Christians. When you read the story of Jesus with the Samaritan woman?

Question

Do you think that today he would reject Evangelical mainstream thought and reach out to those shunned today?

I wonder if my issue with Christianity isn't so much with the New Testament as it is with the current followers of the New Testament.

Anyone out there at all that feels the same way?

Answer 1

Here is the thing. Jesus comforted the broken, and chastised the proud. He never coddled people who loved their sin. He freed those who were slaves to it.

Answer 2

That is an amazing parable with so many levels of complexity occurring.

I don't know if he would reject ALL evangelical mainstream thought or all secular thought, for that matter. Are you sure you're completely familiar with evangelical mainstream thought?

Certainly Jesus' past actions as recorded in the Bible show that he would be reaching out to those who are shunned today.

It is so sad that you would generalize with a statement such as ".I wonder if my issue...with the current followers of the New Testament." I'm sorry you have met some Christians who were jerks. They are human, though, and so will represent the entire range of humanity.

There are millions of current followers of the New Testament who reach out to the poor and needy, provide homes for the homeless, visit prisoners and care for their children, adopt orphans and support widows, heal the sick, and on and on, and who are trying to BE the hands, voice, feet, face and love of Jesus to the world. I hope you meet some soon!

Answer 3

Well I would argue that the Evangelical mainstream thought is that we should reach out to the "shunned."

However, there is a valid argument that the Evangelical mainstream is not actually doing what they teach they should be doing.

There is a lot of things about contemporary Christianity that I think Jesus would "shun." I am trying to be more and more like Jesus. I want to truly follow in His footsteps.

Answer 4

I would take issue with your identification of mainstream Evangelicals and the established Orthodoxy of ancient Judaism. Evangelicals make up some 5% to 7% of the Christian population. I don't think any identifiable Jewish sect represented such a small percentage of ancient Judaism. A better comparison, based on numbers, percentages, doctrines, and history would be a Catholic Jesus talking to an Orthodox woman, or vice versa.

Answer 5

I am a Christian that strives to follow the New Testament. The real problem is this, too many people that claim to follow the New Testament do not believe it. They take bits and pieces of it and make it fit what they believe instead of believing it to be the complete word of truth for a Christian. They do not accept it completely but want to leave parts of it out and believe what they pick and choose.

Answer 6

Jesus makes a lot of references on how we should reach out to all people and that we should serve all our fellow man. However, too many people turn that around and make it seem like Jesus would never ever judge anyone for any actions when Jesus chastized and criticized peoples behaviors all the time. He threw the money changers our out of the temples. He chastized his own apostles at times for not doing what they should be doing.

I think the point is to love and serve and include everyone, but still stand up for and uphold that which is righteous. It doesnt mean you dont have the right to make judgements of what is right and wrong and be totally acceptive of every single bad behavior.

Answer 7

I'm a Christian and I believe evangelicals get a bad rap. I go to a church and we have plenty of ministries that reach out to the needy. I have gone on 5 mission trips, we have minstries to the handicapped and homeless, etc. I just think you see what the media likes to show about Christianity, but not the whole picture. I do agree though, that we need to get away from the distractions and be more like Christ everyday.

Answer 8

"The biggest problem with Christianity today are Christians" - Chuck Colson.
That is why we have to look at God (Jesus) and not at man.
The followers of Christ will reach out the homeless, the gay man with AIDS, the alcoholic, the pregnant teen, etc. Jesus said he came to seek and save the lost - not the ones who think they are perfect. Many Christians are doing wonderful things as well, but many are feeding the doubters - so your point is very well taken. It is a broken world, and all people are broken including those in the church.
Trust in the words of Christ and his words and promises - they are life.

Answer 9

Of course, He would most definitely reach out to the shunned in today's society in the same way. That's part of the basics of Christianity. Reaching out, helping others, not expecting anything in return.

Answer 10

a number of the Gnostic Gospels did state that Jesus replaced into married to St. Mary Magdalene. yet those have been the Gnostics that made this declare no longer the Christians. The Gnostics adverse the training of the Christians, a number of their books would have been written in the process the 1st century, yet maximum of them have been written in the process the 2d-4th centuries which components them little credibility. The historic information might propose that Jesus replaced into under no circumstances married.

Answer 11

Yes, I think just as the scribes and pharisees didn't like who Jesus hung out with then, the religious establishment wouldn't like who he would hang out with today. However, I think it's a generalization to say that there aren't groups of Christians or other faiths that are reaching out to the "outsiders."