Why do so many christians waste time on less important issues?

Question

with all the third world suffering on earth, with hundreds of millions of people enduring horrible poverty and violence and suppresion, why do so many christians waste time on the easy stuff, like trying to polically ensure that gay people can't "officially" get married. Or complaining about how department stores display signs that say "happy holidays" instead of "merry christmas." or gather up in protest groups over having the 10 commandments replaced back on court room walls?

the most many christians do to make this world a better place is pat themselves on the back for doing the easy stuff and going to church every week for a spiritual "pick-me-up" and then tell themself that they don't have to worry about the state of suffering on the international level because "god is coming any day now to deal with that stuff."

what if he isn't coming back for another thousand years? shouldn't we focus on the horrible state of suffering on earth and not just about american interests?

Do you think that god might be testing us to see if we care more about securing heaven through our personal piety than sacrificing almost all we have in the interest of all humanity?

i am not commanding that all christians quit there job and do missionary work. Iam merely asking :
can christians shift their flattery of their own piety and do more about the condition of humanity, the unneglectable situations that hundreds of millions endure?

Like I said, many Christians are choosing the easy stuff, the things that are easier to do. You want to know what IS hard? Admitting your wrong. Are you going to take the easy way out, by attacking me for saying these things, or are you going to take the hard, narrow path and admit that the focus of Christians should be adjusted in the way i speak of?

Answer 1

Amen.

Preach the Gospel at all times, if necessary, use words.

Answer 2

It seems to me that christians are so out to lunch that they sincerely believe that the most important problem facing the entire world today is the fear that homosexuals might get equal rights, which would destroy the most important institution in the world, marriage. They do not care that the Republican nominees for president for the most part have had multiple marriages, at least they pretend that they are not homosexual. Of course, they forgive Haggard, not even noticing what a hypocrite he was. That is also why they voted in Bush. Anyone can fight a war, but only a psycho like Bush can put irrelevancies like homosexual marriage on the front burner.

Answer 3

absolutely we should focus on the problems of the world. Sometimes it feels like we're rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.

However, if we ignore the little things, then it will get easier to ignore the bigger things. It's a slippery slope.

Also, I hope you are not putting all the problems of the world on Christian shoulders. Everyone should be helping out, no matter what you believe or don't believe. Can I ask (no anger at all) what have you done lately to help your fellow man? I ask because it is easy to point out the mote in your neighbor's eye, we all do it. So what have you done lately?

Answer 4

at first, there is no different team that does extra for the suffering of the international than Christian communities. Thats a actuality. What are you doing to assist? And gays? God aside for a 2d, even mom nature herself won't condone it; why? because of the fact it marks the extinction of the human race, thats why. GAYS HAVE TAKEN THE CIRCLE OF existence AND REARRANGED IT right into a today LINE. A LINE THAT ENDS. i'm elevating somewhat boy. My duty is that he grows as much as be an honest, decent, guy. not a he/she, yet a guy. i don't delight in the thought my newborn ought to quickly study interior the universal public colleges the style you are the 'luckiest newborn' in case you get to have 2 daddies or 2 mommies. How approximately the thank you to appreciate the terrific a danger gay intercourse? those are issues on the preparation issues for the subsequent college term, and that i'm speaking approximately 2d GRADERS. The Bible or prayer isn't allowed in colleges because of the fact not each and every physique settle for a "God". properly, not each and every physique settle for being gay, the two. That crap does not belong interior the colleges, era. What the colleges would desire to tutor is examining, writing, and arithmetic, like they have been based to do interior the 1st place. according to danger tutor those young toddlers the thank you to talk precise.

Answer 5

I understand what you are saying and this is a struggle that people have to work on with themselves.

Me myself, I probably wouldn't be able to just leave my whole life behind for the cause.....I am just telling the truth.

So maybe I am not really a Christian.

It is the hard way, and it is not easy. God bless those people who do do it though. If I had the strength in spirit I would too, but I think I might be lacking in that area. Just telling the truth.

Answer 6

This sounds like you already have your mind made up about the whole lot of Christians, and aren't judging each person individually, which is not fair to you or any one else.
What you think of as a "spiritual pick me up" is something that a faithful person truly believes they need every week, and their intentions may not really be "let's wait for God to come."

To me, this sounds more like a societal thing (in America and other countries), rather than only a Christian thing. We have politicians and the media diverting our attention from things that really need attention (Sudan) to things more trivial, such as a Presidential Candidates $400 haircut, or Paris going to jail.
We as a society need to be more mindful and compassionate of things going on in the world. Not just the Christian sects.

Answer 7

Traditions are not considered as less important issues to some and I can understand why some want to continue observing Christmas. Some of your long winded question I happen to agree with. However, you failed to address environmental issues and lack of health care in your argument. The concept of morality is fascinating because it can be molded, warped and twisted to fit even the most disturbing of ideologies.

Answer 8

I think Christians take on whatever issues they feel they are in a position to take on. One can call it "doing the easy stuff", or one can call it simply doing what one feels equipped to do. I do not feel equipped to tackle poverty in 3rd world countries. I do however, feel equipped to help anyone I see that has a need, whether for food, money, a ride to a gas station when their car breaks down, a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen with. I don't feel equipped to take on a crusade to end violence by taking a look at gun control and how easy it is to get a gun. I do however, feel equipped to speak out against abortion, which to me is the worst kind of violence because it is perpetrated against the most vulnerable and innocent of all creation - the unborn, who are living but defenseless against what is done to them.

Yes, I do get my "chonies in a wedge" as my fiance likes to say, when it comes to people saying Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. Still, I don't make a huge issue out of it because I recognize that many don't believe in God and still others could be Jewish, who don't celebrate Christmas. I also get upset about the 10 commandments being forbidden in courtrooms or crosses removed from public lands. Why? Because the freedom of religion should allow us to have our crosses (or any other symbol for that matter) if the general public is not opposed to it. It is usually a small minority of people who get up in arms over a Christian symbol being on public lands and they will go to great lengths to get this removed. With the 10 commandments in the courtroom, I also believe in freedom of speech. If Larry Flint can publish porn which any child can see, then why on earth must a judge be forbidden from displaying his/her own moral beliefs, as displayed by the 10 commandments, in his/her own courtroom? There is a great hypocrasy in that. Yes, there should not be a mix of government and religion, but anyone with common sense knows that the intent of our forefathers was to prevent our government from dictating our religious beliefs and practices and our religions from dictating our government. The 10 commandments in the courtroom clearly is not violating the intent of our founding fathers.

I would just like to say that I understand your question and you raise a good one. As Christians, we often look to others to tackle the big issues in this world and we take on the smaller, easier ones. It's not right. Still, we are only human. It doesn't matter what religious affiliation (or lack thereof) a person can claim - people will only do what they feel they can do. If something seems uninteresting, they won't do it. If something seems impossible or too challenging, again, they won't do it. This is human nature - not Christian nature.

As a Christian, I can say that I do feel helpless to tackle some of the major problems in this world today. I do however, do the very best with the things that I do feel equipped to do. I do stop and give food on occasion to homeless people I see who are truly homeless and not trying to scam people like the career beggars who make more money than I do. I do try my best to help anyone if a need is put before me. To turn a blind eye when I can do something goes against my beliefs. I do speak out about my beliefs. I try my best to be the best Christian example that I can be, which includes admitting when I am wrong and owning up to my mistakes. I am not perfect and I certainly don't claim to be. Far from it. I am very compassionate and when I see someone hurting in any way, I feel their pain in an empathetic way.

I am employed by a hospice. Every day I see death and dying, although I do not work directly with patients. I have the honor of being part of hospice teams which include nurses, doctors, social workers, home health aids, housekeepers and chaplains, which are privileged to be a part of the most important and final chapter of a person's life. As a result of hospice, many dying people are dying with the knowledge that people cared enough to be there with them so that they would not die alone, and cared enough to do everything in their power to help them find closure and complete last wishes before they died. I may not be able to solve the world's ills with the things I do, but I do try my best to make the small part of the world I live in a better place. If we ALL did that, then the world really would be a better place.

Answer 9

YES. I wonder all of this myself! Faith needs to be put into action, otherwise it is no good. Instead of focusing energy trying to control things or people out of fear or anger, we should make a difference for the world out of courage and compassion!! Thank you so much for asking this question! :o)

Answer 10

Well this is a difficult question to answer.

First you insist that we must accept that you are completely correct in your assessment of the situation. That would hardly be wise.

Secondly, some of what you said does come close to being accurate. So, if we just write you off then we may miss what, if any, value your assessment possess.

The most important thing that any Christian can do is warn people about their ultimate destiny if they do not repent (turn away from) of their sins.

Any temporal suffering experienced on this earth will seem like a walk in the park compared to Hell.

The test below helps put this in perspective:

http://wayofthemaster.com/goodperson.shtml

~Neeva