I just want to hear some people opinions on this...I think many are actually most...but I can back that up...I live in the south and when I was younger we would all go to church...I never felt more judged anywhere then when I was in there...all those snotty people...if you weren't in a click then you didn't count. I have noticed this any many many churchs. Makes me not want to go...I don't know what I believe. I am confused about the whole thing. I feel like so many people are just fake...they put on this pretend happy life...but when no one is watching their true colors come out and I just don't want to be a part of that. Does anyone understand where I am coming from?
2007-09-25 05:15:16 · 14 answers · asked by Jamie G 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's kind of like in a way I feel liberated by saying "I dont believe in any of it"
2007-09-25 05:20:34 · update #1
ok im sorry hypocrite....hehe
2007-09-25 05:21:34 · update #2
I'm afraid you're right.
It's sad, but with Jansenism, Manachaesm and fundamentalism dominating the church in the US, that hypocrisy is almost a given. These false teachings lead people to believe that if they give God enough spiritual currency -- grace or works or alms or whatever -- then they will be eternally happy and God will make sure nothing every disturbs their blissfully happy lives.
What a load of malarkey.
Until Pele realize that true Christian joy is not the same as "Gee I'm so blessed" phony happiness, this will be a problem.
There would be no problems like this at all if Christians could just remember Jesus's great commission to us: "Love one another as I have loved you."
2007-09-25 05:18:15 · answer #1 · answered by Acorn 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
My own personal observations about certain Christian churches from an outsider perspective is this:
While you may get a single Christian to admit (some more willingly than others) that they are no better a person than you are and they too have the same challenges, personal demons, family problems, self-development problems and social challenges, it is different with a large group Christians.
When gathered en masse, or speaking as a group to the world, Christians like to project an image of not only moral superiority but the ideal in everything from personal development and happiness to family life. They do this outwardly to the world and among each other, it is even worse. There is a constant vigilance and pressure to keep that picture perfect outward display on at all times. Everyone is monitoring everyone else’s behaviour.
With no hostility or insult intended, I have seen with my own eyes that having Jesus as your personal savior does not automatically solve all your problems nor automatically make you a better person. My personal experience of seeing Christians screw up their lives dirtied my rose lenses a long time ago. As a result, I have never really bought into the, "Happy Christians who all just love each other and get along and have wonderful families" sales pitch.
I can understand why you would feel a bit isolated in such a setting if you are a little less willing to play along with that whole image and you like to be yourself and honestly deal with people as they are.
2007-09-25 05:27:21 · answer #2 · answered by pixie_pagan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure there are lots of hypocrites in churches. But there are good people too. And believe me everybody is a hypocrit at some time because we all "play act" a bit. The key is to find a congregation that you think is reasonably honest and true to God's word. Some congregations are much better than others and you want to find one of those good ones. But I don't think there is a perfect congregation anywhere, just like there are no perfect people. Besides, if there were a congregation that was perfect, what makes you think they would want you or me to join, since I doubt either you or I are perfect?
2007-09-25 05:25:44 · answer #3 · answered by William D 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The definition of a hypocrite is a liar...we all lie, therefore we're all hypocrites...
You must understand there is a difference in judging someone for their actions and telling them what they were doing is wrong. If you did something like steal a little kids ice cream cone(for example) of course people would look at you and say stuff to you about it because you sinned, you did something very mean.
Now if you were dating a black person and people were talking to you about that...that is judging there is no sin with loving someone of a different race. You know what I mean?
It's just that in order to know you did something wrong people are going to treat you badly...of course it would be a lot easier if someone would just come up to you and was like "hey, you shouldn't have stolen that ice cream...repent" but no...you wouldn't learn anything from that, you would just think "oh I have to repent" but I bet the next time you were about to steal that ice cream from that little girl you would think of how people treated you the last time you stole it....
Just as an example.
2007-09-25 05:21:47 · answer #4 · answered by Love Yahoo!!! is a prince 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Considering that one of the first 12 church members was a hypocrite, I think you might be right. Of course, hypocrites are not people who say one thing and do another. The word for that is "human." No human being on earth lives up to their own professed ideals. A hypocrite is someone who leads a double life, professing to be one kind of person when they are actually the opposite.
2007-09-25 05:20:53 · answer #5 · answered by NONAME 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sure, allot of church going people ARE Hippocrates. They go to church to seem like good Godly people but go home and do the opposite. However we are not all like that. Most of us do follow the teaching of Jesus. In church and out of church. Small churches normally have really good fellowship. How awful it must be to not feel accepted in the house of God. If your still interested in going to church, try a smaller one. The smaller they are the better fellowship you will probably receive. Good luck.
2007-09-25 05:26:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
People think that there are clicks in churches, but the question is, do you try to get involved? I have heard this from allot of people and what is really going on is people aren't trying to get involved or get to know the people, so then they say it is a click and they are hypocrites. We are all responsible for ourselves, we can't expect people to always come to us, we sometimes have to take a step of faith and involve ourselves, and any church I know will welcome you with open arms.
2007-09-25 05:22:50 · answer #7 · answered by simple serenity 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They say in order to hide behind something it must be bigger than you, so if you hide behind a hippcrite he must be bigger than you. Anyway I'd rather see them in church than not,we go to church to serve not to be served. If you see something is wrong in a church maybe God has revealed to you so you can do something about it. Peace & Love
2007-09-25 05:25:26 · answer #8 · answered by GREGORIOUSITY 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I totally understand where you're coming from. Those same people populate this site. They're one of many key reasons why I'm no longer a Christian.
2007-09-25 05:24:15 · answer #9 · answered by Cap'n Zeemboo 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I go to church because I am a sinner and Christ is my savior. Yes, I am a sinner and so is everyone that goes to my church. It is because of our faults that Christ died for our sins. We gather to worship Him and be nourished by his Word.
2007-09-25 05:23:22 · answer #10 · answered by Pro-American 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋