Christians picketting and protesting, how is that not unchristianly?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071031/ap_on_re_us/funeral_protests

maybe it's time for the "good apples" of Christians to take some responsibility and accountability by doing something about these Christian picketers and rioters, instead of just excusing them as bad apples.

Answer 1

As a Christian, that really makes me sick. The command Jesus gave us was to love each other, and that's definitely not following his command. Whatever their views are of the country's bad ways, a funeral is not the time or place to be spounting that off. That's just people hiding their hate behind religion. May God give comfort to that family.

Answer 2

Just as mainstream Muslims have little or no power over extremist "Muslims", mainstream Christians have little or no power over extremist "Christians".

How much accountability does each Christian have for the over 2 billion other Christians in every country of the world and spread throughout about 10,000 different denominations?

I think protesting at a soldier's funeral is a very unchristian thing to do.

It goes against the Christian spiritual works of mercy to console and comfort and the corporal work of mercy to bury the dead.

There are times and places for peaceful demonstrations but a soldier's funeral is not one of them.

With love in Christ.

Answer 3

I would love to do something about them. Unfortunately there is that rule about thou shall not kill. And yes I am serious. If this were the funeral of a friend or relative I would have to try really hard not to hurt someone. I am a Christian but I am human too. The people who do this sicken me.

Answer 4

I'll have to go with Edge on this one. I can certainly think of a few choice things I'd like to do to this group but every one of them would violate God's instructions that I love my enemy and let him handle vengance. I do trust that anything I could come up with (and I've got a pretty good imagination) can't possibly match what God could do...after all, they aren't spreading this hate in my name, they are spreading it in his. If I'm totally angry on his behalf, how much more royally ticked of would he be on his own behalf?

I have to leave judgment in his hands because I know that I could be wrong about how God feels about this group...but I know that he knows excactly how he feels about them. If I were God, I'd make them suffer the cummulative pain of every person they have hurt with their message of hate...and such hate can have effects on future generations and even throughout eternity! But I'm not him so I can only ask him to make them pay...and I have done that many times!

Answer 5

I don't agree with what they said but the last time I looked we had freedom of speech in this country.

Next, what riot?

Next I am responsible for myself and my actions alone and I will be judged by God on my individual actions alone.

I am not responsible for their stupidity.

Answer 6

Just how am I responsible for something I abhor and had nothing to do with?

Answer 7

Jesus knew of these things:
Luke 11 dealing with the Pharisees (who thought they were people of God..........chosen of God, etc)

16And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.

17But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.

18If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.

19And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.

20But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

21When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:

22But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

23He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

24When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.

25And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.

26Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

27And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.

28But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

29And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.

30For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.

31The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

32The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.