...other Christians are saying that youre not a "real" Christian??
According to Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church, it is YOU that is not a "real" Christian - not them.
Now, you have to admit - their viewpoint is just as valid as yours is for calling them not real Christians... They are using the same Bible but simply interpreting it slightly differently, and they claim you arent a "real" Christian, but they are. Certainly, you can disagree with them - but they are no more incorerct in their statements than you are in calling them not real Christians.
What says you?? And, why does God allow this in-fighting amongst his supporters?
2007-04-20 12:15:20 · 17 answers · asked by ? 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Id tend to agree with you Whitehorse - but I was curious to nkow how others felt being called not real Christians. Not trying to rufffle feathers - truly curious to know...
2007-04-20 12:22:17 · update #1
To be a Christian you must love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and you must love your neighbor as yourself. I do not think that the Westboro Baptist Church and Fred Phelps meet this standard. True Christianity affirms the love of God.
2007-04-20 12:24:20 · answer #1 · answered by Mr Wisdom 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, their viewpoint is not just as valid. If a person reading the Bible should come up with a new teaching and that teaching has never been heard of in the history of Christianity, then how could that be "just as valid". It is only one person's interpretation. And if he is a good preacher then he may acquire some followers. This is how a cult is born.
If someone wants "real" Christianity then he must return back to the teachings of Jesus Christ, his apostles and the historic practices of the early church. He cannot just willy-nilly concoct some new super spiritual insight of his own.
2007-04-20 19:27:52 · answer #2 · answered by Dr. D 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
" 'An enemy did this,' he replied.
"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
" 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "
Matthew 13:24-30
2007-04-20 19:21:36 · answer #3 · answered by wefmeister 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God doesn't force us to follow him. He guides the believer to follow him. We are individuals that have choosen Jesus as our Lord and Savior. I certainly wouldn't wanted to be cloned as any thing other then what God intends me to be.
I think those who feel that harshness is the way to go but that's not what the bible instructs Christians to believe in or follow. I have heard of this person you are talking about and I don't agree with them.
You will find there is much diversity amongst those who say they believe in God. The true mark of a believer is one who follows Jesus and obeys God. (Jesus is God well at least to those who believe in him.)
I don't believe that we can ram God down people's throats and I am sure that's not how God wishes to be respresented as.
I believe that Christians are to present the truth to those who don't believe with a message that God loves them.
2007-04-20 19:25:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The scary thing is that the Phelps family actually follows the bible to a T
2007-04-20 19:25:52 · answer #5 · answered by Snooter McPrickles 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't bother me in the least. God is the only One Whose opinion of me matters, and He's a lot easier to get along with than a whole bunch of my fellow Christians.
All the in-fighting wasn't God's idea, but like everything else in this world, if we want to disobey His commandment to "Love one another as I have loved you," He'll let us do it. Free will works in both directions, good and bad.
2007-04-20 19:22:02 · answer #6 · answered by Wolfeblayde 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First off I don't think God supports this division amounst His followers, and probably does not appreciate the judgmental attitude.
I myself believe that people have a right to their own opinions and who am I to say anyone is not a "real" Christian.
2007-04-20 19:20:29 · answer #7 · answered by Beverly B 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jesus would tell you that you shall know they are Christians by the fruit that they produce. Do they produce , love , joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. If they do, they are Christians, if they don't they are not. This is what God's word says about Christians.
2007-04-20 19:29:52 · answer #8 · answered by angel 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God does not allow the fighting. He gave us free will and we choose to be intolerant and hateful towards others. This is not God's will but our own. God would rather we loved others even if they do have different beliefs.
2007-04-20 19:25:06 · answer #9 · answered by em3maceys 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heh, it's nothing new. It's been going on for millennia and it's not going to change. It's been going on since before Jesus (There was not just one sect of Judaism). It's a shame but it seems to be human nature.
2007-04-20 19:35:02 · answer #10 · answered by LX V 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋