Curious... What about Christians bother people?

Question

Alot of times, Christians try to spread the word of Christ in a very unnapealing way, almost trying to get unbelievers angry with them, so that they will look better. Though I am a Christian, I am very careful in the way that I repressent Christ to others. I think Christians often take sharing of Christ's love as more of an act to be spiritual, than actually out of true love for that person to whom they would like to share their hope. I find this irritating. What do you non Christians think about the way we repressent Christ...off center!?
Thanks for reading this, and more thanks if you answer it. I think it is about time we Christians actually cared about what we are telling people.
And note for those Christians out there: Do justice unto Jesus. Reflect His Heart.

Answer 1

An evangelist came up to a man and asked, "Are you saved? Have you accepted Jesus into your heart?"
The man answered, "I refuse to answer that."
"What? Why not?"
"Because If I say yes, you will leave without showing any heart. If I say no, you will attack my beliefs...
"Instead," the man continued, "Let's go to a coffee shop and talk like friends. If I am Christian, it should show."

There is a difference between talking with someone ... and just talking at them.
nonetheless, I am still reminded of a prayerfrom Norman Vincent Peale ..
"Lord, let me bring comfort to those that are afflicted ...
... and affliction to those that are comfortable" (Neither is it good to have too many problems nor to be to relaxed)

Answer 2

If Christians would actually stick to the personal aspect and stay out of politics and public law & policy, I'd have a lot less problem with it.

Still, on a personal level, I find your "sharing of Christ's love" to be highly annoying, because I know it comes from the position that you really believe we are all going to burn in hell for all eternity if we do not accept him. I know you mean well, but I wish you (Christians collectively) would stop to question your beliefs. There is NO WAY we can ever know what happens after death, which is why I stand by the simplest idea that just like everything else in the world, when you die, you're just dead. Consciousness resides in the brain and cannot survive the death of the body. There is no evidence or reason for a "soul" besides the fact that it makes some people feel better about mortality. But it doesn't matter if it makes you feel better, if it's wrong. There is no hell, and there is no savior to save me from it.

I know you are taught not to question, faith does not require proof, etc... but when was the last time you read your own bible with a tiny bit of skepticism? If your god gave you literacy and the capacity for critical thinking, doesn't it seem reasonable that he intended for you to use it? If not for this book written by men who thought the sun went around a flat earth, would you have any other evidence for anything in the book?

Don't waste your time on former Christians, we've been there, done that, which makes it all the more unappealing. You do sound more sensitive & intelligent than a lot of the proselytizers I've come across, so I give you some credit for that, but I'll give you a lot more credit when you start thinking for yourself.

Answer 3

I have no real problem with Christians (or people of any faith or non-faith). However, the Christian community, just like any other, has its good and bad examples.

Of the bad examples, I'd probably say that the taking of only some instructions as being the way things should be done whilst ignoring things they disagree with is probably one of the things that irk me most about those people (Just have a look at the things cinsidered abominations unto the Lord in Leviticus and I'm sure you'll see my meaning).

But then there are others that take the message of the Bible to heart and actually try to be good people without condemning others, and those people rarely raise my hackles (at least from the point of view that they're Christians).

Answer 4

I am a Christian, a weird one. I've been told that my faith is not strong enough to be one. The thing is...I believe in whatever works for people. I don't believe that non-believers should be saved because who say they were in danger in the beginning? Just because we're Christian doesn't mean we are saved and we're the better people and that non-believers are basically Satan. It's disrespectful, especially when they attempt to convert anyone who does have a religion in the first place, just not Christian (Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim etc)

Faith and religion is about you and God, NOT me, you and God.

"I think Christians often take sharing of Christ's love as more of an act to be spiritual, than actually out of true love for that person to whom they would like to share their hope. I find this irritating."

Very true. They don't really care, it's not altruistic. They just want to feel good about themselves and show other people how 'caring' they are.

And someone mention it here as well. When someone try to evangelize, they take all interest in you but once you reject their faith, you're a stranger. It doesn't make sense to me. It also doesn't make sense that you have to yell your faith here and there for all the world to hear.

"do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing"

For that same reason, I avoid fundamentalist Christian like plague.

Answer 5

I'll start by saying I'm an atheist.

I hate how Christians go into the centre of town and then start shouting about how Jesus loves us and how we should convert.
If anyone of another religion (particularly Islam) starting doing the same thing but about their religion, then they'd be arrested for one of several charges, including noise pollution or somesuch.

Christians have been amongst the most obnoxious people I know, and I know a lot.

Why can't they just let people get on with it by themselves? They're not the ones that are going to burn in the fiery pits of hell, so why should it bother them?

Agh!

Answer 6

Let's see. Things I find irritating about the way Christians evangelize in here:

1) They'll use a 'question' as an opportunity to witness. The question either won't be a question at all, or it will be a 'placeholder' question that isn't intended to be answered, but merely leads into the evangelical propaganda in the description. Furthermore, when you point this out to them that they shouldn't post this here, some of them will take a hissy-fit, saying how horrible a person you are for having the audacity to remind them that they're not following YA guidelines.

2) They'll post smug, obnoxious questions like this:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiSb93HE50SXj.H0tfJOYmXsy6IX?qid=20070427193137AAlhC2O&show=7#profile-info-jAHaxqwFaa

Answer 7

I have to believe that there is intentional irony in the juxtaposition of your question with your choice of nom-de-plume.

Jeanne d'Arc is asking why people get bothered by 'Christians ' ????? HahahahahahaHeheheheheheeheHohohohohooho

Just in case anyone has failed to 'click', Jeanne was burned at the stake for irritating the ruling clerical authorities in her time. And this despite her having almost given France, effectively, back to the French.

The Christian/Paulian heresy has used their term 'heresy' to inflict more suffering than any other single religion. The word 'heresy' merely means not agreeing with us, and all religions are 'heresy' to some other religion. The extremes to which these people have gone surpass all human understanding.

That's why 'Christians' bother people.

Answer 8

I have worked with many fine people who are Christians, whom I admire and respect for their selflessness in helping others live better lives - my main criteria for judging a person's character. Decent people who draw their strength and courage from their faith, always ready to discuss it if asked, but keeping it in their hearts, and never beating others over the head with it.

The ones who bother me are the smug, self-righteous, pompous ones, who use Christianity as an excuse for their bigotry and hatred.

The ones who are completely unwilling to recognise that there are more non-Christians than Christians in the world; and that the majority of the word choose to not live by the rules of their Bible.

The ones who think every non-Christian is automatically evil; especially the fools who think every atheist is part of an organised group of Christian-haters.

I am most especially bothered by the ones who hate me simply because I am a lesbian, and who hide behind the vile hypocrisy of "love the sinner; hate the sin"

Other than that, I'm not bothered.
.

Answer 9

i will give my opinion based on my christian friends

the good characteristics-kind to people,forgiving,helpful,friendly and hard working with a lot of determination. on the whole nice people

views i don't agree with-

1.mans superiority over animals (many of them think the fact that i'm a vegetarian is stupid because God made animals for man's use).as a Buddhist i believe that all animals have an equal right to live.there are Buddhists also who eat meat of course,but they don't criticise my vegetarian habits

2.they act condescending towards people of other religions
Sri Lanka is a multi religious country and i have christian,hindu and muslim friends as well as Buddhists.none of my friends of other religions act like this

3.they always drag religion into conversations with the motive of converting-none of my other friends do this.

4.this point may be irrational but it gets on my nerves when they continuously say things like "trust in God" when they know very well that i don't believe in God.i feel like they're totally ignoring the fact that i'm a Buddhist-it's like they're completely dismissing how much i care about my own religion. just as strongly as they feel about christianity,i feel about Buddhism.if i don't force Buddhist view on them why can't they respect me and not force their views on me?! it's pretty insensitive really...

5.the way that whenever they do some charity work,they have to attempt conversion.why can't they just do whatever they went to do and come back? when we Buddhists give food to christian orphanages,we never even TALK about religion with those kids..we just joke around,play games and come.that's because we respect the fact that those kids ALREADY HAVE a religion...but christians never do that...they ALWAYS end up talking about their religion and try to convert.

Answer 10

Joan,
This question reminds me of the one I asked 'Why do you need salvation?". I had 6 answers !!! 6 out of how many ppl? If a Christian doesn't know why a person needs salvation how can they present the gospel of Yashua, Christ Jesus?

Having said all that, let me say that it is attitude. So many that claim to be followers of the Lord do not have a relationship with Him. They preach a gospel, but they actually want others to follow after them - to believe as they do, to think as they do and to emulate them. It puts them in a superior position. They get to be the leader/teacher. (sigh) This isn't a conscience thought, but it is reflected by their words, in their actions, and in their attitudes.

The Lord, Yashua died for us...for each and everyone of us. He is a Holy Saviour. He should be the focus of our every action, thought, and deed. Then in all humility, we could present the gospel of a risen Saviour to those that need to hear.

I realize you asked this of non-Christians and I apologize for answering, but this has been on my heart and I appreciate you allowing me to share.