How do you all deal with "hypo-Christians"? The ones who quote scripture and go to church at least twice every Sunday, but do the exact opposite of what they say? The vain, greedy, judgmental, materialistic, covetous, avaricious kind of Christians who continue to give you all a bad name?
2007-06-18 17:43:06 · 52 answers · asked by dreamchaser8860 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's kind of like us as people: we go from baby to teenager to young adult to senior citizen. Christians are the same way: we all start out as babies-just beginning to learn how to walk, talk and act like Jesus. MANY Christians, however, never "grow up." They still have on there stinky pampers and leave a mess everywhere they go. Don't get me started on teenager's...we all know how they are: they know everything and no one can tell them anything! There are plenty of grown up Christians who move on from diapers to pull-ups to big boy britches, & pass puberty who know how to walk, talk and act like Jesus. The main problem is the the young adult and senior citizen Christian's don't announce to everyone that they are christians so you don't really know them. It's the babes and teenagers that make a lot of noise (just like all babes and teens) letting everyone know they are Christians and those are the one's everyone remembers!
2007-06-18 18:05:03 · answer #1 · answered by Jenny J 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The bible says if any so called brethren is a drunken carouser or adulterer and bringing disgrace to the house of God, go to such a one in love, and if they receive you, you have gained a brother. If a person persists in worldly behavior, we are told to defellowship them, in fact to not even eat with such a one. This is not what most Christians want to hear today, but that is the plan laid forth for us to follow. I am not talking about some formal excommunication that can be bought and sold, this is a serious reminder that bad company corrupts good morals. At the first sign of repentance, Christians should rush to embrace the fallen Christian, and the sincerity should be in the fruit. Alas, most are so afraid of the word"judging" that they fail to follow the instruction book, which clearly says to rightly judge matters within the church, and that is where the house cleaning should begin. It is not for us to judge matters outside the church, only to try to right wrongs as we are able, be a witness, and not cast pearls before swine.
2007-06-19 06:24:06 · answer #2 · answered by One Wing Eagle Woman 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christians who have any sense don't claim to be perfect, just forgiven.
It's not about "being good", it's about believing in, relying on the man called Jesus. We are all human and we all screw up all the time - that's why we need a savior. I'm a screw up that has been forgiven.
Because I am a Christian doesn't mean that I will be perfect from this point forward. That's just crazy to think that it's even possible.
Can you name any religion that doesn't include people possessing the characteristics in your list? Why then do you single out Christianity?
I say the biggest hypocrites are the anti-Christians that blabber on about how intolerant Christians are. Isn't that the epitome of intolerance itself?
2007-06-18 17:59:01 · answer #3 · answered by getaclueppl 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A Christian is a person. People are imperfect. Every organization of every kind is filled with hypocrites, alcoholics, abusers, liars, cheats, cowards, and people who think they're better than anyone else. In every people group or organization, those people are the ones who often get noticed.
Jesus said He came to heal and to save. People who are already perfect don't need healing or saving. Some folks in the church are so focused on trying to look like they're doing the right thing in front of their peers (so hungry for respect or position or something) that they end up living a life of lies instead of a life covered by the grace of God.
It is heartbreaking to see people call themselves Christians (or claim any other faith) and then abuse other people in the name of their religion. There were these folks called Pharisees in the time Jesus walked the earth. He had some pretty harsh things to say (den of vipers, whited sepulchres) about the way they treated their fellow man.
How do I deal with it? Same way I deal with going to school or work or anywhere else. I refuse to let the actions of others hinder my own walk. And...I remember, before I judge them too harshly, that I'm pretty messed up myself.
2007-06-18 17:58:40 · answer #4 · answered by arjee63 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess that if a christian person is vain and greedy,judgemental and materialistic and your full list there then they are just not one who is governed by the Lord in any way.
They simply live according to their soul life and care nothing for the deeper inner work of the Lord in their disposition
Romans ch 8 speaks of believers walking according to the flesh or according to the spirit..
This brother or sister is probably walking according to the flesh and has no real growth spiritually in the Lord..
Sprouting verses does not measure your growth in the Lord.. its how you walk the walk in ur daily living that counts.
We are all in the process of growing and are at different stages in this christian life
There are carnal believers and spiritual ones...shallow ones and deep ones... fleshy and fleshyly ones and those who are spirit filled .. but it is the Lord to judge the hearts of all and to work and operate in each one to finish what He started.. in the mean time all we can do is pray that the Lord can break through in us and all our brothers and sisters.. that we'd learn to listen and obey the Lord and grow up into Him in all things.
2007-06-18 17:55:57 · answer #5 · answered by Broken Alabaster Flask 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read the parable of the wheat and the tares. Wait, let me just check and make sure that is the right one. Yeah, that's the one. We all have to live together, we will let God do the sorting out later.
Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43
24Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27"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?'
28" 'An enemy did this,' he replied.
"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
29" 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30Let 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.' "
36Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."
37He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
40"As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
2007-06-18 17:46:15 · answer #6 · answered by The GMC 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You mean the professing christians who wear the christian label only and talk the talk, but do not walk the walk with Jesus? I am a true christian who loves Jesus and I realize that in my old sin nature I am as filthy rags. But I am saved by His Sacrifice of death for me and try to obey Him in His strength and not in my own strength. How do I deal with the professing christians only? I don't. I leave the dealings up to Jesus who will judge us all. Jesus doesn't look at the labels we wear, He sees right thru us and to our hearts. I can live with whatever name anyone wants to give us. I know that some do not understand that we should not group people together and make general statements. I care what Jesus thinks of me. And I do care to share the Truth with others so that they can too have eternal happiness with Jesus. God bless
2007-06-18 17:54:43 · answer #7 · answered by connie 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I try to ignore them and I always include a disclaimer when I tell people that I am a Christian, that I'm not like "them." These Christians are notorious for hanging out outside one of the buildings at my university, Indiana University, during the spring. They call every girl that passes a harlot and tell anyone who isn't a Christian or that sins that they're going to hell. Once, they had a sign that read, "In the beginning GOD!" It didn't even make sense.
2007-06-18 17:48:13 · answer #8 · answered by Joy M 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
A "REAL" Christian is one that has been saved by the blood of Jesus- and yes, hopefully allows the Holy Spirit to change their hearts, and to become more like Him every day- but before we go any farther here- "REAL" Christians are not perfect. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God- that is why Jesus came. To live the life that we should have lived, and to die the death that we should have died. I am not saying this to excuse Christians,. me included when we fall short, but I am saying this to say- we are being made perfect. Even Paul said "I am pressing toward the goal, but I have not attained it yet". So please have patience with us, God is not finished with us yet.
2007-06-18 19:14:20 · answer #9 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hope that I qualify as a real Christian, but I am a sinner, too. Though I try hard to be a good boy, a good dad, a good husband...i still fall short.
As a human made of flesh, we are all sinners. We choose to beleive in Christ if He is in our heart. We are touched and loved, but still mortal. Unfortunately, even the very best students of the Bible, pastors alike, are still sinners.
So, don't be mad or disappointed at anyone for sinning. God forgives us, so I hope that you will too!
2007-06-18 17:50:57 · answer #10 · answered by joe_on_drums 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋