Why do "Christians" feel the need to consistently put down any religion that does not coincide with their own? They claim that they are preaching God's Word, but somehow end up making claims that anyone who doesn't believe it is "evil". Isn't Christianity supposed to teach that God is "all-loving"? Why, then, would he want his followers to judge and put down diverse religions? Just a thought...
2007-07-22 17:56:57 · 16 answers · asked by Lilly Jones-Fair 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
So true! An all-loving God wouldn't and doesn't condemn people to an eternity of damnation.
I'm not saying that all Christians come across this way, but there are a lot of idiots out there in YA that push the believe in anything that does not coincide with their beliefs is evil, when it really does no harm to anyone else. Anyone feel like opening the door to Wicca questions to prove my point? BTW-One of the most accepting religions out there.
2007-07-22 18:04:20 · update #1
The Chinese say that "An idea isn't responsible for the people who believe in it."
As with all religions throughout history, Christianity (in America anyway, I can't speak for the rest of the world) has been hijacked by a few power-hungry people who have twisted the message into something that it's not for their own personal gain.
Kind of like Islamic terrorists.
2007-07-22 18:03:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't know what you do for a living or I would tailor an illustration for you. Consider these, however.
A math teacher is grading test papers for a group of students who plan to go into computer science programs. What is the loving thing to do when she come across erroneous answers. Isn't exposing the students' errors the most compassionate thing she can do? Would it really be a judgmental put down to tell a student his or her answer was wrong and to point the student toward the truth?
A policeman sees a car turning onto a one-way street the wrong way. He's craving a donut though and decides to ignore it. Later, he learns the car was involved in a head-on crash killing the drivers of both cars. Would we say he was a very loving person because he did not "judge" or "put down" the errant driver?
In one home a housing inspector notices bare electrical wires and overloaded circuits with no breakers or fuses. Should he risk sounding judgmental and hurting the home owners feelings by telling them something that sounds insulting? Would this be an unloving act?
I could multiply illustrations but I am sure you get the point. We Christians see our job as one of helping people to find the good news of salvation. We care enough to tell them their need of salvation before presenting the answer. If someone is preaching a different message we boldly say that we disagree. This does not mean we hate those we disagree with. Rather it means we love them enough to risk losing their favorable disposition in order to help them in the long run. If someone rejects our message that is their prerogative, but they should be careful not to misjudge our motives or intentions. I worked in inner city ministries for years. I was overqualified for these positions and received no pay even though I invested many hours in them and in some cases exposed myself to dangerous situations. I assure you I did not do that out of any kind of hatred or judgmentalness. If I had not cared about those people I would never have reached out to them with the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ at such a personal cost.
2007-07-23 01:22:31 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, God is NOT 'all loving'. Not in the way you mean, at least.
The meaning you are trying to put forth is 'all accepting'. The Bible (and the earlier Jewish writings) Clearly show that God also hates certain things.
The opinion of God that is so often represented here and other places, is that The ever changing morality of this world, demands God to bend to THEM, What a joke!
God, the creator, the HOLIEST of HOLIES demands that WE change-to obey HIM.
Speaking of religion, THERE CAN NOT BE ANY TWO RELIGIONS, THAT CLAIM DIFFERENT THINGS ON THE SAME SUBJECT, TO BE BOTH CORRECT!
The Christian church, as traditional Christianity teaches, is a religion of exclusivity, therefor it must reject ALL other religious claims that do not fall inline with the teachings of Christ and the Holy Bible.
In like manner Islam MUST reject other faiths.
The religions that claim that their way is not neccessarily the ONLY way, are useless, and not needed, by their own admission.
Either God is or he is not
Either God is capable of communicating with man or he is not
If he cannot then, to us he does not exist
Either God has made himself known or he has not
If he has not, than to us, he does not exist
Either God has dealt honestly with mankind, or he has not
If he has not, then He cannot be known and therefore he does not exist to us
If there is more than one God, then he is NOT God, by definition
Do Christians judge when they repeat the claims of the Bible?
NO!
The Law of God has already judged all of our actions. Being reminded of that jusdgement is NOT the same thing as being judged
2007-07-23 01:22:23 · answer #3 · answered by athorgarak 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God is all-loving, but he is not all-forgiving. He is a God of Order and Justice, as well as Mercy. If He was not he would be a God of Chaos and would just probably cease to be God. He is God and He is completely Just and obeys His own laws of Justice perfectly. He also is so merciful that He came to earth as a Man, the only perfect Man and the only man who could pay the penalties of the sins of the rest of us. He paid the Ransom for you and I, and therefore to accept that punishment he took for each of us, it is necessary that we become His servants. We have been paid for by the ultimate price and are saved from death and hell. There is no greater love than this. He will forgive those who choose to accept this Salvation and repent.
2007-07-23 01:11:12 · answer #4 · answered by Gma Joan 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Big misconception among non-believers and some who claim to be Christians.
God is love, but God is not all loving, no matter what the outcome.
If your parents love you, would they show that love by letting you harm yourself or your brothers or sisters? No.
This might help you to understand God.
God is Spirit
God is Life
God is Infinite
God is Immutable
God is Truth
God is Love
God is Eternal
God is Holy
God is Immortal
God is Invisible
God is Omnipresent
God is Omniscient
God is Omnipotent
For more detailed info go to :
http://www.parentcompany.com/awareness_of_god/aogtoc.htm
2007-07-23 01:07:55 · answer #5 · answered by Theophilus 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For that matter, how can such a god allow Hell to exist?
The inherent bigotry you describe is indeed counter to the notion of an all-loving god, but that is really just the flaw of the people and not the flaw of the god. Just because someone says that it's God's Word doesn't mean that God said it. That just means a man can make up some hatred and attribute it to God.
But the Hell story...that is a God flaw. It states that God is not all-loving, as he is willing to allow people to be tormented for eternity.
Some claim that being in Hell is a state of not existing, but this is contrary to the Bible, which is a major book in the religion). Some claim that God is simply punishing the unbelievers, but those people are being dishonest with themselves. After all, the purpose of punishment is to change behavior. If you are eternally punished, then how can you change behavior? Hell is not punishment at all. It is simply torture.
So, no, God could not possibly be as "all-loving" as some claim. Not if he has any power (and what god doesn't?).
2007-07-23 01:00:34 · answer #6 · answered by Rev Kev 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I somewhat agree, my friend--- But God is all-loving but He's also just & because He cannot tolerate wrong & because His eyes are too pure (holy) that He cannot even look upon evil, He said" by no means will the guilty go unpunished" But out of His love, He has given us a way out of that, its called repentance.....As a Christian, if I tell someone that TODAY is the day of salvation, its because Jesus Himself is saying that & Because, i, too wish NO person to perish...God Bless!
2007-07-23 01:06:05 · answer #7 · answered by fairlady 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are many religions which were founded by its min isters which are false religion with false teachings and false pastors. Their teachings are not base on the bible but have made thier own doctrines to tell their members. Many religions are only interested on the conbtributions of its members for thier ownb use and not for the use in preaching.
jtm
2007-07-23 01:04:45 · answer #8 · answered by Jesus M 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No
Where did you get that idea.
God THREW man out of Eden. That's love!
God destroyed Sodom and Gommorah. That's love!
God brought a flood to kill off man. That's love!
God sent his son to save mankind by being crucified. That's love!
God's not about love.
God is going to cast out people at the End of Times who don't meet his criteria. That's love!
God is about shaking you silly until your LEARN what you are supposed to do.
You are supposed to DO THE RIGHT THING.
God's giving you a chance, that's COMPASSION, not love.
That's tolerance, not intolerance.
That's restraint, but only to a limted degree.
2007-07-23 01:28:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are not all that overzealous.
As Christians we are supposed to inform the world of the availablility of Salvation. We are supposed to share information, and let God do the rest.
We are supposed to do this in a loving way, because uninformed people fall into sin easily, and once they learn the truth, they can correct their own behavior. We are supposed to be the living examples of proper behavior.
Now, we are not required to accept sin in any form. We are supposed to identify sinful behaviors, and admonish folks who participate in them. An admonishment is not judging others and good or evil people, but simply noting that a particular thing is not pleasing to God. Once unchurched people have been informed that their behaviors are not pleasing to God, this convicts them, and this God-given guilt inspires them to change their ways.
Guilt that inspires change is indeed God-given. Guilt that makes you feel dirty and shamed is not from God, but from Satan.
Satan can trick Christians into overdoing it, and becoming offensive. What better way to turn people away from God.
We must constantly be aware of our own behaviors and keep them within the confines of true spiritually influenced followers of Christ, who is our living example.
The concept of hell is false. What you are looking at is the complete absence of God. That is the fate reserved for those who refused God in their Earthly life. When you take God completely out of the picture, there is nobody looking out for you at all, nobody to complain to, everyone is out for him/her self, and you are powerless to keep from being tromped all over. The eternal lake of fire is reserved for those who perform evil acts, and refuse God. All they are getting is what they asked for. No God.
2007-07-23 01:10:16 · answer #10 · answered by Barry F 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋