Why do christians...?

Question

I have a lot of questions..
Why do christians pick and choose which scripture they want to take literally?
Why do christians think it's ok to use derogatory terms regarding gays? Do they not think that comes from hate? Why do christians insist on ranking sin? I thought all sins were equal in god's eyes?
Why do christians always throw out the "body is a temple" scripture when many christian families stuff their faces every sunday, sometimes more with horrible, fatty, resturant food? Yea, I often see them at the buffet.
Why do christians try and push christianity on to people that are truly happy with their own faith?
Why are fellow christians ostrasized for having mental illness or simply being sad. They're told to perk up, jesus loves you! Or it's attributed to demonic posession/opression because the sufferer must have "let something in" or just needs to be stronger in their walk with god.
This isnt a hate post.. just some thoughts that run through my head pretty frequently.

I don't expect anyone to answer them all, but anything to help me understand would be nice.

Dang. wrong category.. must have pressed something along the way. Sorry.

CSI, they are honest questions. Is that your christ like attitude shining?

Answer 1

I am a Christian. I will try to answer your questions. However, I am fairly new to studying the bible (I did not become a "good" Christian until recently), so some of the questions would be better answered by someone with more experience.

Pick and choose scripture:
All scripture is for us though it is not all ABOUT us. Some verses are symbolic and are not meant to be taken literally. In the old testament the emphasis is on the old covenant (agreement) with God. Once Jesus died for us, we had a new covenant and we were released from those old laws (such as sacrificing animals when we sin, etc.). So the laws in the entire old testament do not apply to us.

Derogatory words about gay people:
I am sure you have heard Christians do this but that does not mean they were correct in doing so. Everyone sins and these people who speak in a derogatory manner about others are sinning too.

Sin is sin.
God does not rank sin. In our criminal law we need to rank sin but the law enforcers are not God. The reason God does not rank sin is that whether we sin by swearing or by doing something awful as child molesting, we are forgiven by God if we ask for forgiveness are are truly remorseful.

As far as the buffets and the body is your temple bit.
You are correct. Many Christians are overweight and have poor eating habits. We are all human and we can only do our best. I always took the "body is your temple" as advice not to use my body for anything immoral, which I don't do, though my eating habits aren't the best.

Pushing religion on people.
That always bothered me too. However I know how it feels to be happy by having God in my life and I do want that for other members of my family. I don't push my thoughts on them though. The bible does say that we need to be a witness for God. I choose to do that by being a good example to others, the best I can.

Demon possession.
I was suffering from depression when I finally went back to church. Everyone was very good about it and prayed for me to get better. No one attributed it to demonic possession or said that I let anything in. Christians don't know anything more about mental health issues than other people do. However they make mistakes like others do too. It does not help a depressed person to tell him/her to perk up. However in my case, reading scripture and being stronger in God did help me. Of course, i also took medication and saw a doctor.

I did not take your post as a hate post. You are entitiled to have your questions answered. I hate to criticize any church you may have gone to but it does not sound as if you had a very good experience in church. You may have been in the wrong church. It sure seems as if there were many judgmental people there.

I hope maybe I have answered a few of your questions a little.

Answer 2

Here are a few of MY answers to your questions.
Q: Why do christians pick and choose which scripture they want to take literally?
A: I have found most Christians either accept the Bible as Divine Truth (that is, if Jonah got swallowed by the whale, he got swallowed up by a living creature) and many take it as metaphors (Jonah spent 3 days in a cave meditating rather than being in a whale.) So if you are talking to a Christian you might want to ask them how they accept the Bible.

Q: Why do christians think it's ok to use derogatory terms regarding gays? Do they not think that comes from hate?
A: Have you read the Bible. Every passage that discusses homosexuality indicates it is a sin.

Q: Why do christians insist on ranking sin? I thought all sins were equal in god's eyes?
A: You may be thinking of the Ten Commandments. Actually, I believe that God views sins inequally. In your context, shoplifting a candy bar would be as serious as molesting a child.

I personally believe there are two levels of sinful behavior:
A) transgression--a minor sin
B) sin - a major sin. This only applies to child abuse, murder, sexual assault, etc.

Most of us never commit sin; but most of us transgress daily.

I realize this won't change your mind, but wanted to share my views with you.

Good luck!

Answer 3

If you are in a good bible believing church, you are taught that all scriptures come from God, not just the ones you like or dislike. You love the sinner, just hate the sin. All sin is equal in the eyes of the Lord...murder is looked on same as a lie or adultery. The body is a temple and is to be taken care of, but along with this comes what we watch on tv, listen to on the radio, look at on the internet, etc.. The bible says that Christians are to go out in the hi ways and byways and tell people how to have eternal life. I am not sure about being ostracized for having mental illness..I do know that the bible states we are to lift up other Christians and help them. In the bible, lepers were rejected, but Jesus healed them. The women at the well who lied to Jesus about having a husband, was forgiven.
You need to get in your bible and study it out for yourself. Don't believe what other people say. Check out what your pastor is preaching. And above all else, remember that we are humans and are not perfect!

Answer 4

I try to keep in mind that nobody is perfect. Being christian doesn't mean a person can never be wrong or too pushy. The questions you are asking, seem to human traits, not just christian traits. Picking and choosing scriptures seems to be a problem with alot of people. I believe scripture has to be put in to context to see the whole picture, not just the parts you want to see.

Answer 5

Well, I can't speak for all Christians. But I would also think you shouldn't paint all Christians with the same paintbrush either. As an answer to your questions, I would simply point out that nobody ever said Christians were perfect. As a matter of fact, Jesus did say you send a doctor to sick people, not the healthy. Going to a church expecting to find saints would be about as sensible as going to the doctor and expecting to find the waiting room full of healthy people. That said, all Christians sin and fall short. Some simply fall farther than others. If you look hard enough, you will find there are as many good people in church as there are those you object to. It just depends on which type you would prefer to see.
I am a Christian, if you haven't already figured that out. I don't use derogatory terms towards gays, or anyone else for that matter. I do not approve of the sin, but I fully approve of the sinner. I'm no expert on theology, but I think it's sort of common sense that some sins would be worse than others, the same way some crimes are worse than others. There's a big difference between parking in the wrong spot or speeding, and killing somebody by torturing them slowly to death, wouldn't you say?
I'm not sure where you are going with the "body is a temple" thing and the buffet. If you see them, I guess that means you are in the same restaurant eating. There are Christian vegetarians, in case it's escaped you. I happen to have two of them in my family. I know plenty of families who practice healthy dietary choices and lifestyles, Christian and non-Christian. I also know non-Christian families who practice non-healthy and healthy choices. Religious belief doesn't necessarily dictate things one way or another.
While some sects are more vocal in their efforts to convert people to their particular faith, not all do. I do notice, some non-Christian faiths are willing to convert by force and threat,though. I'm not sure God would approve of that either. In my family, we prefer to live by example, as much as we can. If somebody asks about it, we will gladly tell them. We don't leave tracts in mailboxes, and we don't "in your face" with it, but we also don't hide what we believe either.
I do not agree with certain behaviors or lifestyles, or some choices of behavior or dress. While I would not like to dictate that everyone share my preferences, I also would prefer not to have them thrown in my face. As much as you object to having Christianity thrown in your face, I object to having items I consider holy or sacred desecrated in the name or art or political correctness. And then being expected to be tolerant of it. It's unfair to expect to be able to offend me and at the same time demand I tolerate it.
Human nature dictates that none of us like to be told something we are doing is wrong, or harmful, or any criticism at all. That doesn't mean we don't need to be told by somebody. Drug addicts like their high, but the drugs will eventually take their toll on the addicts life. Does that mean we should refrain from telling people about the dangers of illegal or legal drugs? Perhaps we should simply leave them to suffer the natural consequences of their choices? Or do we have some human obligation to try to tell them ahead of time that this is a very bad choice to make?
I'm quite aware it's not politically correct to say things about personal behavior choices. I know nobody wants to hear them, but that doesn't mean it doesn't need to be said. It's all fine to say it's a personal choice, but if the after effects are not limited to just the person making the choice- then why can't you say so? Why is it wrong to tell the person all of the negative effects their choice will quite possibly have on them or others? I know, they don't want to hear it. They also don't want to hear that the misery they are currently in is a direct result of the bad decisions they made earlier. But boy will they get angry if they find out you knew and didn't say anything to warn them. It's catch-22, you get blasted if you say something, and blasted if you don't. But I can't help but feel some frustration that it's all fine to say it's personal choice right up until you are expected to clean up the mess left behind.
There are many, many, works of good done by Christians all over the world. These are quiet people, trying to live their faith in the way they think is right. They don't make the headlines, and they are not famous. They don't make great differences on a world scale, only on a small local one. They also cringe at the things done in the name of God, by whatever person or faith claiming to speak for Him. In short, Christianity is full of a lot of different people, all trying to reach the same end goal, but on different paths. We all fall short of the glory, we all fail and fall. There are many more sinners than saints, which is as it should be expected to be. But to paint all of them with the same brush is wrong. Rather than focus your irritation and anger on a select few, and use them to measure the entire group, perhaps you should look behind and beyond them. There is good in all people, you just have to look farther in some to find it. If you look only for the bad, you will surely find it. But that still won't make the entire group of people bad. I've lived all over the world, in predominantly Christian countries, and predominately non-Christian countries. I've discovered that no matter what deity we pray to, we all share more things in common that we have differences. While I may not agree with all the faiths, I would never say that any one group was all bad or all good. What I have discovered is that there is good in all people, and valid points in most of the beliefs. Perhaps you simply need to look for the good, rather than focus on the poor examples.

Answer 6

why do people like you have nothing better to do???
Get a life.