I don't understand this, can someone explain?

Question

My wife and I were watching,
'Extreme Makeover-Home Edition',
The family in question were the Oaten-Gate family from the New York area. They consist of the mum and four children she has fostered who all have HIV or AIDS.
One part of the show focused on the rebuild of a retreat for literally dozens of kids, teens and young adults with the AIDS virus or HIV. They had a campfire type meeting with much hugging and singing and the like when this happened;

A young girl about 16 yrs of age told of how she was born with HIV because her mother was unknowingly infected when she was born, and how,. . . . . .this is the part that needs explaining. . . . . . . .as a christian, she was thrown out of her local church on easter sunday! For being HIV+ !! Through no fault of her own !!

Can anyone who considers themself a christian give a reasonable explanation for this totally un-christian-like behaviour?
The actual church wasn't named so I don't know the faith involved.

Juicy Fruit-Kayla S-Mel W-Johnsoundset-Brett-Mookie You all gave the same sort of response as I did, Why reject a human being regardless of any faith issues? We should help everyone we can.

Ejsampieri _ David B _ Dee F _ Red Queen. Thanks for the informed responses from those with faith, I knew in my heart that this could have no bearing on the how those with faith would normally behave to someone in this girls position.

Chieko. Well, what can I say? I ask for an explanation to help me understand, for those with faith of any kind to give me insight as to how this may have come about. you accuse me of slander, preaching against Christianity and of calling you evil. Then you say not to believe anything I was not there to see. Isn't that what faith is? Belief that what you're told is good and true? Were any of your fellow believers there when Jesus spoke? No. You take it on faith.
you claim to have faith but show none of the ideals and values shown by those who answered before you

Answer 1

I can give you an explanation, but it's not going to be reasonable for any sane individual. Basically, a lot of christians think they are "God's Policemen", and that they have been given the task of informing you that you have sinned. This answer could get long, but i'll shorten it up. I find the same thing with Gay/Lesbian, HIV, prostitutes, homeless, basically anyone that does not conform to their own version of what God wants. It's all sin, and it's all wrong. Unfortunately, many christians are not acting like Christians. I feel for her, and I'm sorry for what the church has done to her. It's wrong.

Answer 2

I like David B's answer. I will give you an answer on another point. I am a Christian and i always look at the big picture if i can. A lot of people may not like this, and many are not even aware of it. Satan is able to affect the individual and will try to disrupt even a church!! Yes, he will try to affect Christians and how they think. He will try to get into our heads and affect our thinking if he can. So in this case, he may well have got into the heads of the leadership, and got them thinking that AIDS/HIV is disgusting. He may well have got them thinking that the disease is dirty and should be thrown out.
I am also a nurse as well as a Christian and I would recognise it if he got into my head like that.
A Godly church will give comfort to the afflicted and there is obviously something wrong with that church. Satan will put fear into peoples minds, church or otherwise.
Well, I am not afraid of evil. We should all show each other love.

Answer 3

They weren't Christian, they were ignorant. What an absolute horrific situation! To banish someone from a church with HIV! There isn't any reasonable explanation to provide except only they were not by any means true Christians. There are still back water religious groups that banish ppl for being "unclean." I did not see this premiere, but am glad to hear this 16 yr old found retreat into a loving family, who knows what other cruel ideals this church adhered to?

Answer 4

God is love; that already looks known right here. God would not choose to burn human beings in Hell. He would not deliver human beings to Hell because of the fact they don't have self assurance in Him. the folk circulate there because of the fact they are sinners who have not repented. Hell is a puzzling thought to hold close. i became analyzing a Christian fiction e book, stated as Enoch's Ghost, while between the characters witnesses quite a few human beings being thrown into the Lake of hearth. He asks the angel next to him why? Walter (the character) struggles for a quick time approximately that exact same question of ways God ought to ever throw somebody into eternal torment. "that they had a tribulation, did no longer they?" The angel replies that confident, the folk did have a tribulation. yet in addition, this is deserved. Now, Bryan Davis words it lots better than I do, yet i will attempt to sum up. The angel says that this is deserved because of the fact they are rebellious, and don't repent of there sins. the folk understand they are to blame, because of the fact all they have carried out is uncovered until eventually now God. i understand this is a foul precis of the section, yet I a minimum of understand that it helped me understand the way God would not unmercifully throw human beings into Hell. wish this helps!

Answer 5

My wife and I saw this same thing, and I commented to her that this would come up on R&S. Sure enough!
First, it is clear to us that there was no real reason for her to even bring this up, except to show an example of prejudism/hatred/ignorance/fear, and it saddened us that she may be holding a grudge for it happening.
Yes, it was lousy, cruel, un-Christian, unloving, for that to happen.
There IS no explanation for it. We can find reasons FOR it, (see above) but that would only explain the why, and it cannot be justified.
We ourselves grew angry at that church, and prayed that this girl would not make the mistake of writing God off because of the stupid action of a church.
Unfortunately too, when she said this, it put the idea into the minds of countless others that church can be a place of hurt.
There is no justification that I can see.

Answer 6

You're right this is un-Christian like behaviour.

Jesus would never have thrown her out, so neither should the Christians of this church.

The unfortunate reality is that no one in this world is perfect (Christians included). We are all flawed, so we have to trust that this happened for a greater good - after all it sounds like the young girl has found a better place as a result of it.

The only thing we can do is pray that those who allowed this church to make that terrible mistake realize it & get back to the Bible.

Answer 7

I really don't understand some christian peoples actions within the church myself. I am a christian and has been since I was a child. I try not to let actions of other people within the church get to me, but somethings you just cant ignore. It was uncalled for when the girl could have used an outreached hand and comfort. These people eventually talked and stood beside her BEFORE they found out she was HIV+. So all of a sudden she makes the statement and bam..She has to leave. Thats not right, and lots of things go on in churches that one would think should not. My advice is to just pray for her and pray for the people of the church that they not turn someone away because of such things. God will bless you for just keeping them in your prayers.

Answer 8

Man, I saw that too and I wept! I am a Christian and I could not believe that a Church that calls themselves Christians could do such a thing. The Church should have wrapped their arms around that family and helped in any way they could. Well, God tests not only people, but Churches also. Woe, unto the leader of that Church. Our Pastor told us that He is responsible for every soul He teaches. On judgement day, Pastors will be judged not only for themselves, but for the followers who believed in his teachings. THAT CHURCH IS IN TROUBLE UNLESS THEY REPENT! God always leaves a door open to right wrongs.

Answer 9

Organised Religion again? My Girl was ill in hospital c of e no prayer even though at point of death r.c priest no problem son was born in Australia heart defect c of e no but r.c baptised him re-blessed the girl and said a prayer for me in my hour of need. He acted like a human being - I never turned catholic as I don't really find any reason to, but nor do I bother with c of e or any other religion these idiots want to remember that Jesus is supposed to have said 'suffer the little children to come unto me' if that is true then who are they to deny them? Hypocritical morons some of them.

Answer 10

Fear and misunderstanding. People are afraid of what they don't know, and they will take it out on those they see as different.

It happens here everyday concerning homosexuals. The immigration section deals with racism, as does general society and culture. Discrimination is alive in all aspects of life.

Here in r+s, the Christians bash the homosexuals and atheists. The atheists bash the Christians. Everyone bashes the Muslims. It's a vicious cycle.

Twenty years ago, Ryan White was kicked out of school because of AIDS, as were other students. We all fear, whether we admit to it or not, the unknown. Paradoxically, if we choose to close our eyes to those things we find threatening, we can never know them to understand them.

It all comes down to fear.