to have the mind of Christ in order to have the love of Christ. We can not get the mind or love of Christ if we continue to have predispositions about people based on color, ethnicity, or neighborhoods they live in or how they wear their clothes or speak. You get what I'm saying.
Here is an example of what I am talking about. I used to work for a nationally known restaraunt and the person who trained me is a Christian woman. No problem at all. She did not know that I go and minister at our county jail along with my wife every Sunday evening. Why? She didn't ask. Anyway, two gentleman that had been incarcerated there applied for and got work at the same place. I told my trainer how I knew them and that I minister at the jail. She asked me why I would go and do that sort of thing. After all, they are bad people and criminals. I politely told her that not everyone is as perfect as she and that Jesus ate with the sinners and the "bad people" more often than the "church" folk for that very reason. She got convicted and later apologized.

So I applaud your wanting to abolish antagonism. I hope that one day you find the perfect way of doing it. As for me, I will do my part and keep trying to pull the beam out of my own eyes before I see the mote in another's.

Answer 2

What has always struck me about Fundamentalist Christians is the righteous certainty they have about their beliefs. Their absolute certainty that the Bible is literally true, their absolute certainty about what is right and wrong, produces intellectual rigidity, if not intellectual rigor mortis, for no reflection or discussion is necessary when one knows the truth. This intellectual rigidity in turn leads to intolerance of those who do not share the fundamentals of their belief system, an intolerance that contrasts sharply with the message of Christian love and acceptance. Such intolerance leads sometimes to emotional abusiveness. Everything may be out of control in this world, but they speak assuredly of their salvation and their escape from reality because they've "accepted Jesus and are guaranteed eternity with God." Sadly, you'd never know they had found such peace because as a whole they are among the most strident crusaders in judging and condemning other people. From my experience with them, they also seem to be lacking in any semblance of serenity that one would expect from someone that's on their way to Paradise in the afterlife. The fundamentalist Christian will tell you that they are absolutely certain about the meaning of Scripture and it's the word of God that inspires their lives. Few understand the historical context of their Bible. In many cases they decide what especially Paul should have said then interpret his words to fit their preconceived ideas. Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and Ted Haggard live like royalty in multi-million dollar mansions spawned by their preaching. And flying under the radar are a slew of other ministers that have become multi-millionaires by collecting from the faithful and furthering the idea that the Bible is to be read as word-for-word literal. All of them promote the letter of the law over the spirit of the law. And every single Christian I have ever heard or met who claims that the Bible is literal truth is hypocritically selective about which Bible passages are literal and which are not. A rule of thumb seems to be, "If the Bible quote condemns your sins then it's a literal rule, if it condemns something I'm doing then there's some wiggle room." Jesus said "Blessed are the peacemakers;" "Love your enemies;" "It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God;" "Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers--that you do unto me." These words are at odds with the lifestyle and preaching of today's fundamentalists.

Answer 3

I believe that we should display the joy of being in Christ through the way we live, our communications, and our character. Matthew 5: 13-16 This is a great testimony to those that are lost.

However, in a forum in which others cannot see you and spend time observing you, the only route left is to speak the truth in love. It is difficult to convey the harsh consequences of dying without salvation to anyone without risk of offence, but God tells us that if we don't, their blood is on our hands (Ezekiel 33:8). I think obeying God is more important and worth the risk of offending another to possibly save them from eternal damnation. This is done out of love. If you plant that seed, God will give the increase.

Answer 4

As for Gary up there Blah Blah Blah .... I have been a Lutheran my whole life thank God. and to this day I can not understand the bible written like that.
Don't force it if something comes up that you can share the word in warm chatter then do so. I find that gets peoples attention much more than " Oh man if you do that again or don't ask for forgiveness Gods going to damn you to hell."
my friend ( an atheist)didn't like the fact that when he visited his girlfriends church that they pushed the word on the congregation (perfect warm chatter. My boss at one of my jobs said she didn't believe in God any more because he took her daughter away. perfect warm chatter. let them bring up a subject then work off of that.

Answer 5

I like random Scripture heuristics. A heuristic is a replicable creative stimulus. Somebody else can come back at any time, re-use the same Scripture and take it in a totally different direction. Scientists use this method as well.

The point is not to see which direction people will take things in, but what contribution this makes for the individual reader's understanding.

Here's one.
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands. - Revelation 1:12
Another similar scripture is Revelation 11:3, 4: "And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." They are "the two olive trees" and the two lampstands, and "they stand before the Lord of the earth.""
John 8:17 says: "In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true."

Anyway, I'll leave that one there.

Answer 6

I'm neither Fundamentalist, nor Atheist.
I agree with "babydoll" 100%, & just want to display the Scripture she recommended, with 2 others:

"Therefore I desire that in every place the men carry on ...
apart from wrath and debates."
--1Timothy 2:8

"If possible, as far as it depends upon YOU,
be peaceable with all men." --Romans 12:18

"Pursue peace with all people, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord, 15 carefully watching that no one may be deprived of the undeserved kindness of God; that no poisonous root may spring up and cause trouble and that many may not be defiled by it." --Hebrews 12:14,15

Answer 7

I'm starring your question. You are correct in your observation that some Christians and atheists tend to antagonize one another. Some, I have become convinced, enjoy this constant debate. Neither side has any intention or interest in changing. They are simply engaging in fruitless debates where one side feels that he or she "won" Try reading 1Timothy 2:8

Answer 8

How we share Christ is not through preaching, but through how we live with and deal with others. Live a clean life and be blameless in your dealings with others. Bless those who curse you. If you give offense, ask forgiveness of the person you offended. If you truly live in Christ's image, you will not need to preach- your life will be a testimony. People will wonder what it is you have, they will draw closer to find out, and then they will want to share in it. That is when you can tell them in Whose name you live your life.

Answer 9

I think our answers should be prayerful and sensitive both to the Spirit and to the hearts of other people. God will give us the words and the wisdom with which to speak them, but we must wait upon Him for those opportunities. lest we rush in where we were not sent like a bull in a china shop.

Answer 10

The only thing we can do is preach and teach the Gospel the way it is, The Holy Spirit will take care of it from there.